All characters engaging in sexual activities are 18 years of age or older.
Any spelling or grammar mistakes are my own.
There is no actual sex in this chapter. This chapter is a brief set-up for the end.
JOSEPH'S OFFICE
Joseph sat in his office with his blind closed.
"How the hell have you been brother!" Joseph exclaimed with excitement.
"I'm doing very well. These last three months away from everyone have really helped me. I should've done this a long time ago." Jackson replied.
"Are you seriously on a boat?" Joseph asked,
"Yes I am. I bought myself a used Ranger Tug R-43 S."
"You bought a used boat?"
"Relax, it's only two years old. The previous owner died of a heart attack and the widow didn't want it."
"Well how much did you pay for it? Joseph asked.
"What are you, my fucking mother." Jackson replied laughing.
Joseph laughed as well.
"I'm just curious is all. We have a lot of catching up to do."
"That's true. To answer your question, I only paid four-hundred-thousand for it."
"Four-hundred-thousand dollars!"
"Calm down. It came with literally everything. I'm talking about the appliances in the galley, the electronics, the fishing rods, hell, even the fluids for the engine. She just wanted rid of it, so she took about half of its value."
"I can't wait to see it bro."
"Of course. Listen Joseph. I need you to have Steve fly out at five tomorrow morning, so he can pick me up at the Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey. I want to be outta here no later than seven-thirty in the morning."
"That's great buddy! Everyone and I can't wait to see you."
"Same here Joe. I'm anxious to see and talk to everyone."
"Where are you staying now then?" Joseph asked.
"I've been staying at The Hyatt Regency in downtown Morristown."
"Hold on. What happened to the Blazer? I figured you'd drive back home."
"She's finally gone up to that big junkyard in the sky."
"Wow! Well, she lived a good long life bro."
"Yes she did. Twenty-seven years and three generations of Brown family members."
"Does this mean that you're going to take your proper place in high society, and get yourself a fancy car?"
"Hell no. I already got an appointment with Lee tomorrow morning to pick out a new vehicle."
"Look, I have a meeting coming up in ten minutes. Can't wait to see you tomorrow."
"You too. Take care." Jackson replied, as they hung up.
Joseph got up and walked into the hallway. He saw Sheila and Beverly talking to Sofia and her mother. Sofia's mother had been coming in every day since a week after Jackson had left. She had come in and asked for Jackson. When she was told that he wasn't here, she said she'd wait. It was on the third day that Ashley called into Joseph's office to tell him about the suspicious older woman.
Joseph went out to talk to her and to find out what she wanted with Jackson. She'd only say that it was a personal matter and started speaking Spanish really fast without breathing. He had Ashley call Sofia so she could translate. When she came out to the lobby, she was shocked to see her mother there. They started talking in English, then switched to Spanish, which pissed Joseph off. He eventually told Sofia to get her mother outta there or he'd call the police and have her tossed.
She left, but the next day, she started bringing Sofia lunch every day. She started up a friendship with Sheila and Beverly, as well as bringing Sopapillas in every morning. It was talking with Beverly that Joseph found out what the mother wanted. She was going to continue hanging around until she got her chance to talk to Jackson.
Joseph stood at the top of the steps and called out.
"Sheila, Beverly. I need to see you in my office now."
They said goodbye to Sofia and her mother, walked up the stairs and into Joseph's office. As Beverly shut the door, Sheila spoke up.
"What's up Joe?"
He waited until both of them sat down on the couch before he spoke.
"I just spoke to Jackson; he's coming home tomorrow." he said sitting down in a chair.
Beverly squealed and started clapping her hands quickly. Sheila just smiled and took a big deep breath.
"Good. I need my friend, and we need our leader back." Sheila said.
"He can get rid of Sofia's mother too." Joseph chimed in.
"What's wrong with her?" Beverly asked.
"There's nothing wrong with her, but she doesn't work here." Joseph replied.
"Why haven't you thrown her out then?" Beverly asked.
"Because those sopapillas are god damn delicious.'
"Well, at least you aren't thinking with your dick for a change." Sheila replied.
She and Beverly started laughing, while Joseph just looked at them.
"Something else I'm looking forward to, is having you two hens, clucking and camping out in his office."
"Where is he Joe?" Sheila asked.
"He's in Morristown, New Jersey. The Blazer finally crapped out, so he's having Steve fly out and pick him up tomorrow morning."
"Well then how's he getting to the airport then?" Beverly asked.
"Oh he's staying at the Hyatt Regency in downtown, he'll just take a cab in the morning."
"Are you picking him up from the airport when he gets here?" Sheila asked.
"Well he said that he has an appointment with Lee tomorrow morning at the dealership, so I'm assuming that he'll just pick him up and take him to work so he can test drive some vehicles."
"Well good. After that, he can come here and work things out with Sofia." Beverly said.
"Why the hell would he do that?" Joseph asked.
"That's why her mother is here. To tell Jackson that he has the family's blessing for them to date." Beverly said.
"I've told you before Bev, that would be a horrible decision. He should give Tara another chance." Sheila replied.
"Hold on. You two actually disagree with each other on this?" Joseph said with a look of shock and surprise on his face.
"We aren't the same person Joseph." Beverly replied.
"She thinks that getting with Sofia is more romantic. You know, the whole overcoming the cultural differences gambit." Sheila said to Joseph.
"And she thinks that reconciling with Tara proves that true love can overcome anything." Beverly retorted.
Joseph was smiling. In all his many years of knowing them, he'd never once seen them disagree on anything.
"I must say, this is a refreshing change of pace." he said.
"It's not like he'd choose one or both of us anyway, so we only want what is best for our friend." Sheila said.
"That certainly would be wonderful if he did though." Beverly giggled looking at Sheila.
"Well why the hell wouldn't he?" Joseph asked, looking at the two of them.
"For fucks sake Joseph, we are both sixty years old." Sheila said to him.
