During the summer, I scored a big contract with the town school board and began working with an architect on a new school design. It was to be a departure from the conventional school configuration and I was, for the first time in a long time, really excited about something. On top of that, although the contract for materials would go through the bid process, local suppliers would be given preference. I was pretty sure my employer would get a better than even chance to win what would be a huge contract.
The contract provided bonuses for early completion and under-budget spending. I worked closely with the architect and engineering firms to make sure we modularized everything we could to cut costs and to make construction and assembly as simple as possible. We succeeded and I felt a great sense of satisfaction when the bids were received and my employer won the supply contract.
I went back to house and apartment design with an enhanced reputation and some solid connections with both the town and the architectural community. It revitalized me and I was feeling better than I had in a long time.
It was early that fall that I met Marilyn's parents. It was quite by accident. They had come into the store to look at kitchen cabinets and fixtures. They were considering remodeling their kitchen.
All the other sales consultants were busy and I saw them standing and wondering when they would find someone to talk to. I left my upstairs office and walked down to the main floor and approached them.
"Good morning, may I help you?" I asked.
"Yes ... thank you. We are considering remodeling our kitchen. We need some advice," the attractive middle-aged woman said.
"I'll be glad to help. My name is Tory Payne? I work in the design department," I said.
"Oh ... I'm Margaret Lee and this is my husband, Walter," she said looking carefully at me. "Do I know you? Your name sounds familiar."
I shrugged. I looked at them both and noticed the Asian features of her husband. It dawned on me who they might be.
"Do you have a daughter, Marilyn?" I asked.
"Yes ... yes we do," she replied quickly.
"Ah ... well ... that explains it. Her friend Molly and your daughter and I were involved in a weight-loss program."
"Of course! You're the Tory that Marilyn always talked about. Walter and I were absolutely amazed at what you accomplished," she gushed. Walter, who had yet to say a word, was nodding vigorously.
"We don't hear from her very much. She used to talk about you and Molly all the time. We were very happy that you helped her so much. I can't thank you enough for what you did for her. I'm just sorry it's taken us this long to tell you that," Walter said quietly.
"Now, she seldom calls and when she does, she hardly ever mentions you or Molly. It's all about her work and the places she goes," he continued. "What happened?"
"Sir, I wish I could tell you for sure. I know that there were issues of self-esteem when we were working together. I hoped they would disappear with the pounds when she became fit and healthy. Unfortunately, she didn't believe in herself until this job and all the fame came along. It was the proof to her that she was as beautiful as I told her all along."
"She had a difficult teen-age," Margaret said. "She gained weight and began to obsess about it and then gained more weight. She was very unhappy with herself. She was bright and good in school, but didn't have a social life. She hardly ever had a date in high school. We tried to help her, but nothing worked. You were the only person who actually made a difference."
"I can't take the credit, folks. When Molly and Marilyn came to me for advice, they were ready to do something about their weight. I was just the facilitator. They did all the work. I was a cheerleader for them. I never once needed to lecture them or push them to do the right thing or stick to their diets. They did it because they wanted to and they wanted to succeed. That's what happened," I finished.
"That's not the way Marilyn tells it," Walter smiled. "I got the impression she was infatuated with you."
"I did too," I admitted. "I wanted it to happen, to tell the truth. I promised I wouldn't go near them until the program was finished, but ... that turned out to be my downfall. That gave her the time to find this job, and I couldn't compete."
"Well, I'm very disappointed in Marilyn not staying in touch with either her family or you. We brought her up to be better than that," Margaret said emphatically.
"I think the glamour and intensity of her job are probably affecting her. I guess we just have to be patient and see how it all works out," I said in a conciliatory tone.
We got back to the topic of the kitchen renovation and I started to ask them some specific questions about musts and wants and like-to-haves. That hierarchy and their budget would answer a lot of questions early on and I could start to steer them in the right direction.
We spent the rest of the morning together. After going over the various quality options in the range of manufacturers we represented, we moved to my office where we wouldn't be interrupted. I listened to them as I opened my Graf paper notebook and began to sketch some ideas as they talked.
The Lee's had come well prepared. They had taken the dimensions and recorded the shape of their existing kitchen, along with the location of the appliances. They were making my job much easier. By lunch time, we had three possible designs that I could prepare on my computer and present estimates for all of them.
I took note of their phone number and address and promised to call them later in the week when I would be able to show them the proposals on my laptop. I could do it at the office or I would meet them in the evening at their home or mine. On Thursday afternoon, I called Mrs. Lee and let her know the presentations were complete, along with printed estimates. We agreed to meet at my home. I think she wanted to see what my kitchen looked like.
Within an hour of their arrival, I had an approved design with very few changes and a contract for the work. We spent the next hour with my showing them the improvements I had made in my bungalow over the years. They began to think about similar renovations to their home once the kitchen was completed.
I offered them a refreshment and Walter and I had a beer while Margaret chose a glass of red wine. We toasted the successful design and then chatted for while. Naturally, the subject of Marilyn wasn't far from any of our thoughts.
"You said you had feelings for Marilyn," Margaret said carefully.
"Yes ... I did ... I still do. There was something about her that ... right from the beginning ... attracted me to her. It's one of those intangibles that I can't describe. It's just a feeling."
"Did she ever tell you how she felt about you?" Walter asked.
"No ... not in so many words. I thought we had something ... but ... it died before it ever developed. The new career popped up unexpectedly, and that put an end to whatever we might have had."
"I'm sorry about that, Tory," Margaret said. "I was sure she had a crush on you. I was hoping that she would bring you to our home so that we could meet the man that transformed her into a beautiful woman. She owes you so much." There was emotion in this mother's voice.
I shrugged. I didn't happen and there wasn't much any of us could do about it.
We talked a bit more about their ambitions to modernize their home. It was in a very nice area of town and it was an exceptional piece of property that they didn't want to give up. I agreed to drop over some afternoon for a guided tour when the kitchen was being renovated and we could discuss ideas for making their home even more livable. They made it clear that they wanted to stay in this house for many years to come.
