This is a fictional story with all characters over eighteen and all rights reserved to the author. Special thanks to Allison.
*****
Monday morning, it was back to work, with no time to concentrate on anything else. The market began the week losing 269 points, followed with two more down days, sending signals that a bear trend might begin. I was so deep into work that until Wednesday I barely stopped to breath. Late hours kept me at the office too late to even get in any tennis. If this week was any example, there was no way I could properly do my job from a farm in Wisconsin.
Fortunately, the market proved the pundits wrong and started to bounce back with a 285 point gain on Thursday, recovering over half of the three days' losses. Additionally, second quarter GDP results showed the economy grew at a strong four percentage points. That would later be revised to three, but it still gave everyone a breath of confidence. I even got some tennis in with Mark that night. He wanted to know where my head was at after such a tough week; I had to tell him I still didn't have any answers.
After dinner on Thursday, I decided to call Elly and invite her and the boys down for the weekend. It was eight o'clock and I hoped I wasn't calling too late. Elly didn't answer her cell so I just left a message. Two minutes later she called back.
"Hello, Elly."
"Hi, Jack...how are you?"
"Good, after a rough beginning to the week."
"What was so rough?"
"Oh, the market was going crazy."
"Sorry, I don't follow the market as much as most people I guess."
"You're lucky. But, it's my life."
"Well, your knowledge of Wall Street is what makes you so valuable and makes you so much money, right?"
"Thanks. I guess that's true."
"Must be."
"Hey, are you free to come down with the boys this weekend?"
"Wow...Um...I can't really. I'd like to, but I already promised my parents I'd come up with the boys for a cookout on Saturday. How about you come up here instead?"
"Go to the cookout?"
"Yeah, sure. My parents would be happy to meet you."
"Ah...Um..."
"Ha! What's the matter, Jack? Worried I'm trying to show you off to my parents?"
"Well...it's okay...I mean..."
Elly laughed more, "You don't have to. I just thought it would be fun. Don't worry about it."
"No. No, I'd like to."
"Jack, don't worry about it."
"No, really. I'd like to come."
"You sure? I don't want you to feel any pressure, or like you're just doing it because you think I'm challenging you."
"I'd like to come. Can I bring anything?"
"Not necessary, but if you want, my parents like red wine."
"Sounds good."
"Can you be here by noon?''
"Sure."
"We'll drive together, then, and if you want to leave early we will."
"Okay."
"Have you responded to Mrs. Warner?" Elly asked.
"No. She called again on Tuesday. I will soon."
"Okay. See you Saturday."
"Goodnight."
"Bye," Elly said and hung up.
Friday, the market retracted again, but just a little. By the time Saturday morning rolled around I was ready for some relaxation and fun. I'd even stayed home on Friday night instead of going out with friends.
I stopped at the supermarket on the way to Wisconsin and bought three bottles of an expensive red wine I'd had several times. I hadn't thought to ask what Elly's parents would be serving so I just went with a good Cabernet.
The drive to Wisconsin gave me plenty of time to think. I decided to call Mrs. Warner with a low offer, and see where that led. I'd sort of decided to go for the farm if I could get it at a good price. The thought was to start low and settle at an acceptable midpoint. My hope was to get it at nine hundred to nine hundred fifty thousand.
"Mrs. Warner?"
"Mr. Thompson?"
"Yes. Jack please. How are you?"
"I'm fine, and glad to hear from you."
"Yes. I'm sorry I didn't return your calls earlier, but between work being crazy and not being sure what I wanted to do, well, I'd like to move forward now."
"Great."
"However, I have to tell you that my interest is to pick up the property at a good price."
"As you should, and I think you can."
"I'd like to offer seven hundred fifty thousand."
"Okay. I'll present that and we'll see what they come back with."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"Call me any time."
"Okay. Hopefully it will be soon."
"Bye."
"Bye."
I arrived at Elly's fifteen minutes early, and was immediately put to work. The twins weren't cooperating with getting ready; Blaine wanted to play trains with me and when he was told no he abruptly started a crying fit. He was soon joined by Blake, adding to Elly's troubles. My job was to influence the guys to get ready for the cookout.
I decided making a game of getting ready might be the solution, and surprisingly it worked. I challenged the boys to see who could get ready first. Even with that, though, it was still half past twelve before we left. With the boys in their seats in the back of my car, I looked over at Elly. She looked a bit hurried and drained, but when she saw me looking a smile came to her beautiful face. I smiled back before turning back to the road.
"I put a bid in on the Martin Place," I said.
"You did?" Elly asked with enthusiasm.
"Yeah. A low bid to test the waters. I'll only want to buy the place if I can get a good deal, Elly."
"As you should, Jack. It's going to take a lot to get it back into shape."
"Yeah. If I'm going to buy it I want to have money to upgrade the house, improve the shoreline, and buy a boat."
"Wow. What about farming?"
"I thought you might be able to help me raise cattle first, and then get into the farming part of the land later. You think I could find someone like Jose to help me work the cattle and fields?"
"Actually, I have trouble keeping Jose busy all the time and I think he would make a great foreman. We could both hire him, and have him find some other reliable workers, too."
"That sounds like a good plan."
We talked about a few other elements of running the two farms. Elly gave me directions to her parents' place; It only took about thirty minutes to get there. I hadn't even been thinking about it enough to be nervous, but once we were there I was a little anxious as we followed the running kids into the backyard. Elly carried a taco dip and chips, along with a bag over her shoulder for the boys' things. I carried the wine and another bottle of prosecco Elly brought.
Other older people were already on the back deck, with drinks and appetizers on an umbrella-covered table. The day promised to be great for a cook out, sunny and hot. The outside temperature on my Rover had read eighty five as we drove through the neighborhood to get here.
The boys ran right to their grandmother for hugs and kisses. Elly led me to the table to add the taco dip to the appetizers, and introduced me to the people around the table as friends of her parents. We made our way to her mother, and Elly introduced me to her. Jan was a pretty, elderly lady, and I saw where Elly got her looks. She shook my hand with a huge smile and welcome. I immediately felt like the new boyfriend that apparently her parents and other family had unsuccessfully encouraged her to pursue for the last two years.
I offered Jan the wine and Elly's prosecco, and she graciously accepted it. With that, an older handsome man with a goatee joined us with a barbecuing apron covering his clothes. I'd seen him at the grill as we climbed the steps to the deck.
"Hi," Elly's dad said, shaking my hand vigorously. "I'm Stan. We're having ribs, Jack. Hope you like baby back ribs."
"I do," I said honestly, as I finally extracted my hand from Stan's firm grip.
My nervousness passed quickly as Elly made sure I had some of the prosecco. We found some chairs not far from the main group at the table, where we could keep our eyes on the kids as they ran around in the backyard with a Brittany named Amy. The boys were kicking a soccer ball around the yard as Amy barked and ran after it.
We'd barely gotten settled when some people closer to our age arrived. They turned out to be friends of Elly's from high school and from the neighborhood. I was introduced to more people than I could possibly remember; several of them sat next to us, and soon we were all chatting. At one point I played kickball with the boys and Amy until I started to break a sweat, but fortunately some other young kids came and I was able to get back to my chair.
Elly had to jump up occasionally to deal with the boys or her folks. Elly's parents and many of the friends helped watch the kids as well. On one of Elly's trips to help with the food, her friends from the neighborhood moved in around me. I could feel the 'let's check out the new boyfriend' vibes.
Claire, a pretty brunette with blue eyes, was sitting closest to me. Her husband, Barry, had been sitting next to her, but was off with other dads at the moment, monitoring the kids. Claire shifted toward me for the inquisition.
"Elly tells me you're from Chicago."
"Yeah, I live in Lincoln Park. You know much about the Chicago area?"
"Some. My sister went to DePaul."