“You did what!?”
“You don’t have to yell in my ear, Steven,” Gracy said.
Annie stood and faced her father. It was out of the bag; might as well face it. “I’m buying a business in Whitefish. I’ve hired Patrick to manage it.”
“You’re not hiring him to do anything, and you’re not buying a business. You’re going back to school!”
“Steven.” Gracy put her hand on his arm. “Settle down. Let her tell us the facts before you get all riled up.”
He jerked his arm away and glared at Gracy. “The fact is some Montana redneck has her head full of romantic fantasies when all he wants is her money.” He turned his glare onto Annie. “I can’t believe you were naive enough to let him talk you into this.”
“It’s my money, Dad.”
“I gave it to you because I thought you’d be responsible.”
“Mister Waring.”
Steven spun around and pointed at Patrick, who, apparently, had followed him into the RV. “You, I don’t even want to see. Any business dealings you have with my daughter are over. She’s going back to Cambridge tomorrow.”
“Daddy! Stop it! What’s wrong with you?”Annie tried to get past her father but the space was too narrow and he wasn’t moving.
“Steven, settle down,” Gracy hollered.
“Steven!” Robert was on his feet, coughing and wheezing. “Let Annie talk, for God’s sake.” He pushed past Annie and put his hand on Steven’s chest. “She’s an adult, not a child.” With that he coughed some more and then collapsed.
“Grandfather!” Annie dropped down next to him a second ahead of her father.
“Call 911!” Gracy hollered.
Suddenly everyone was in the RV. “There’s no cell service out here,” Annie said. “We’re going to have to drive him.”
“We can use the satphone,” Professor Grae advised from back in the living area.
“No!”
Everyone went silent and looked down at Robert Hair who was trying to shake off his granddaughter and son-in-law.
“I’m fine,” he coughed. “Jumped up too fast and got dizzy. I’m not dying yet, damn it anyway.”
“I think we should take you to the hospital anyway, Robert,” Steven said.
“Not only no, but hell no. Now help me up and let’s all sit down and talk.”
Steven and Annie helped him to his feet.
“Outside,” Robert said. “It’s getting way too stuffy in here.”
Charles, Howard, Thomas and Henry backed out of the way as everyone else came out of the bedroom. Gradually they all made it out of the RV and onto camp chairs and logs. As Annie approached her chair she looked about for Patrick. His Blazer was gone.
“If you’re looking for Patrick,” Charles said, “I think he resigned. As he was leaving he said, and I quote, ‘Tell Annie I’m sorry. I don’t think it will work out.’ Unquote.”
“Oh.” She lowered her butt to the chair.
Only Gracy heard the exchange. She watched Annie for a few seconds and then turned to Robert. “Are you sure you’re all right, Robert?”
“Other than a few cancer cells, I’m feeling great!” He looked at Annie. “So, tell us about this business venture.”
Gracy put her hand out. “Hold up, Robert. Not so fast. I don’t want this turning into another shouting match and I’ve a feeling there is a lot more here than meets the eye, so we’re going to do this my way. I’m calling together a congressional session and I’m the speaker of the house. Any arguments?”
Everyone looked at her but no one complained.
“The bill before the floor is whether or not Annie should move forward with her business venture. Before an opinion can be made on the bill, it must be presented in full and the only person who can do that is Annie. Annie, you get the floor first. After that arguments can be presented by anyone wishing to do so. Filibuster is not allowed in my house and this is not a voting issue by anyone other than Annie. Only her vote counts, but she must first listen to the opinions of her colleagues.”
Henry chuckled. “I love it when she puts on her congressional hat and takes charge.”
“Thank you for your support, Henry. Since I hear no objections we’ll move forward. Annie, you have the floor.”
Nervously, Annie looked between her aunt and her father, settling on her father. “First of all, Patrick has nothing to do with this other than accepting my job offer. He is not some Montana redneck. He’s educated, intelligent, sensitive, caring, and ambitious.”
“Never-the-less,” Steven started to say.
“Silence!” Gracy interrupted. “Annie still has the floor. Annie, we’ll recognize that you find Patrick has certain traits that you find necessary for a management position, though you haven’t mentioned his actual resume. More important to those here right now is what is the business and why?”
Annie pushed a strand of hair from her face to behind her ear. “It’s called, Pack It In Sports. They deal in outdoor sports; hiking, hunting, fishing, survival; stuff like that.”
When Annie didn’t come forth with anything more, Gracy said, “Why?”
“I . . .” Annie didn’t want to have to justify why she was buying the business. She wasn’t even one-hundred percent sure why herself, if helping Patrick and his family was the entire reason.
“Why don’t you start from the beginning? Tell us how it all came about.”
“That’s a bit complicated.”
“If it wasn’t complicated we wouldn’t be having this meeting. Let’s hear it.”
Annie looked up at the sky and thought for a few seconds.
“When did you meet with the owner and agree to the purchase?”
“Little over an hour ago. I intend to contact an attorney tomorrow to start the paperwork.”
“Crazy idea,” Annie’s father said.
“Hush, Steven,” Gracy said and then again addressed Annie. “What do you know about Montana outdoor sports?”
“Not a thing. That’s why I hired Patrick.”
“When did you decide to do this?”
“Today.”
“Today? You walked into this outdoor sporting goods establishment and stated you wanted to buy his store and he said yes. Is that how it worked?”
Annie bit her lip. “It was they, and no, that’s not exactly how it worked. Actually I approached them the first time in February. They weren’t for sale at the time. I told them to think about it and I’d be by today to make the offer.”
“I thought you said you decided to do this today.”
“Precisely, though I was in the store on May 28th and stated, in jest, to Mary that I could afford to buy the entire store. One of the owners happened to be within earshot and recognized me from February, letting me know that they were for sale. I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.”
Gracy looked at Henry. “Do you understand any of this?”
Henry shook his head. “Haven’t a clue.”
Annie pressed her palms to her temples and tried to develop a sequence of events that would make sense and keep it a short story. She took a deep breath and started with when she and Mary went shopping at Pack It In Sports for a backpack. In the end she was only able to get it out as an abbreviated long story. When she finished she took another deep breath and looked around.
“So,” Gracy said, “you’re buying this business to give Patrick a job. Is that it in a nutshell?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. All I know is it was meant to be. I didn’t decide to do this. It was decided for me.”
“I don’t follow,” Gracy said.
“Today I went back to February 17th to visit Bill and Cassandra and plant the idea of selling and retiring. There was no way I couldn’t do it. You couldn’t have stopped it from happening, nor could dad or Grandfather or anybody.”
“And that’s because . . .?”
“That’s because it had already happened. To not go back would mean changing history and I don’
t believe that would have been any more possible than Grandfather saving his wife’s life, or my not getting Charles to the hospital in time to save his.”
Gracy looked down her nose at her niece. “And now it appears you have lost your manager. Have you already provided earnest money?”
“No. It’s a handshake until I can move the funds. And just because he’s not here doesn’t mean Patrick has turned down the job.”
“Didn’t he already tell Charles that he quit. Didn’t he tell him to tell you he was sorry and that it wasn’t going to work out?”
Annie sighed and her shoulders slumped forward.
“Good reason, then, to put an end to this nonsense,” Steven piped in.
Gracy ignored his comment and asked Annie, “What are your intentions toward school?”
“Finish up my masters and go on to my doctorate just as planned.”
“With a business in Montana you plan to do this how?”
“I will only be the owner. Patrick will be, or would have been, fully in control of cash flow and day-to-day operations, hiring, firing, expansion, whatever. Bill Small has agreed to remain for up to six months to train Patrick and to return as a consultant/instructor in the classrooms we’re planning to set up. Cassandra has agreed to maintain the books until I can make other arrangements.”
“You are aware that the history you speak of, that which had to take place as written, only required that you go back and take certain actions. There is nothing that says that just because you started it back in February, it would come to a successful culmination. The future is still up in the air.”
“I’m well aware of that, Aunt Gracy. However, why would the powers,” she waved her hands in the air, “or whatever it is, set this all up if it wasn’t meant to take place?”
“Certainly food for a philosophical discussion for another time. Anything else before I turn it over to the floor for arguments and comments?” Gracy asked.
Annie considered that for a moment and then shook her head.
Gracy looked around the little camp. “Arguments, comments, questions?”
“It sounds like you’ve already been making plans for expansion,” Professor Grae said.
“Yes, we have. There’s plenty of land, enough that we could double or even quadruple the square footage plus add a paved parking lot. I picture a hub around which are numerous departments as well as a classroom and an archery range. It’ll be the Toy R’ Us for outdoor enthusiasts.”
“What if it fails,” Professor Bradshaw said. “It’s a big investment.”
“I have confidence that it won’t fail. I can also afford to keep it afloat for as long as I want.”
“Not a wise investment, in my opinion.”
“If my intention was to make lots of money, then maybe you’d be right. I already have lots of money. My intention is to help Patrick, and it’s more than just giving him a job; it’s to put my money to good use. It’ll help Patrick and his entire family and the families of all those who will be employed by Pack It In Sports. It’s a successful Ma & Pa business which I believe Patrick can make even more successful while still keeping the Ma & Pa flavor.”
“You’re starting to sound like an ad,” Charles said. “I support Annie one hundred percent, though I have to say I see no value in hiking around the mountains.”
“I still think it’s too big a risk,” said Bradshaw, “but if it’s Annie’s money to do with as she wishes, it’s fully her decision.”
“I agree,” said Grae.
“That covers the non-family members.” Gracy looked between Robert and Steven. “Input gentlemen?”
Robert coughed and then said, “Not only do I approve of what Annie is doing, but I’ll stand first in line as an investor if she’d like a partner.”
“You can count me in, Robert,” said Henry.
Charles raised his hand. “Easy for you guys to say who have plenty of money. I probably couldn’t handle but a percent or two, but I’d sure like a piece of the action.”
Gracy removed her surprised look from Henry and turned to Steven. “Well, Steven? Where do you stand?”
“It appears to me I’m out-voted.”
“Again, Steven, this is not a voting matter for anyone except Annie. I am simply forcing her to face a variety of opinions and think hard about her decision before she casts the only vote that counts.”
Steven looked at his daughter and wished that she had confided in him to begin with. But this was just the beginning, wasn’t it? She was growing up and away from him and there would be a lifetime of decisions she would make without coming to him first. She wasn’t much different than her mother, was she? When he met Annabelle Hair she was working in the MIT library, living with her widower father. Steven drew her away from her father. He looked at Robert and wondered how hard that was on him and remembered how much Robert disapproved of their engagement. Now he understood why. Robert didn’t so much disapprove of Steven; he didn’t want to lose his daughter. Robert and Steven were so alike, it depressed Steven.
He opened his mouth. He wanted to say he disapproved and would have nothing to do with it, but it wouldn’t stop her. It would only put a chip in the bond that they, until now, enjoyed. Would she be afraid to come to him for advice in the future?
He closed his mouth. Even if she does return to school and finish out, she’d always have an anchor 3000 miles away.
And then there was Patrick.
“Well, Dad? You with me or against me?”
She is so much like her mother. “Do you have room for another share-holder?”
When things started to break up Annie escorted her grandfather into the RV. Instead of going to bed, he chose a chair in the living area. Annie sat near him and took her his hand. “How are you doing?”
“Could be better, I have to say, but then I have felt worse.”
“You do know that there was nothing you could have done to save her, don’t you?”
He nodded. “Yes, but it gives me no comfort.”
“So, what’s next? How do you get this back to Massachusetts?”
“I’ll call the crew who hauled it for us to begin with. If I remember correctly they were picking up a load in Seattle and hauling it to Omaha. I’ll start that process in the morning.”
“Are you sure you’re up to it. I can make the calls if you like.”
He shook his head. “No. It’s my responsibility. Besides, it keeps me busy. Lying around feeling sorry for myself makes me feel even worse.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m excited for you and your new adventure. Sorry about Patrick quitting on you.”
She shrugged. “I’m hoping it’s just a time out and it’s not a sign that he quits easy, that he’s going to be difficult to manage.”
“You talking about as an employee or a husband?”
Annie jerked her hand away. “Grandfather! If I had an inkling of thought in that direction with Patrick, as manager of my business it’s off the table.”
“Understood. Just saying.”
“I am a little concerned that he is not who I thought he was. He quit too easily.” She considered her words for a moment and then added, “I’m probably not who he thought I was either.”
“I think he discovered that while hiding under the trailer,” Robert chuckled.
Annie grinned back at him. “That was funny, wasn’t it?”
Chapter 82
June 19, 2007
It was minutes before dawn when Annie looked out her door and saw that Mary’s cabin door was open and light was pouring out. She stepped back in and touched her father’s shoulder. “Dad. Wake up.”
“What?” he said without rolling over.
“I’m going out for a morning walk with Mary. Be back in an hour or so and we can go to breakfast.”
“You didn’t have to wake me up.” His voice was muffled through the pillow.
“I didn’t want you suddenly discovering I was gone and worry.”
“Fine.”
Ann
ie was halfway across the space between cabins, thinking about the events of the day before and what she was going to do about Patrick and Pack It In Sports, when Mary stepped out.
“Annie! You’re back!”
They met at the bottom of the cabin steps and hugged. Annie had to force herself to pull away, unable to believe how much she missed her friend and how much she suddenly wanted to pour out all her emotions about Tony and her last beautiful, sad night with him, about seeing her grandmother die and learning of her grandfather’s cancer, about saving Charles’ life, about losing two entire days of her own life, about Patrick and Pack It In Sports.
“I missed you, Mary,” Annie said as she fought away sudden, unexpected tears.
“Annie! What’s happened?”
Annie was suddenly aware that there was little she could tell Mary that would justify her unexpected outburst of tears. Suck it up, she told herself; get it under control. She sniffled and willed her body to relax. “Just good to be back. My dad is driving me crazy.”
“He seems like a nice man; your aunt and uncle, too.” She grabbed Annie’s arm. “We’re out here to walk. Let’s go.”
They walked—Mary talked of the beauty of the morning, the ripple of morning light across the water, the sounds of birds in the air—while Annie formulated what she could share with her. She had to talk to someone besides Aunt Gracy, someone not connected with any of it, but the only thing Mary would understand was the deal with Patrick, and she couldn’t even tell her all of that. She filled her lungs and then the words tumbled out.
“I decided to buy a business in Whitefish and hire Patrick to manage it.”
Mary stopped and hooked Annie’s arm, forcing her to turn around to face her. “Say that again.”
“I’m buying a business and I’ve hired Patrick to manage it, or at least that was the plan to begin with. I know it was probably not the smartest thing, or maybe it was, but I did it anyway, and now it may have gone south because Patrick is unhappy with me, and the owners, Bill and Cassandra, are counting on my buying it. I’ve only shaken their hand but that’s as good as a signed contract around here I imagine, so now I don’t know what to do. Aunt Gracy and Patrick both believe that the only reason I was buying the business was to give him a job, which may be correct, or at least partially correct, or maybe the entire reason; I’m not sure. But you should have seen Bill and Cassandra’s faces, and Patrick’s for that matter when I first offered him the job. And then, like I said, it all turned south and now I’m stuck between a rock and a . . .” She searched for something different from the old cliché, “. . . pair of colliding atoms.”
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