Alma Merchant

Ronald Davidson dodged his six-foot son Carl and quickly threw the ball into the basketball hoop in their back yard.

“Great shot dad, looks like I trained you well.”

Ronald laughed. “According to those trophies in our front room with my name on them your father was the basketball champion during college days, so I assume you picked up some points from me shorty. Looks like you need some more teaching.”

Now it was Carl’s turn to laugh, and he looked at his watch.

“We need to go take a shower dad as you said you were supposed to go to a charity board meeting early this evening at your accounting office committee room and you promised to take me out for pizza at the Constantine Italian restaurant first. They should be opening now, and you can head for your meeting from the restaurant.”

“What are your plans for the evening Carl?”

“Final tests coming up next week so I’m going to be hitting those books hard as I need good grades if I’m going to get acceptance at the university. It’s been five years now, but I still miss mom fussing over me as I did my homework.”

Carl teared up at the thought of those happy days when mom was the center of their family joy. Sue Davidson had an outgoing personality involved in community projects and was a constant entertainer of Carl’s young friends as he grew up. His friends had gravitated to the Davidson home after school as it was a cool place to hang out and fill up on all those cooking delights. Sue cooked a mountain of treats every day in anticipation of a youth onslaught after school. The boys would be out shooting hoops and the girls cooking up their favorite treats under the active supervision of Sue or watching the boys’ play.

Sue had kept her cancer diagnosis secret after the specialist confirmed it was a terminal disease, and it was only when pain became apparent to all she conceded they needed to know. The youth visits continued for a while, but it was painful for girls to watch their loved mentor suffer with this cruel disease so gradually they found excuses to absent themselves, the boys continued their visits, but it was a much more sober group who now came missing all those treats that had made this home away from home.

Ronald had been hurt when he realized his wife had a terminal illness and hadn’t disclosed this to him. They’d been together since high school days and while other girls did their best to divert Ronald’s attention from his one young love Sue as they grew up together there were only a couple of things that interested him. His parents, who’d been so supportive of him during his growing up years along with his siblings, his young love Sue and sports he excelled at. But he was highly motivated in his studies too and excelled at his chosen business profession studies.

Sue had decided to train as a nurse after college and attended nursing school in her home city, but Ronald opted for his MBA at a distant place. Communications continued through their time apart and Ronald would take every opportunity to return home to see Sue whenever there was a holiday. At the end of his MBA graduation, they were married and involved themselves in their chosen professions diligently to advance through the professional ranks.

They decided to postpone having children until they’d built enough equity to make a deposit for their future home while they rented waiting for that to happen. Ronald had a natural gift for business and was tempted to transfer to some of the major business centers, but he and Sue preferred their hometown where they could be closer to parents and siblings whose company they enjoyed rather than the impersonal relationships of a large city.

With his CPA now added to his academic qualifications he went into accounting practice and was soon building a successful business slowly requiring him to take partners as the practice prospered. Sue was enjoying her nursing career but began to yearn for a family. Ronald agreed as they were now well enough off for her to take a break from nursing. Twelve months after that decision they were graced with a son and called him Carl after Ronald’s grandfather. But try as they might, they were not graced with other children after the birth of Carl. So, they poured their love into their son as he grew and made sure his friends were welcomed into the home too. Over time they had more children in the home after school than they could ever have supported as children of their own.

As Sue’s health steadily declined in Carl’s college years Ronald found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on his business responsibilities. Fortunately, his two partners were compassionate and took over some of Ronald’s practice load to help him give support to his wife in the latter stages of her illness.

To compensate for his depression, he took up daily heavy gym routines taking care to support young Carl who mourned for the mother who’d changed so dramatically since the latter stages of her illness took hold. When Sue finally breathed her last, the two father and son who’d bonded closely together during Sue’s latter months experienced a mixture of extreme grief and relief that their beloved mother and wife were no longer suffering. They were now five years beyond that sad event and had established home routines they shared together keeping the home tidy and even learning to cook quite well as their relatives who were regular visitors would confirm.

Like his father Carl did well in school studies and was confident he’d be accepted into university. He also did well at sports but did not want to be in his father’s shadow as a basketball player so he chose football. College girls tried to get his attention, but Carl seemed to not notice them and avoided proms where young men and women mingled and customarily found their soul mates or other activities where they mingled after classes.

Some of the old guard young men from the days when his mother was alive still came in afternoons for a basketball match, but they were not around this afternoon, so he’d enticed his father who was home early on one of those rare occasions for a match. He had to admit his dad was still in good shape as he’d thoroughly outmatched his son at the game, and Carl was pretty good at basketball, usually beating his friends.

They quickly freshened up in the shower and changed clothes for the trip to Constantine Italian Restaurant and were soon there enjoying their excellent food. After enjoying that good meal Ronald dropped his son off at home and sped to attend the board meeting of a charity Ronald had agreed to serve on in replacement of his wife who for health reasons had to discontinue service for that charity. Ronald was on several boards around the city as he found this one of the ways to drum up potential clients for his CPA practice as he met other business personnel and he was a member of Rotary.

On arrival at the office Ronald studied the group already gathered around the coffee machine and snack table outside the committee room where the charity board met together quarterly. His office hosted those meetings. He knew them all having served on that committee for several years now since Sue died and they represented the movers and shakers of the commercial world in his city. He respected them all as professionals and philanthropists. He did a mental count on reaching his office and realized there were still two to appear before time to go in and commence the meeting.

He moved to greet the chairperson Mildred Scharfenberg and her board secretary Tina Oldham inquiring about their health. All heads turned as the final two members entered. Ronald knew Derek Boonstra, and this must be the new board member they voted on at the last meeting. He’d forgotten her name and turned to the chairperson to inquire who she was so he could greet her personally. Mildred glanced in the direction of the two entering and whispered.

“That’s Alma Merchant who we voted in as a board member last time. She’s a successful banking executive you may want to get to know for your CPA firm as she has a wide circle of people you may want to cultivate for your business. Thanks for sharing your committee room Ronald as it’s getting quite expensive to rent suitable committee space and we appreciate having access to yours free.”

Ronald strode over to Derek to shake his hand and then turned his attention to Alma.

“Welcome to the board Alma. I’m sure you’ll be a great asset to us with your knowledge of banking and the people around our city.”

Alma smiled. “We were in the same classes together in high school Ronald but as I recall you only looked at books, basketballs and a certain girl called Sue Becker, so you’d have not noticed an introverted skinny girl sitting in the back rows in class called Alma Martin.”

Ronald looked down embarrassed at the description of himself in high school and she laughed at his embarrassment. He changed the subject.

“Well unfortunately Sue passed away five years ago, and Alma Martin is certainly not introverted now, and are very attractive so no one would be able to avoid seeing you Alma. But Mildred said you go by the name of Alma Merchant so obviously someone saw you thought you were a keeper and gave you a name change. What does your husband do?”

Mildred called out and it was time to start the meeting, so they all trooped in, and Ronald headed for his favorite seat in the committee room at the opposite end of the committee table. Alma whispered as they entered the room that she’d answer his question after the meeting and Ronald steered her to a seat next to him so he could observe her in action at her first charity board meeting.

Derek watched Ronald take over with amusement. Mildred had asked Derek to bring Alma and make her feel comfortable at her first meeting, but it looked like she was very comfortable, so he didn’t have to be concerned about her now.

Mildred as chairperson asked Alma in her introductory speech to give background to what she was doing and any other items of interest to the group so they could get to know her better. They’d already had some of that information when the previous board had considered who to vote in as a replacement member, but it would have been better to have a personal introduction.

Alma spoke confidently as she introduced herself and during the meeting made several useful contributions which confirmed the board had made an excellent choice. As Mildred closed the meeting and members got up to meet other appointments Ronald turned to Alma.

“You were going to tell me about what business your husband is in Alma.”

“Well, my husband was in investment banking when I met him. He was older, but we hit it off and the marriage produced two children. Unfortunately, he was on a business trip to Mexico City and disappeared. Apparently, he wandered into the middle of a gang war one night on the way back to his hotel. The gangs knowing as a foreigner this would bring international attention to his death dumped his body in a remote area outside the city away from their normal area of control and a week later his body was discovered and identified. So, I’ve been single for a long time now and my parents have helped me bring up our two children. One is finishing college and the other starting.”

“I’m so sorry Alma for your loss. Are your children boys or girls?”

“Both girls Ronald and they are at that difficult age.”

“What is their area of career interest and where would they like to work?”

“Probably business or economics.”

“I suppose you’ve lined up work opportunities for them with the influence you have around the city.”

“No, I’m waiting for Rachel who is graduating soon to indicate her preference so I can help her look.”

“Well, I need to close the office as the rest of the board members seem to have left but if I can be of help to Rachel should she choose a CPA career let me know and I’ll interview her to see if she has the interest and aptitude. Here’s my calling card.”

Alma took the card and inspected it then on impulse spoke.

“I don’t suppose you could drop me home. Derek bought me to the meeting, but it looks like he’s gone, and I’d have to find a taxi otherwise.”

Ronald nodded. “It would be a pleasure to do that for you Alma. It’s 7.30 pm have you eaten this evening as the board was scheduled early.”

“No, I haven’t as I had to rush to get here from meetings at the bank but will get myself something when I arrive home.”

“Then I’m taking you to dinner Alma and we can catch up on our school days if you will agree to that.”

Alma stared at him trying to determine if he had some ulterior motive in mind as she was not into casual hook-ups but determined he looked innocent and decided it would be pleasant to talk about the good old days at school when the pressures of business life as of now were too far from their young minds to contemplate then.

“OK, she said that could be fun, I’d enjoy that. I had a king-sized crush on you in high school, but you only had eyes for Sue and I’m sorry she’d not here for you now.”

Ronald drove to one of the top restaurants in the city, one of his firm’s clients, and he left his keys with the valet at the door to take the car to their underground parking lot. He shepherded Alma inside and greeted the owner Pierre while Alma looked around her approvingly. The owner clicked his fingers, and two waiters were instructed to look after his guests. He introduced himself to Alma before turning his attention to other customers coming from top corporate entities in the city. They were seated and Alma was handed a menu with an inquiry from the waiters if they could bring some appetizers and drinks while they studied the menu. Alma’s eyes opened wide at the prices indicated on the menu.

“Ronald let me pay half of the bill as these prices are over the top.”

“Order what you like Alma and don’t worry about the cost as Pierre doesn’t usually charge me. We do mutually beneficial things for each other, and this is one of the perks of that relationship.”

Alma shrugged and selected one of the delectable items on the menu, handing it to the waiter who complemented her on her choice.

“I could get used to this Ronald.”

“Well Alma, I’d welcome you joining me whenever you have time in your busy program to do that as life can be lonely. I think we have a lot in common and perhaps your girls would like to get to know my son Carl.”

Alma smiled. “I guess I opened myself up to that invitation Ronald. I avoid getting into a relationship apart from business dealings as some of the people I must deal with in the corporate world are not of the best moral persuasion, so I keep my boundaries well in place. However, you seem like a decent man so perhaps we could get together occasionally and maybe my girls who are in those difficult years could profit by the good example of your son who you say is more interested in sports than a relationship with the opposite gender.”

To be continued.

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