Late into the night Thomas lay awake. He thought about the last 6 years of his life. They had been spent with little real personal pleasure. What did he have to show for his time? A string of ex-girlfriends, some the age if his daughter. He had no real friends and no personal passion in his life. How he envied men who lived to hunt or fish. Or those that loved to ski or surf seemed so alive when they were able to do what they loved. Even the men who followed sports had something to look forward to and enjoy. Suddenly Thomas Bridgeman felt all alone.
But it was a feeling he had known since he realized his wife was having an affair. On the day it was proven he felt a little of his heart die. Up until the moment he learned he had cancer he could deal with it. He worked and made money. He found women to bed. He looked for the next challenge. But now that was gone. Not only was he losing his job but it was in such a villainous. The company, no Allen Jamison, wanted Thomas in an isolated area and busy as the cancer ate him alive. That way Allen could pick up his shares of stock cheaply after his death. It was then he recognized the character of the man he worked for. The man who had grown richer by Thomas's efforts. A man that cared only for money.
Thomas began to think of Sandra as he slipped into the twilight of slumber. For a moment he saw her in the times before...while they were still in love. The visions of their children being born came into his minds eyes. And watching them grow warmed his spirits. Yes if he could go to sleep and awaken 10 years in the past this nightmare would be just that.
Sunday morning Thomas made a call. An hour later he was sitting in the home of Daniel Archer. Archer was a raider that had cast an eye toward Allan's holdings but had been unsuccessful in efforts. He was ruthless, but a man of his word. He was curious as to why Thomas Bridgeman was calling. The two men sat in his den drinking coffee discussing the reason for the visit.
"Mr. Archer I have a proposition for you. I want to sell you my stock in Jamison Holdings."
"Why would you want to do that? As soon as Allan Jamison hears about it you'll be fired."
"That won't be a problem Mr. Archer. I intend to resign next week. I'm only stalling for time. If you will allow me I will explain why I am here." Daniel Archer nodded; Thomas continued. "I can get my hands on several blocks of stock in Jamison Holding. If you make a swift offer for the common stock that will be available next Wednesday you can hold over 40% ownership. With that leverage you will be on the board. From there it will be up to you, because I'll be gone."
"Gone? Where are you going?"
Thomas thought a moment. It would be best to tell the truth. "I'll be gone from Jamison Holding and maybe gone from this world." He let that soak in.
"What you got?"
"They tell me advance lymphoma. If I had waited another 2 months it would have been too late. As of now I got about a 40% chance of making it. But I'll be out of it for the next six months with treatment. By then we'll know if I going to make it."
"Son this isn't a line of bullshit is it?" Daniel Archer was a direct man.
"Have you ever known me to lie?" Thomas looked Archer in the eye.
Archer was a gambler. So he took Thomas on face value. He would front the money to purchase the personal blocks and be ready to snatch all common stock that was offered the following Wednesday. By then Thomas had made all the arrangements on his end. At noon Wednesday by a touch of a key on his computer Thomas completed all the ransactions.
Daniel Archer found that Thomas had been wrong about the amount of stock made public by Allan Jamison Holdings. It was much larger that had been indicated. By the 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening Daniel Archer controlled 51.2% of Allen Jamison Holding.
Late Wednesday night Archer called Thomas, "My boy you did a smashing job. I'm giving you a $100,000.00 bonus. And when you get well you come see me."
"Why so generous Mr. Archer?" Thomas asked.
Daniel Archer laughed, "Hell Thomas you earned it. I been trying to get the goods on Jamison for over 5 years and you pulled it off in less than a week. To be truthful I just don't want you as an enemy."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It was meant that way my boy. Now you gonna be in the office tomorrow morning?"
"Sure, I'm going in to resign."
"Good, think I'll be there too. I want to personally tell Jamison he works for me now!"
When Allan came in that morning he found Daniel Archer in Thomas's office. Thomas smiled and offered his resignation. "I guess you were gambling on getting my shares when I died Allan. You shouldn't have gambled if you couldn't afford to lose. I knew there was something up when you wanted to send me to Spokane. You used the same sales pitch I used on Jordan. Not only that but you are such a poor liar. Now I'll leave you to get acquainted with your new boss." Thursday was not a pretty day at Allan Jamison Holding.
Two weeks later Thomas started chemo treatment. He called and asked Megon to come stay with him for a couple of weeks till he got his affairs in order. Megon hesitated but relented. When she arrived Thomas learned he was to be a grandfather. Megon cried and begged him not to be mad. She was too ashamed to tell her dad she was pregnant at her wedding.
Thomas held her and said it was ok. He put his hand on her stomach. Looking at her he said her's might be the only grandchild he got to see. That thought made Megon cry even harder.
Megon stayed two weeks then returned home. Thomas was getting chemo in the hospital and would spend the night. That served to allow him to drive himself to and from his treatments. Thomas had always been independent. Now he realized he would need someone to stay with him when the later treatments started. He tried all of his former 'girlfriends' and found when he mentioned cancer they hung up. At least he was not short of money and he had full hospital coverage. Daniel Archer had seen to that as part of Thomas's severance package. But he was alone.
Megon came back one last time as Thomas was admitted for a 6 week hospital stay. He would receive chemo, radiation and a bone marrow transplant. It would be a grueling regiment and one that would require 24/7 care. On Friday morning Megon kissed her dad good-bye and headed home. Her doctor said she couldn't fly again until after the baby was born. Thomas was left all in the care of the hospital nurses.
It was Friday for Sandra. Her first Friday as Chief Cost Analyst. She had replaced the retiring Less Morris. She was in her office at noon when she got the call. It was Megon.
"Mother this is Megon I hope it is ok that I called you at work. I know I haven't been in contact with you like I should."
"Megon I knew it was you. You're the only female that can call me mother. And you can call me anytime you wish. How are you doing?"
