Intersections and Stop Signs
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Jillian Sinclair was ecstatic. She was in the home of one of Fullmer's upper crust families. Mrs. Brooks was the matriarch of the Brooks family, one of Fullmer's founding members, and big in county society. She knew if she could get this contract to redecorate Hattie Brooks's house that word would get around, and her business would progress even more than it already had in the last two years.
Jill was happy now, even with the hole in her social life. JJ was off to the university on scholarship in Culver, and she still had her friends. Her memory and longing for her ex-husband John, although a nagging pain in her psyche, was actually buried in the back of her mind. She mainly thought of him on lonely nights when she was by herself. She longed for him and the way he had always made love to her. She admitted to herself that she made the mistakes that cost her her marriage. However, her desire for revenge for him leaving her the way he had was still deeply entrenched.
Hattie Brooks walked in and offered Jillian some tea, which she accepted.
"Good morning, dear, I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. I'm an old woman, you know, and it takes me longer to make myself presentable."
Jillian looked at this grand old lady, who was still quite elegant in her 80s, and replied, "Mrs. Brooks, I am of the opinion that you are presentable any time of the day."
"Why, what a lovely thing to say, Miss Sinclair."
"Shall we discuss what you would like me to do with your rooms, Mrs. Brooks?"
"Right down to business, I like that in a businesswoman."
Jillian opened up her leather satchel and pulled out several bound books of fabrics and decorative paraphernalia to show the old matriarch. As she was sitting there, she noticed the most beautiful ornate coffee table she had ever seen. There was a lower platform with carved, curved, mahogany legs that came up to another top platform with glass surrounded by a mahogany frame; carved with characters of a religious theme. Under the glass was a detailed 3-D carving of the Last Supper. The intricacy and beauty of this piece far exceeded anything Jill had ever seen before.
"You've noticed the piece I wanted you to see, Miss Sinclair. I want you to design this whole room around my beautiful table. It's large enough that we can do that. Isn't it the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?"
"If I may ask, Mrs. Brooks, where did you get this beautiful table?"
"Believe it or not, my son had it especially made for me by a master woodworker."
"It's the most exquisite creation I've ever seen. We can surely build your room around this," Jill said as she began to show the older woman the samples and give her advice on how they should proceed. When they finished in about an hour, Jill's curiosity overwhelmed her and she knelt down to look closer at the table as they talked. She noticed a branded logo on the bottom right corner with a pine tree in the middle and lettering that said "another 3F creation," almost in a circle.
"If I'm not being too personal, Mrs. Brooks, where did your son get this beautiful table?"
"I don't really know, dear, but I'd be glad to ask him, if you can wait a minute."
She lifted her cordless phone off the end table and dialed a number. "Henry, this is mother. Where did you have my beautiful Christmas table made for me?"
"He said he had it made by a woodworker who operates out of Rans Furniture over in Culver. He said the man only took four weeks to complete it."
"Thank you so much, Mrs. Brooks," Jill replied as she sat there admiring the table. She was definitely going to check this place out and meet this artisan. The wheels started turning in her head as she thought of a chance for a symbiotic relationship with this company.
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JJ Trainor was enjoying his classes in his second year at Culver State. He was taking courses for his baccalaureate degree in automotive engineering. His father always supported and encouraged his son to follow his instincts and his heart in what he wanted to do in life.
Early on in his second year, he lived with his father and stepmother Amy in John's humongous garage apartment. He found Amy to be wonderful and supportive, as well as loving. Although she was not that much older than him, JJ realized she was mature beyond her age and completely in love with his father. He also realized that despite their obvious age difference, they were the perfect match for each other. Amy made John feel younger and he made her feel blessed. Seeing them together made JJ hopeful for one day finding the love of his life.
JJ and John kept in touch with phone calls at least twice a week and saw each other at least once on every holiday gathering. JJ kept this from his mother, Jill, by keeping and paying for his own cell phone. He never left his phone or bills lying around in case his mother snooped. He didn't want to chance giving away his father's location or contact information. John had more than compensated for being physically absent during JJ's last high school years with phone calls and emails to his private email account.
JJ understood why John had to leave Fullmer and pursue his new life. John would often take his son to the furniture store to show him what he was creating at the time. JJ always seemed to burst with pride at what his father could build or carve, and realized what an artisan his father truly was.
JJ looked back with humor on the day he basically told his grandfather, Boston Sinclair, to shove his money up his ass. His mother had taken him to his grandparents for a visit and JJ had dreaded the trip. Truth be known, he despised his grandfather and his controlling ways. He realized early on that his grandfather was the type of man who used his money and power to get his own way. JJ used his father's example and stood up to the old man. When his mother and he arrived, Boston immediately had him led to the study by one of the maids.
When Boston came into the room he immediately told JJ to sit. He reluctantly sat down, instantly not wanting to give the old man the upper hand. JJ had a suspicion of what was transpiring and had decided that this was finally the war.
"Well, son, what are you going to do for college?"
"I've already got a scholarship to Culver State and I'm going to study automotive engineering."
"Well, son, scholarships don't cover all your costs, and if you're going to work with me after college you need to study business."
"Well, sir, the costs are covered and I will study what I want. Who says I'm going to work for you?"
"If I'm going to help you with your expenses, you'll end up working with me."
"Grandfather, my father set up a trust for me years ago, so I have all the money I need for the rest of my expenses. I am studying engineering because that's what I want to do with my life; not work in a smelly old office for you."
Boston looked at his grandson like he was going to blow a gasket, his face red and veins popping up on his forehead. JJ had seen him angry before, but nothing like this. The man was so angry he threw his half-full glass of liquor across the room into the wall, spoiling a bunch of books.
"Why you little sonofabitch, you're as bad as that ungrateful wretch of a father of yours. He had a great life with my wonderful daughter and he left both her and you because of his own selfishness. You're no better than he is."
JJ exploded at the old man, stood up and said, "Listen you old bastard, if I'm no better than my father that is a major complement. He's twice the man you'll ever be on his worst day. It's funny that you called your daughter a bitch by calling me a son of one. I love my mother to death, but she is far from perfect. She was one of the ones that drove him away. Personally, I'd be glad to never come here again and have to deal with your stuffy, condescending rants. If you ever say anything bad about my father again, I'm going to knock you on your ass. Mother," he screamed and his mother came running into the study. "I'm leaving, you can drive me home, or I'll hitchhike, but get me out of here before I beat this old prick more senseless than he is."
Jill knew better than to waste any time and decided to diffuse the situation by taking JJ and leaving. As she starred to get into her car, she heard her father screaming, "Don't ever bring that young ingrate back to this house. He's worse than his father."
Jill looked at her son quizzically and asked, "What did you do to set him off like that?"
"I'm never going back there again, mother. He's talked bad about my father for the last time. He wants to try to control me like he did my uncles and I wouldn't put up with it. I don't need his money and I don't need his bullshit."
"You're of age, JJ, you don't have to do anything you don't want to."
"Mother, I'm sorry, he's your father and I know you love him. However, I don't love him and I won't stand for him putting my father down. I'm proud of my dad and I love him too, so I don't have to take your father putting him down."
JJ fondly remembered that day and even told John about it. He was prouder of his son for standing up to Boston than he had ever been. JJ took classes his first summer, and with the AP classes he took in high school, he was actually a year ahead of where he needed to be to graduate in three years. He had the chance for a college credited internship at Topper Transmission, a tractor manufacturer in Culver. JJ wanted to specialize in transmission design, so it was the perfect opportunity for him.
He had plenty of money, but had very little time for socialization in the university setting. He loved the work and management quickly took note of his enthusiasm and work ethic. His professors received glowing praise from the owners and said that they would be glad to get other interns of his capabilities in the future.
Even though JJ was under age, he would often accompany his father to Mainstays for a hamburger and a beer. Amy always thought this was cute and never worried when they went for the evening. Amy soon showed her love for JJ in the normal ways, by cooking, laundering his clothes and joking around with him about his lacking social skills. She called him "a chip off the old block."
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One night, while John and Amy were laying there in post-coital bliss, Amy looked over at John seriously and hugged him tightly, saying, "John, I want to have your baby."
John sat straight up in bed, almost pushing Amy out and replied, "What brought this on?"
