09-02-2020, 01:33 PM
We made our way down the back stairs this time so Brian would know where to go if he ever needed to come over to meet with me. I couldn't see that happening, but one never knows. I led him out the back door, where I got a big smile from Stephanie and a little wave. "Rosemary? Could I speak with you for a moment?" Brian tried very hard not to stare as she made her way around the pool and over to us.
"I want you to meet Brian Stevens. He's the one Jim sent over to talk with me."
"Hi, Brian. I'm Rosemary, and it's a pleasure to meet you."
Brian bowed his head and took her pro-offered hand, but instead of shaking it lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of it gently. I know, it sounds hokey, but when it actually happened it was really sweet, and made Rosemary's eyes go wide for a moment and a big smile crossed her face.
"Brian told me he just had to meet you; that you're 'the most beautiful girl he's ever seen.' His words not mine."
Brian gave me a dirty look, but Rosemary just laughed and gave Brian's hand a gentle squeeze. It was then I noticed he had not let go. "Justin, behave. Don't pay any attention to him, Brian."
"How do you think he and Jim got acquainted, Rosemary? I'll give you one guess."
Rosemary took one look at Brian's sheepish face and said, "Don't tell me you took a TV apart!" Brian's blush told all. "That's a hoot! You two ought to get along like peas in a pod then. You are hiring him, aren't you, Justin?"
"Absolutely! Just as soon as we can get things going. I'll call Jim tonight. Now, if you two will excuse me, I have to give Dad a call and let him know when Michael will get in." I noticed as I turned away that Brian still had her hand held gently in his own.
My cell went off before I made it back to the library to call Dad. "Hey, Michael. What's the word?"
"Sorry to bother you, Justin, but I have a big favor to ask."
"If I can, you have it."
"Thanks. Tomorrow night when we all get together, I have a feeling I'm going to need some counsel. I don't know what's going on, but from the sound of things it isn't just the railroad stuff. May I invite Dad to sit in on the meeting with me? Mom, too, if you don't mind. If it isn't OK, say so, but I feel like I'm getting in over my head and I always value my Dad's, and Mom's, opinions."
"I don't think it would be a problem. I'll have to run it past Dad or Grandpa, but I'm sure they will say yes. I'm calling Dad in just a minute. I'll call you right back, OK?"
"Thanks."
Dad wasn't excited about the time of the meeting, but I think he was really relieved to hear Michael wanted his parents involved. "Son," he said, "Never feel shame to admit you need advice, or hesitate to ask for it. Always be careful of the source of your advice, but never hesitate to ask. This says a lot about Michael and demonstrates why he has gotten as far as he has in life. Oh, and before we have this meeting go to a store someplace and buy some of those PVC lawn chairs or something to sit on. I don't want to sit on another paint bucket!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Over dinner, Joanne Thibodeaux asked Jeff, "What is this with a meeting between Michael and Justin's family. Michael didn't do something wrong, did he? I mean, they've been doing stuff on that old house that Michael has been rather reluctant to discuss. Surely there wasn't a problem with the railroad?"
"Now dear, you know better than to try to second-guess Michael. No, I don't believe he is in any trouble. He would have said so if he was. Obviously, it wasn't something he wanted to discuss over the phone. He told me he didn't know what it was all about, either, but he said he wanted my advice, and he would welcome your thoughts as well, plus he thought it would be good for us to spend a little time with Justin's family. I really don't know why, but I'm sure if you can hold your horses for another day you will find out. I told him we would pick him up at the airport."
"I know. It just isn't like him to be secretive. First we have to find out about the railroad gold from the news media, and now this." She shook her head. "It doesn't sound like the meeting in Illinois went very well, either. He had to fly back to Omaha with them."
"I want you to meet Brian Stevens. He's the one Jim sent over to talk with me."
"Hi, Brian. I'm Rosemary, and it's a pleasure to meet you."
Brian bowed his head and took her pro-offered hand, but instead of shaking it lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of it gently. I know, it sounds hokey, but when it actually happened it was really sweet, and made Rosemary's eyes go wide for a moment and a big smile crossed her face.
"Brian told me he just had to meet you; that you're 'the most beautiful girl he's ever seen.' His words not mine."
Brian gave me a dirty look, but Rosemary just laughed and gave Brian's hand a gentle squeeze. It was then I noticed he had not let go. "Justin, behave. Don't pay any attention to him, Brian."
"How do you think he and Jim got acquainted, Rosemary? I'll give you one guess."
Rosemary took one look at Brian's sheepish face and said, "Don't tell me you took a TV apart!" Brian's blush told all. "That's a hoot! You two ought to get along like peas in a pod then. You are hiring him, aren't you, Justin?"
"Absolutely! Just as soon as we can get things going. I'll call Jim tonight. Now, if you two will excuse me, I have to give Dad a call and let him know when Michael will get in." I noticed as I turned away that Brian still had her hand held gently in his own.
My cell went off before I made it back to the library to call Dad. "Hey, Michael. What's the word?"
"Sorry to bother you, Justin, but I have a big favor to ask."
"If I can, you have it."
"Thanks. Tomorrow night when we all get together, I have a feeling I'm going to need some counsel. I don't know what's going on, but from the sound of things it isn't just the railroad stuff. May I invite Dad to sit in on the meeting with me? Mom, too, if you don't mind. If it isn't OK, say so, but I feel like I'm getting in over my head and I always value my Dad's, and Mom's, opinions."
"I don't think it would be a problem. I'll have to run it past Dad or Grandpa, but I'm sure they will say yes. I'm calling Dad in just a minute. I'll call you right back, OK?"
"Thanks."
Dad wasn't excited about the time of the meeting, but I think he was really relieved to hear Michael wanted his parents involved. "Son," he said, "Never feel shame to admit you need advice, or hesitate to ask for it. Always be careful of the source of your advice, but never hesitate to ask. This says a lot about Michael and demonstrates why he has gotten as far as he has in life. Oh, and before we have this meeting go to a store someplace and buy some of those PVC lawn chairs or something to sit on. I don't want to sit on another paint bucket!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Over dinner, Joanne Thibodeaux asked Jeff, "What is this with a meeting between Michael and Justin's family. Michael didn't do something wrong, did he? I mean, they've been doing stuff on that old house that Michael has been rather reluctant to discuss. Surely there wasn't a problem with the railroad?"
"Now dear, you know better than to try to second-guess Michael. No, I don't believe he is in any trouble. He would have said so if he was. Obviously, it wasn't something he wanted to discuss over the phone. He told me he didn't know what it was all about, either, but he said he wanted my advice, and he would welcome your thoughts as well, plus he thought it would be good for us to spend a little time with Justin's family. I really don't know why, but I'm sure if you can hold your horses for another day you will find out. I told him we would pick him up at the airport."
"I know. It just isn't like him to be secretive. First we have to find out about the railroad gold from the news media, and now this." She shook her head. "It doesn't sound like the meeting in Illinois went very well, either. He had to fly back to Omaha with them."
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