All God's Promises (A Prairie Heritage Book 7)

by Vikki Kestell

  Kari well remembered part of her first conversation with Clover and Lorene. She had arrived in New Orleans that day, and they had invited her to their home for dinner. Clover had described the firm of Brunell & Brunell, and his role as one of the senior partners.

  I’m eighty-one years old and semiretired now, Clover had mentioned.

  We just cannot seem to grasp that we can’t do any longer all we used to do with such ease. So we mind each other’s blind spots—he mine, and I his, Lorene had added.

  Kari met Lorene’s gaze and nodded her acknowledgment.

  Lorene will not allow Clover to overextend himself. We must find someone else to fill Oskar’s shoes.

  “I understand, Lorene. Don’t worry—we’ll figure it out.”

  —

  IT WAS A SOUR NOTE ON WHICH TO END Søren, Ilsa, and Max’s visit. The same driver arrived the following morning to take them to the airport.

  “We had a wonderful time, Kari,” Ilsa assured her, “but we know how dear, how important Oskar is to you. We’ll keep him in our prayers.”

  Søren squeezed her hand. “Yes, we will pray. I’ll call you from home to let you know we’ve arrived safely. And,” Søren added, “we’ll pray for the right person to take over from Oskar to manage your little empire.”

  The three adults chuckled, but Kari’s heart could not join in. It felt the weight of those words.

  Life would be easier without my “little empire,” Lord. I would have a life with Søren and Max. A simple, uncomplicated life.

  At the airport, Kari hugged Ilsa. When she hugged Max, he clung to her.

  “I love you, Kari,” he mumbled. “Wish you were coming home with us.”

  Kari’s eyes smarted. Lord? Do you have a way in mind for me to become this boy’s mother? I know nothing is impossible for you, but it seems like life just got a lot more complex.

  Søren reached for her and she went to his arms. He didn’t say anything, but when he bent to kiss her, she did not hesitate. Their lips met—and in the sweetness of that kiss, Kari’s heart ached for more.

  O God! Please show us the way.

  ~~**~~

  Chapter 14

  SEVEN DAYS INTO THE NEW YEAR, Oskar called Kari. “They’ve released me from the hospital, but I will have a nurse helping me here at home for at least a week.”

  “I’m so glad, Oskar! Mellie must be relieved.”

  “Yes, she is. Me, too. I guess I dodged a bullet. I can only believe it was God’s grace.” He paused, and Kari could hear, in the background, the hiss and flow of an oxygen tank.

  Then Oskar spoke again. “Listen, I need to talk to you. Can you come visit me?”

  Kari was a bit taken aback at Oskar’s getting straight to the point. Next to Clover, Oskar was the most ‘old-school’ Southern gentleman she knew. He never brought up business until he’d made personal conversation first.

  Whatever he needed to talk to her about, it was important.

  “Of course,” she answered. “Today?”

  “Yes, if you will.”

  —

  WHEN KARI RANG THE BELL AT OSKAR AND MELANIE’S HOUSE, Melanie herself let Kari in.

  “Hi, Melanie. How are you holding up?”

  “Much better, now that Oskar is home, but . . .” Oskar’s wife, a tiny brunette with large hazel eyes, looked exhausted, despite her assurances to the contrary.

  Kari touched her arm. “What can I do, Melanie? Tell me.”

  “Well, I’ll be frank, Kari. I do need you to do something.”

  Kari nodded. “Tell me.”

  “I need you to keep Oskar from diving back into his work. He is so weak, Kari, and it terrifies me that he is already pushing himself. I-I was against him asking you to come over so soon, but he was insistent.”

  Melanie Brunell took a deep breath. “The nurse has Oskar on a strict schedule, but he’s not exactly in a . . . cooperative frame of mind.”

  “I see.” Kari chewed her bottom lip, wondering how she could help keep Oskar contained when his own wife could not. “I will do my best, Melanie.”

  The older woman nodded her gratitude. “Come this way.”

  Oskar was ensconced in a comfortable recliner in a room at the back of the house that could only be described as a “rec room.” Kari noted a television, a tiny children’s table and chairs, a shelf of games and puzzles along one wall, a comfortable sofa, and a second recliner.

  “This must be where you entertain your grandchildren, Oskar,” Kari said by way of greeting. “I can envision many a happy hour of them playing in here.”

  Oskar smiled, and Kari was glad to see that he had good color. She took in the cannula providing oxygen to him and the nurse sitting at a small side table in the corner, writing notes in a ledger of some kind.

  “Thank you for coming so promptly, Miss Kari.” He nodded to the nurse. “Please help me to the table, Mrs. Talbot.”

  The nurse stood in front of Oskar and allowed him to place his hands on her arms so she could pull him to standing. She steadied him and dragged the oxygen tank as they walked to the table.

  Once Oskar was seated and comfortable, he said, “Thank you. That will be all for now.”

  “Very good, Mr. Brunell, but you may sit up like this for no more than thirty minutes.”

  Kari had never seen Oskar shoot a dirty look at anyone—until this moment. She glanced between Oskar and his nurse and saw that his response had not fazed Mrs. Talbot an iota.

  “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me,” the nurse replied, “and will return in thirty minutes to help you take your walk.” She gave Kari a glance of finality. “Thirty minutes, miss,” and closed the door behind her, leaving Kari and Oskar alone.

  Oskar glared after her and grumbled, “Bully.”

  Kari slapped a hand to her mouth, but a snort of laughter found its way out between her fingers.

  Oskar glowered at her. “Think this is funny?”

  Kari shook her head. “No, the state of your health is quite serious. However, you, my friend, are a tad humorous.”

  “Only a tad?”

  Kari grinned. “Well, maybe more than a tad.” She was gratified when Oskar grinned back, more like himself.

  She placed her hand on Oskar’s. “Honestly, I am so grateful that you are still with us, Oskar. You gave us all a fright. I’m so grateful to the Lord for keeping you here.”

  “Yes, me, too,” Oskar sighed. “I’m starting to understand how bad it was. And I am forced to start coming to terms with the changes to which I must adjust.”

  They were both quiet for a moment; then Kari broached the topic they were both avoiding. “Your dictator has allowed us thirty minutes, Oskar, and I also promised Melanie I would not overtire you. What was it that you wished to tell me?”

  “Yes. All right.” Oskar stared at his hands briefly and then dove in. “I must inform you that I will not be able to manage your estate any longer, Miss Kari.” His words were tinged with regret.

  Kari’s eyes misted. “I know, Oskar. Please don’t worry. We’ll figure it out.”

  “I’ve already figured it out.”

  “Well, that’s wonderful, then, isn’t it? Who do you have in mind?”

  Oskar said nothing at first and, as he focused on his breathing, Kari realized how dependent upon the oxygen he was.

  “I have you in mind, Miss Kari.”

  “What?” Kari sat back in shock. “You’ve got to be joking!”

  Oskar wagged his head. “No. No, I’m not joking. For the time being, it needs to be you.”

  “But-but I’m not ready! I’m not qualified!”

  He dogged ahead. “You’ve already come a long way, and it’s either you or someone new I’d have to train. I don’t have the time or energy to start someone from scratch and, honestly, I’d rather it be you.”

  He stared at his hands. “I don’t want you to be dependent upon someone else. I want to see you take control of your holdings. You are a strong woman, Kari, and you are in
a position to become stronger. I recognize that not many women have such an opportunity, and I guess I want to see you do this.”

  He now stared at her. “It’s your choice, of course, but if you were to give yourself wholly to growing into this role, to learning every aspect of it, then in a few years you would be fully versed and capable. At that point, you would be in a position to hire someone to assist you and take the day-to-day management responsibilities from your shoulders—but you would be able to judge for yourself how your businesses are doing under that new management.

  “I don’t want you to ever again be completely dependent upon someone, Miss Kari. I don’t want you to live in the dark when I know you are capable of doing this job yourself.”

  Kari’s eyes dropped to the tabletop, and she could not form a response. Her thoughts were reeling. At the same time, she was experiencing a tiny thrill at the idea.

  Oskar took her hand. “Listen to me, Kari.”

  She looked up, met his gaze.

  “You need not be completely on your own—for a time you would function as my surrogate. During that time, I would continue to groom you and you would consult with me. I would be available to review your decisions and advise you.

  “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you, Kari. Even if you feel it is not working out and you decide to bring in someone to replace me, you will have attempted it and had the experience of trying—and that experience will be invaluable. And Palmer Foundation? You will be better prepared to manage it as it gets on its feet.”

  Oskar squeezed her hands and paused to catch his breath. “I was already praying about you taking on a more active role in the management of your holdings, Kari, because I saw that you have what it takes. And the Lord knew that this . . . this situation with my health was coming. I can’t help but believe that our work together was preparation for your next step.”

  When he’d gathered himself again, he said, “What do you say, Kari? Will you at least give it a try?”

  Kari rubbed her hands over her face. O Lord! I’m in total shock. Is this what you wish me to do? I must admit that the idea holds some allure, and Oskar seems to think I could succeed.

  “I suppose that I could try, at least for a few weeks,” she murmured. “Everything is in good shape at present. How badly could things slip in a matter of weeks?”

  She fixed him with a stern look. “But I’m not you, Oskar. If you weren’t going to be available to advise me, as you said, I would refuse outright.”

  “So you’ll do it?”

  Kari took a deep breath. “I’ll do it for a month or two. We can reevaluate then.”

  “You’ll need help—a good assistant. Take mine. Bettina Fletcher is a remarkable woman and already knows your estate inside and out. You’ll need a car and driver. Again, take mine.”

  He pressed a set of keys into her hand. “Office keys. This will not be easy and you’ll need every advantage. I’ve told you that you have good instincts. Trust them. Don’t be afraid to make hard calls. And should you make a mistake, I will let you know and we’ll fix it.

  “In fact, nothing you do cannot be undone except in the case of relationships. If you ruin a valuable relationship, that might not be mended as simply as reversing a decision. Remember to put people first, people above money, and you’ll be fine.”

  “It is time for your walk, Mr. Brunell.”

  Neither Kari nor Oskar had noticed that the thirty minutes had flown by. The nurse’s entrance was Kari’s signal to leave.

  Kari stood. “What should I do first, Oskar?”

  “Call me this evening. I will have a list for you.”

  He held up his hand, forestalling the nurse. “One more thing—and this is important. I would like to give you a key piece of advice, Kari, if I may.”

  “Of course!”

  Oskar gathered his thoughts before he spoke. “The thing is, you will always encounter a number of unscrupulous individuals during your travels. I’m certain a few have even slipped in under my radar and are lurking in your companies.

  “Greedy, insecure persons, those in love with money and power? You will encounter them. People like that press and push. They intimidate. They diminish others to lift up themselves.

  “What I want to say is this: Don’t let anyone intimidate you. Stand up for what you know is right—right for your businesses and right for the many people they employ. Use the power of ownership—the power God has given you—to maintain the integrity of your businesses.”

  He squeezed her hand. “You are the face of Granger Capital, Granger Limited, and Granger Holdings now.”

  Oskar waved Mrs. Talbot over and allowed her to help him to his feet.

  Kari—well and truly terrified—embraced Oskar with care. “I’ll show myself out, then, and call you tonight.”

  But when Oskar and his nurse left the room, Kari sat back down and did not get up right away. Instead, she bowed her head over her hands, hiding her face in her open palms.

  Lord, I hope you know what you’re doing. I would never have seen this coming.

  On her way to the front door, Kari encountered Melanie. “He seems in good spirits, Melanie.”

  “Did you accept his proposal?”

  Kari was surprised at the question. “You mean after I got over the shock? I agreed to try. For a few weeks or months anyway.”

  “I’m so relieved. Oskar seems to have a great deal of confidence in you. I think it will take the pressure off of him to have you leading in his place.”

  —

  THE CADDY MUST HAVE NAVIGATED THE ROUTE HOME by itself, because Kari had no memory of the drive. She went straight to her office and sprawled face down upon the carpet.

  “Father, I don’t know if I can do this! I need you to speak to me—so I know that you approve and will help me.”

  A sudden, distressing thought interrupted her.

  Søren! Søren will not be happy that I’m committing myself to running my own businesses . . . my “little empire.”

  My multi-million-dollar empire.

  But isn’t this what I’ve been afraid to daydream about?

  —

  KARI ROSE EARLY THE FOLLOWING MORNING while it was still dark. She read her Bible and prayed and then showered and applied her makeup. With Miss Dawes’ impeccable standards in mind, Kari donned an elegant but business-appropriate suit—tailored skirt, jacket, and blouse—and pulled her hair into a sleek French braid.

  When the expected knock sounded on her front door, Kari gathered her handbag and briefcase. She opened the door to Oskar’s driver.

  “Good morning, Miss Michaels.”

  “Thank you for picking me up, Mr. Branson.”

  “It will be my pleasure to drive you, miss. And Mr. Oskar asked me to give you this.” Branson handed Kari a sealed envelope.

  “Thank you.”

  Kari slid into the back seat of Oskar’s black town car, opened her briefcase, and tucked the envelope inside. She removed her leather-bound organizer from the case and reviewed the notes Oskar had dictated to her over the phone last evening. Satisfied, she returned the organizer to her briefcase and snapped it shut.

  As the car traversed the city, Kari prayed. Father, I will fall flat on my face if you do not hold me up—and that is a fact. So I commit this day to you, Lord. Please speak to me as I go about my work. I trust in your direction. I know you will uphold me with your strong right hand.

  Branson opened the rear door. “We’ve arrived, Miss Michaels.”

  Kari gathered her things and stepped out. “Thank you, Branson.”

  “I’ll await your call, miss.”

  Kari nodded and walked up the stone steps to Brunell & Brunell. It was past dawn now, but far earlier than the offices opened to its clients. The worker bees of the firm, who began their days no later than 8 a.m. but often before, were admitted by a security guard while the doors were still locked.

  Kari rapped on the tall glass doors, and the guard opened for her. He blinked
, clearly confused.

  “I beg your pardon, miss, but the offices do not open until nine.”

  Kari smiled and extended her hand. “It’s Miss Michaels. As of this morning I work here. I will be filling in for Mr. Oskar Brunell.”

  “Very good, miss.” He stepped back and Kari walked through.

  The receptionist was typing furiously. When Kari nodded to her and began walking by, she jumped to her feet, also confused.

  “Miss Michaels? I’m afraid no one is in the office at this time to see you. Um, may I call Miss Dawes for you?”

  “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. I’ll be working from Mr. Oskar’s desk today.”

  “Oh.” The receptionist’s eyes widened a little, but Kari kept walking.

  She passed through the large rotunda that housed the cubicles of Brunell & Brunell’s attorneys, legal aides, and secretaries. On the other side, she turned down a hallway and arrived at the door to Oskar’s private office. With a deep breath, she inserted the key. She swung the door wide and left it open.

  “Good morning, Miss Michaels.”

  Miss Fletcher, her stance uncertain, stood in the hall outside Oskar’s office.

  “Good morning, Miss Fletcher. I’m glad you are here.”

  She offered the envelope Oskar had sent via his driver to Miss Fletcher. “Please fax this to every holding Oskar oversees on my behalf and then file it.”

  The woman pulled a single sheet of paper from the envelope and unfolded it. It took only moments to read its short contents.

  January 7, 1992.

  To all whom it may concern:

  Effective immediately

  Due to health considerations and at my physician’s advice, I hereby transfer all authority and duties performed by myself on behalf of the former Peter Granger Estate to Ms. Kari T. Michaels. At Ms. Michael’s request, I will act in an advisory capacity and continue to monitor the health of the estate and its holdings on her behalf.

  Ms. Michaels will work out of my office at Brunell & Brunell. You may contact her through the same channels to which you are accustomed to communicate with me.

  Cordially,

  Oskar G. Brunell