The Valley of Decision

Andrea looked at Jock in shock.

“You admire me? Why would you want to confide in me when we are so different in thinking and ambitions? Judging by your interactions with me up to this time I thought you were wanting to get rid of me as soon as possible.”

Andrea studied Jock carefully not knowing what to believe about him now. She heard Jock sigh, and her heart went out to him. Her mother was constantly saying having a man in the house was like having another child but one with an adult body. She smiled at that recollection and resolved to go easy on him while he got his priorities rearranged. She spoke but there was softness in her voice now.

“So, what do you think you should do to resolve this crisis you are going through Jock? From my nurses’ training and practice experience you seem like a person on the verge of a breakdown and that would be an enormous problem for the future of your children, who you’re just beginning to feel like a proper father too. Do you have sufficient wealth to deal with months of recovery in which you’d be ineffective to your law firm and possibly discarded?”

“More than enough assets to survive for a few years Andrea but I’d have a lot of pushbacks from my father-in-law who treats me as his point man in building proposals for corporations to consider in litigation and dealing with politicians. So far, he has me heavily loaded with work and the latest stunt to keep me there with the firm is trying to hook me up with his feisty other daughter Stella who has similar ambitions to me. She’s very qualified and effective in her legal work and interaction with corporations but she’s older and quite aggressive. We are totally incompatible.”

Andrea laughed involuntarily but quickly put her hand over her mouth so the babies wouldn’t be disturbed. She quickly recovered.

“It’s really none of my business and I don’t know why you’d be asking my advice as a stranger and culturally so different. What do you intend doing to protect your health in the short term and take off some of the pressure you are going through this evening?”

Jock sat in silence for a while then looked at his watch.

“I better go and let you get some sleep but shrink from going back to my bedroom and letting these thoughts go through my mind all night. I think I’ll call Rudy my boss in the morning and tell him I’m sick and need time off and he’ll have to get someone else to cover for me for a few days. We’ll see how he reacts to that, and I can think about what I want to do with my life. But I want to include these beautiful children of mine in those plans.”

Andrea nodded in sympathy and agreement. Suddenly she felt the need to help this man transition to a healthier lifestyle. She came to a sudden decision.

“Jock you just settle down here and sleep it off for the night rather than go to your room. As a nurse I’m worried about your state of mind and need to keep an eye on you to see you don’t do anything foolish. I need to get some rest now as the children wake up early and keep me sleep deprived.”

She pushed him toward the bed protesting and within seconds of connecting with the pillow he was asleep. She shook her head at this turn of events. If her parents found out about this indiscretion, they’d be there to take her home immediately with shouts of disapproval and threats against Jock. Then soon after she was asleep herself hoping the children would let her see the rest of the night through. Steven woke up right on schedule at 5am and she jumped out of bed groggily to prepare the formula. Soon Jennifer would be awake in response to her brother’s cries.

Andrea looked at the sleeping Jock on the other side of the bed and he was sound asleep with his mouth open. She smiled. Typical man. The woman must do all the work. Eventually the noise of preparation and cries of children woke him, and he looked around trying to comprehend where he was. It had been the most relaxing sleep he’d had in a long time, and he felt guilty about the night’s events. He jumped out of bed and came over to watch Andrea caring for his children and felt a bond with them all.

Andrea, whose hair was never out of place during the day, eyed him carefully looking completely disheveled.

“So, you finally woke up. You’d better return to your room in case any of your servants are looking for you and we should never repeat this evening again. Do you still admire me after seeing what I look like in the morning? If my parents knew you were in this room with me all night, they’d be here to deal with you and take me home. Now go!”

Jock felt elated and resolved to sort out his affairs with the office this morning and nurture himself back to health. He was tempted to resign and find a new ambition and career as he was no longer satisfied with his life as it was. He noted that Andrea’s tone with him now was different. He’d only known her for a few days, but it seemed like she’d been in his life forever and he liked that. So different to his life together with Carol where they were more like two work colleagues than husband and wife. He turned toward Andrea and saw her smile.

“Andrea, you can believe me you’d look good under any circumstances.”

She acknowledged that with a laugh.

“Rezo para que tomes las decisiones correctas sobre tu futuro Jock.”

Jock looked back as he headed for the door.

“What was that you said?”

“Learn Spanish!”

When Jock arrived back at his room Ms. Grenaches was just coming out looking puzzled. She looked at his crushed clothes unchanged from when she last saw him in the dining room last evening. That was not the way he dressed for work, and she looked back in the direction he’d appeared from, and surprise came over her face then disapproval.

“I’ll keep this quiet sir, but you really must be careful with Latino women. They’re out to snare gullible rich men like yourself of social standing.”

Jock laughed as he thought of Andrea and her no-nonsense attitude.

“Ms. Grenaches I can assure you this woman is not interested in me and has a healthy disregard for rich men of social standing. Her family is very rich, and she has no need to do this work and only does it as a favor to our family doctor who recommended her. So, you can relax. I was only checking on my children. Anyway, is there anything you need from me?

“Mr. Rudy Meyers was trying to contact you, and I’m surprised you didn’t hear it on your cell phone sir so he phoned the house phone and wants you to phone him as soon as you can.”

“Thank you. I left my cell phone in the office so didn’t hear it.”

“Sir you made the bed beautifully and really didn’t have to do my work. It looks so perfect one would think you slept in your office after working half the night as usual, you could have left it for Gwen the housemaid to do. She’ll be surprised so I’ll tell her I made the bed this time.”

“Thank you, Ms. Grenaches, I’ll make sure to leave it to Gwen next time.”

Jock punched in the unlisted private number that would reach Rudy at any time. Very few people had that number. Rudy answered in a gruff voice.

“Where have you been. I’ve been trying to get you on your phone for hours now?”

“Actually, Rudy I’m not at all well and was going to phone in that I must take time off to recover. I’ve had practically no sleep working on research and a proposal to make to the government on behalf of Carter Enterprises and now you’ve given me an even trickier assignment to see what we can do for Torgan Holdings. I’m burned-out, Rudy and need to take a vacation starting today. Never had one in all the years I’ve worked for you. Sorry but I need to do this.”

Rudy grunted.

“This is a twenty-four seven job Jock. You knew about that when we hired you and you have been very well rewarded by the firm for your efforts. You’ve had extensive travel on the job, much of it overseas, so that’s your vacation. Now I need you here as new politician contacts I’ve been made aware of have agreed on a breakfast meeting in an hour and I want you there. Stella made contacts, but I think she still needs guidance from you along with me so we both should be there to see everything is done to keep them happy. You need to be here and then we will see about vacation after you’ve worked on this Torgan Holdings opportunity.”

“Rudy, we need to talk. Tell me where this breakfast meeting is, then I’ll clean up and get there as fast as I can to help. But I need to have a private conversation afterward as this is not working out for me and I need time off.”

Jock listened as the address was given to him then quickly showered, dressed and was on his way within a half hour. He hoped there’d be parking spaces available when he got there as he’d not been to that hotel before. But when he arrived at the front of the hotel, he realized there was a valet who’d be assigned to park the car for him and quickly handed over his keys on arrival after retrieving his briefcase. He made inquiries at the front desk and was directed to a private interview room where Rudy and Stella rose to introduce him to their guests’ senators Randolph and Grenfell who studied him carefully.  Randolph spoke.

“I hear you have political ambitions Jock and some of my colleagues in Congress have mentioned your name favorably at times so it’s good to see the face behind the reputation. We need to get together and talk sometime. Elections are on the horizon, and we are always on the lookout for people of talent and ambition.”

Jock went into action as he usually did to impress pumping hands vigorously and going through his usual spiel to impress under the approving looks of Rudy and Stella. He was the star of the firm, Mr. personality guy who knew how to manipulate in favor of an anticipated outcome for the client. But he detected a bit of jealousy in Stella. She knew her aggressiveness needed to be tempered by diplomacy and knew she had to work with him and observe him in action more. But some day she’d put him aside for the Meyers family name to be the acknowledged head of the firm and she’d do it. Rudy knew that too and looked forward to the contest between the two which would bring out the best work from both. The meeting was a success, and the senators shook Jock’s hand warmly as they took their leave after enjoying a quick breakfast looking forward to pleasant rewarding association in future.

Jock received hearty congratulations from Rudy and Stella then indicated he wanted to talk with Rudy privately. Rudy looked at his watch and waved his daughter off giving her instructions for the day. She looked at Jock hopefully wishing to be included and Rudy looked at Jock for his response. But Jock was insistent he wanted this to be between the two of them. Stella departed disappointed and irritated at not being included. As the eldest child she was the Meyers’ heir and felt it was time she was given that respect.

To be continued.

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