I hope you enjoy this story. Please provide me feedback. This story includes contact between parent and an adult child that may be offensive to some. While not incest, if any contact offends you, please don't read. This part is longer than usual but there was not good break.
Edited by DRGRIFFIN, with my thanks!
John spends the week at home earning his place in Max Construction
Emma showed us around the campus before we headed back to Cincinnati. She took us by her office and showed us the classroom where she was teaching freshmen math classes.
John said, "I bet you are a good teacher."
Emma said, "I get feedback that I am cold and aloof."
Eva whispered to me, "I wonder where she got that?"
At about three Eva said to Emma and John, "Lance and I are going to the coffee shop close to where we parked. We will say goodbye and leave you two a little time to talk."
Eva hugged her daughter and I heard her whisper, "Work hard baby, this is your chance. Everything will work out. Be smart."
Emma nodded but looked very sad.
I hugged her and said loudly, "Call us. We are always here for you."
Emma smiled and said, "Thanks, I know. Lance, thanks for bringing Mom and John. I had such a good weekend."
I said to John, "Take your time, there is no rush."
Eva and I had a cup of coffee and chatted about our children.
John joined us at the coffee shop in about an hour. After a few minutes of silence, I asked, "Are you okay?"
"Not really."
"Anything we can help you with?" I asked knowing the answer.
"Not really. Doctor Baumann you know I am falling for your daughter. Maybe I have been my whole life. She is a very special person but we both have things we must do in the near-term."
Eva smiled and said, "Well, I would be happy to have you as my son in law but I don't like the idea of you staying in the Marines. Emma has a gift that won't allow her to move from base to base. So first things first. You both need to do what you have to do. Plus, it is too early to say you want my daughter forever. We are very demanding women."
John said, "Well the rewards outweigh the effort. I know I can't remain in the Marines and be with Emma. I want it to work with Sam. First things first, I want to make a good impression on Sam next week."
I said, "Let's get back to Cincinnati. We can talk as we drive home."
John said, "Let me drive Dad. You have been driving all weekend."
I handed him the keys to my F250 and we headed back to Cincinnati.
John was quiet while Eva and I chatted about the upcoming week. She was working hard on the book and her fund but she really wanted to meet with Sam, John and I the following morning.
Eva said, "I am more interested in Max Construction now. I might want to keep a piece of it. John, I am all for you taking part of the business from me but Sam must want that also. Not to put too much pressure on you but I can't make Sam do something with this business he isn't comfortable with."
John said, "I wouldn't want it any other way. I want to earn a place in your company. Life is funny isn't it. I had a plan to get in my twenty and retire young. That all changed in one weekend and for the first time I am serious about someone."
The following morning Eva, John and I met with Sam at the headquarters.
Sam said, "John, good to see you again. I am proud for your service to our country. Eva and John tell me you might be ready to opt out of your next tour and work with us."
John said, "Yes sir, I would like to be a part of Max Construction."
"Well, remember I have seen you work. I have never seen you lead but Lance told me something about what you have done in the service so I am willing to give you the benefit of a doubt."
John said, "Sir, I don't want the benefit of the doubt. I want to earn your trust. Can we start with me working in the business and when you are think I have earned the right to become an owner then let's talk?"
Sam looked at Eva and asked, "Eva where is your head?"
"I want John to own part of Max Construction. I think that is what Max would want. But I agree that John needs to earn our trust. Here is what I propose, let John work this week in the business, if you are still comfortable with him being in the business he declines his second tour of service. Once he is back he becomes a supervisor and if we are all happy with what he is doing, I want to sell him part of my share. I have taken advantage of Lance and you too long. I want you to get a larger share in the business. You have thirty percent now. Let's set the value of the business at the price offered by Empire Construction, and you can buy shares from me out of profits until you get to forty percent. I will also make forty percent available to either Lance or John as you approve of them purchasing my shares. I will retain twenty percent and be a non-working partner pulling no salary but sharing in the quarterly profits."
Sam smiled, "Eva, that is more than fair."
John said, "Sounds fair to me also. I like that I get to earn my way into the business."
Eva asked me, "Lance what do you think?"
"Well, I also think it is fair but let me be clear, I want to focus on my design business. But I will help anyway I can. I believe in my son and don't need anything proven."
Eva said, "One last thing. I want this business to always be called Max Construction."
Sam said quickly, "Absolutely. I realize that I wouldn't be anywhere without Max Rayburn. I remember Max gave me the same chance we are giving to John."
We all shook hands as Eva and I left, so that John and Sam could work out specifics of what John would do for the week. That week we were all very busy, Eva on her book, John worked late every night at Max Construction, and me on my project and helping John.
Friday night, Eva made us dinner at my place as we waited for John to get home and give us the news we knew he had from Sam. Much to our surprise in came Emma. Emma and John had talked every night that week on the phone.
She said, "I just had to see John tonight and share whatever the news is from Sam."
Eva said, "We understand baby. Have you had dinner?"
"No not yet. I came back right after my last class. Not sure I can eat anyway. You know what Sam is going to tell John don't you Mom?"
"Yes, but why don't you have something to eat and let John tell you?"
Emma frowned but said, "Ok."
About nine John came in and was very surprised to see Emma. She opened the door and jumped in his arms. After a big hug, she said, "I can't wait, what did Sam say? Mom wouldn't tell me."
John said, "Can I sit down first? And I really need a shower."
Emma said, "I will wash you Sarge, if you will tell me first what Sam said."
John sat on a hard chair as he was dirty from the day's work, "He said he had forgotten how hard I worked. He also said that I had learned a lot of construction techniques in my service tour that will be of great benefit to Max Construction. He said a lot more but the bottom line was he didn't need to see anything further to know he wanted me as his partner. He said he had worked out details with Eva today and if I would agree to them then we have a deal."
Emma looked at Eva sternly, "Mom, I want this to happen. Please make it happen."
John jumped in for Eva, "Your Mom has been extremely generous to me and Sam. We both agreed that we would be fools to not accept Eva's terms."
Emma hugged her mother, "Thank you Mom. I love you so much."
Eva said, "There is one other thing Sam said. He said John had leadership qualities that made the decision easier. As a Marine he had instant credibility with the workers. The blue-collar guys also recognize his work ethic. He will be accepted as a site foreman immediately."
John continued, "Bottom line, Eva will sell us a portion of her shares over time such that I will eventually have 40%, Sam 40% and Eva retains 20%. Dad will be able to get back to his design business but do some of our high-end design projects. Sam, Eva and I will meet quarterly to go over operations and split the profits. Sam and I will get a salary, mine initially as a foreman but we will split the profits per the ultimate split I described. Sam and I will pay Eva some portion of the profits until Eva's shares are absorbed per the split. That is extremely generous of Eva. Eva, I just don't know what to say. No way I can ever thank you enough."
Eva said, "Actually it is Max and Sam you need to thank. They built this company but I will take a hug for Max. He really did think so much of you and would be so happy about this. I wanted to give the 40% to you but I knew you wouldn't take it so this seemed like the best alternative."
"It is, I want to earn it, not be given this." John took off his dirty shirt and hugged Eva whispering, "Thank you so much, Doctor Baumann." Eva had tears in her eyes.
Eva said, "You also need to thank your father as he carried my baggage for seven months."