This chapter is not meant to stand alone. Please begin at the first chapter to appreciate this tale.
Wednesday, October 31
At seven thirty Scott's cell rang and Veronica picked it up from the dresser and answered when she saw the caller ID was Grace. "Hi, stranger, I've missed you. ... Thanks, and how's your brother-in-law? ... Good. ... This morning? Sure, where? ... Eight? ... We may be a few minutes late, but we'll be there."
I'd just walked out of the bathroom and was tucking in my shirt when Veronica told me that Grace had just called and we were going to meet her for breakfast at the First Watch in the valley. As she hurriedly dressed, I went down to the den and found Grace's check and put it in my jacket pocket. Mary Claire had a cup of coffee waiting for me and both daughters got their usual morning embrace and ass squeeze. Mary Claire walked over to me, turned her back to me and said, "Me too, Dad."
"Grace just called. Your mother and I are going to meet her for breakfast. Katrina you need to be at the club by ten, Mary Claire and Ashley you can hang here until eleven-thirty or leave with your sister at nine-thirty," I reminded them.
Carol and Veronica came down about ten minutes later and I kissed Carol goodbye as we hurried out the door. I had grabbed the keys for Veronica's car so we went in that. At about five after we parked in front of First Watch and were greeted by Grace who stood from her booth when she saw us walking in. After hugs all around, we sat, quickly perused the menu and ordered. After a bit of small talk, Grace announced, "I have some good news and some not so good news."
"The good news is that my brother-in-law should make a complete recovery and I've fallen in love with Edith and she with me."
"Wow," I uttered surprised. I didn't know what else to say. I knew a bit about what happened in California but for the falling in love part, Veronica's story hadn't hinted that they were that serious. My fiancée seemed to be surprised as well by the quickness of it all.
"I know it's sudden. And truthfully it's caught us both off guard and we too are amazed by how rapidly our feelings developed for each other. I can't explain my feelings for her other than she and I've meshed emotionally and she's the person I've been looking for all my life. Edith wants us to travel together. She wants to show me sights she's seen and to explore new ones together. I'm leaving with her tomorrow to spend three weeks to a month at a villa in Tuscany. We fly into Rome where we'll spend a few nights before renting a car and driving to her villa. I guess we'll need to put the job I offered to take on hold. Truthfully, I won't be offended if you hire someone else. Sorry, if this is a disappointment to you."
"It is. I'll miss seeing you everyday. In fact, I have your bonus check with me," I said.
I passed the sealed envelope across the table and Grace opened it with unsteady hands. After pulling it out she said, "There seems to be a mistake. Payroll added an extra zero or two."
"No, no mistake, it's a million, just what Emerson and I agreed on," I said. "Grace you played a big part in our success and we believe you should share in those fruits. This doesn't include your pension, which by the way Emerson made an extra deposit into it last Thursday to bring your annual payment from the corporate pension plan to seventy-eight per cent of current salary and you'll be carried on the medical plan until you become eligible for Medicare."
Holding the check in both unsteady hands, she said, "I just never expected, ... never thought, ... that you'd give me this much. Maybe a year's pay, but not this much. I don't know what else to say except 'thank you'. Do I get to keep it in light of my not staying?" she asked with an unsteady voice.
"Grace, don't be silly. It's in recognition for what you've done for us, on the future at all. What you'd have been paid by me would've been on top of everything else. Grace, I suspect with what you've put aside over the years that you'll have a very comfortable retirement."
"You're right. My investment account is very healthy. I've learned much by listening to you and Emerson talk over the years," she smiled.
Grace finally folded the check and put it in her purse when our food came. We chatted at length about Edith and I asked her if she thought that Cheryl Babcock would be a good choice to run my household office. I also told her that I was interviewing a financial manager later today. She had the highest praise for Cheryl and said the only caveat would be her husband. "He was never too wild about her working, even though he travels quite a bit. He strikes me as over-compensating by constantly attempting to demonstrate that he's so manly. If she can avoid being distracted by her husband and his games, she'd do an excellent job. I've met her kids, very lovely daughter and a handsome son. Haven't seen them in a year though," Grace said.
While I was tempted to tell her that Cheryl was divorcing her husband, it wasn't public knowledge yet, so I'd not violate Cheryl's trust.
It was approaching nine-thirty when I grabbed the check and told her we needed to leave for the closing.
Veronica wished her well as we stood in front of the restaurant and she hugged and kissed us both. "Keep in touch," Veronica told her. "I'll put a piece of wedding cake in the freezer for you."
"I'm sorry I'll miss your wedding. You're both very fortunate to have found your soul mate. I strongly sense Edith may be mine. Love you both and I'll let you know when we're back in town. Dinner together, perhaps?" she sparkled as she turned to walk the opposite direction to her car.
Veronica and I got to the club a few minutes before ten and as we were standing in the lobby Katrina, Ashley and Mary Claire arrived. Emerson and Hazel were next and Kim and Gwen arrived just as Emerson's SUV was being driven to valet parking. Jack, Michael, Margaret and another man were next to arrive in a limo driven by Lauren. Michael introduced the other gentleman to Emerson and me as their attorney, Sanford Billing. I made an inquiry at the office and was told that room six was set up for us and that coffee and juice were waiting. As Emerson began directing everyone back to the room, Clairise Hoffman, Isadore's widow arrived in a cab and Cheryl pulled in right behind her. I went out and helped Clairise from the cab, and gave her a gentle friendly hug before she clung to my arm as we slowly walked in. "Bad hip, really should get the damned thing fixed," she offered as an explanation for her slow pace.
I rubbed her hand as we walked down the hallway. "Clairise, I warn you, if you do I get the first and second dance," I smiled.
"Scott, you're always the charmer," she smiled.
When we were just inside the door she tugged my arm and we stopped for a moment while she searched through her purse and withdrew an envelope and handed it to me. "Here, I should have given this to you in July right after Izzy died, but I forgot."
"What is it?" I asked.
"It's a formal letter of transfer of our sixteen seat private box at Busch Stadium. It's been approved by the Cardinals. I told them a little fib by telling them the box was staying in the family and you were Izzy's nephew." I nodded my understanding. She looked me in the eye, slightly squeezed my hand and smiled, "In a way I wasn't fibbing, you were like a close nephew to Izzy. And I appreciated how you always respected him and how you were constantly with him during those last days."
"Clairise, you're right. He was like a wise uncle, which makes you my glorious and gracious aunt...and I hope that I can still can visit you," I said before kissing her cheek.
In her indomitable style of being careful not to be too emotional she replied with a grin, "Now, now, enough of this nonsense. Regarding that box, now all you have to do is pay the annual fee. I've forgotten what it is, but you can probably scrape enough together to make it work. Redecorate it as you wish. I've taken a few collectables I wanted including the Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax autographed balls...now those three were great pitchers. Izzy would have wanted you to have the rest, including the signed pictures of him with Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron, and a game bat signed by Joe Torre in 1971." As we began walking again to the meeting room she squeezed my hand again as a way to affirm that yes, I not only could but would be expected to visit her often.
As few steps later Cheryl came right behind me and walked alongside Clairise introducing herself. She then helped Clairise to her chair and sat next to her.
Emerson, Hazel, Veronica and I sat side by side at the table at the bottom of the 'U', Michael and Margaret were on Emerson's right. Kim, Gwen, my three daughters and Cindy who'd just arrived filled the leg on Veronica's left. Sitting on the leg to Margaret's right were Cheryl, Clairise, Cathleen, Jack, and Sanford. As the waiters were leaving after filling cups and glasses, Emerson stood and introduced everyone and announced that the purpose of today's meeting was to affirm by a shareholder vote the sale of Midwest Capital to CitiGroup for two hundred sixty five million dollars. Sanford polled the shareholders one by one, announced each person's share holding and recorded a unanimous vote in favor of the sale. Each shareholder signed their stock certificates and gave them to Sanford in exchange for two wire transfer receipts. One for the cash deposited to their designated bank account and the other representing the restricted stock transfer to the brokerage accounts at Edward Jones.
"We'd love to stay for awhile but we've got this new company to run so if you'll excuse us," said Michael standing. "Cheryl, why don't you stay for lunch."
Jack, Michael, Sanford and Margaret shook each hand around the table and Margaret called Lauren on her cell as they were leaving the room. Veronica nudged me and looked at Margaret's ass and legs. I followed her line of sight and noticed that Margaret was wearing seamed hose, the Cuban heel indicated garter stockings. "I thought I noticed a garter bump on her thigh when she got out of the car," remarked Veronica.
"Good for her," I smiled. I then stood and asked, "Cheryl, can Veronica and I talk to you for a few minutes?"
The three of us walked across the room and when we stopped, I said, "Cheryl, Grace was going to come work for me, ... us, but she's fallen in love and has declined the position. I don't want you to feel that you're a second choice, but I'd like you to consider being our personal secretary, household manager, executive assistant, purchasing agent or whatever we ask of you. No bottle washing, no windows, no floors or no cooking. I've watched you during the last week and you've very efficient. I'll pay you fifty percent more than you're making now, give you a car for personal use as well as to run errands for us, plus a twenty-five thousand dollar a year clothing allowance. I must warn you that Veronica or I could make clothing recommendations that would consume part of your clothing allowance."
"Are you serious. Gosh, Scott what an offer! Would I have to stop having sex with you, and you?" looking at Veronica.
"No, I'm afraid not, at least not on our account. It started before employment and isn't a condition of employment. Participate as much as you desire. Call it a fringe benefit if you will. For all of us," grinned Veronica.
