A Happy Ending

Richie arrived home in the evening with good news of his own. He reported he’d found time to consult with the opposition lawyer firm in town, and they were eager to take on the case when the Goldberg case eventually arrived as threatened. Joseph Goldberg had been busy too assembling his case materials unaware of the fact Richie was now married, and he persuaded the courts to list the case as a priority in that his granddaughter was in supposed danger of neglect. So, the courts bought this forward as a favour to Goldbergs persuaded this was an urgent matter and they were surprised to find Richie appear with a high-powered lawyer from an opposing firm but confident of their case with a friendly judge presiding. They were all puzzled when that lawyer for Richie issued them with a summons to appear before the courts for deformation with a claim for huge damages and costs of court. They took that as bluff and confidently placed their case before the judge claiming neglect of their granddaughter and a court order to place Naomi in their custody. After presenting their case with what they thought reputed evidence the Judge indicated the defence should present their case. Evidence of Richie’s marriage to Aly was presented along with testimonials from the Silver Cascade residents as to the reputation of this woman and evidence that Naomi had been in her care for a long period of time. Goldberg stared at Richie dumfounded at being outsmarted and news reporters at their customary job looking for something juicy to print perked up sensing a good story to hit the papers. Leading law firm humiliated. They waited for the verdict. The judge shook his head in disbelief. Then sat thinking. There was no case to prosecute. He delivered his verdict.

“Case dismissed.”

The defence lawyer in closing remarks mentioned that the Goldberg’s were now being sued for deformation of character and notice of the upcoming case against them had been served. They’d be looking for a substantial payout for deformation plus costs of court for defending this case and the costs of the deformation case. Goldberg sat stunned and reporters rushed to their offices to lodge their reports. This was going to go far beyond Parkerville, and they’d need to be the first to get that report out. They looked forward to the follow up case.

Goldberg and his wife counselled together that evening lamenting being outsmarted. The news already being printed was going to be bad for business. Next day they contacted Richie’s lawyer looking to settle out of court. The lawyer told them it would cost them a million dollars plus costs of the now settled court case otherwise it would go to court as scheduled. They requested to meet with Richie in the presence of his lawyer, but Richie refused. This was going to seriously impact their retirement savings, and business was going to be impacted as the news was picked up nationally. Perhaps it would be better to go into retirement and sell the business rather than face further ridicule. They made a final appeal to Richie via the lawyer, but he remained firm. He was going to use that money to finance his three girls’ higher education now and he had no feelings of sympathy for those who’d treated Eva and he so abominably. So, they settled and sold the business to a national firm of lawyers extending their reach nationally as the occasion arose. The Goldbergs retreated to their holiday home in Florida to retire in humiliation.

The evening of settlement with the Goldbergs the new family sat to divide up the money. One hundred thousand would be placed into trust accounts with the bank on term deposit for each of the girls toward their education and future. The rest would be used for a refurbishment of both houses and money for business opportunities when Richie decided to leave service with Shoppers Paradise department stores as he knew from contacts at head office it was only a matter of time before he’d be asked to either join the New York staff or go to a larger city to repeat his miracle working powers on profitability there. Richie’s life was now here in Silver Cascade with his family, and it was a lifestyle of his choice.

Shoppers Paradise had been good to him and had sponsored him into his MBA, and they’d been amply rewarded for that educational assistance. He’d financed his CPA qualifications himself so was considering an offer to old man Robinson having heard through the grapevine that he was thinking about selling his ownership rights and retiring. Richie prayed he’d delay a little longer while he got all his home refurbishments completed and Aly was set up in her business closer to the village. Aly loved the relocation of her business and was by now deeply in love with her man and pulling out all stops to let him know that affection every minute of their time together. Richie presented flowers to her each evening on arriving home from work and repeating his pledge to be there for her and the girls forever. Carolyn had been a success at sales from the first day of her vacation time at Shoppers Paradise and was now decided on her future college program. Steph had started college already and commuted home of a weekend to enjoy her restful home in the car purchased for her. Carolyn would be next to go to college and very decided on her future too. Naomi surprised Aly by telling her she wanted to follow in her new mother’s footsteps and enter college to prepare to qualify in that area. In the meantime, she watched and listened to her mother as she expertly handled the different aspects of her work and learned from her preparatory to college. Aly poured her love into her new daughter and loved the fact she intended to return to her someday to help her with the business and eventually take it over. But it was with a touch of sadness she realized there’d be a few years before at least one of her girls would return. She was so glad that Richie had proposed to her having given a huge hint that’s what she wanted and both were deeply committed to each other.

The college years went by quickly and the girls who’d been sent off to college with cars of their own returned whenever they could to be with their family. They kept in touch with each other daily through messaging sharing secrets they could never share with their parents a deep bond between them.

Steph got a job in Silicon Valley and enjoyed her work there specializing in creating online games which were in high demand. She married a doctor’s son, but the marriage didn’t last and she fled home to Silver Cascade to heal before deciding to go into business as an online web page host for businesses. With the help of her parents, she set up a business office in Parkerville though much of her business was from around the nation and she was soon self-sufficient again.

Carolyn returned to Parkerville to work initially for Shoppers Paradise in their advertising wing but was picked up by an advertising agency at a higher salary and found the love of her life in that work. They were married after courting for a year.

Naomi returned qualified to work with her mother and Aly nurtured her into maturing in the work there. Soon Naomi in her own right was gaining customers and Aly watched her development with pride. Richie and Aly were concerned that she was not finding a soulmate to establish her own home and encouraged her to attend all the functions in Silver Cascade meeting hall where dances and other community events were held. She found some of those she’d gone to school with years ago were there and had common memories they shared together. They invited her to apply for membership in the local golf club, and she tried that and grew to like the game. Richie who’d learned to play golf in his young adult years decided to join the club too and dragged Aly kicking and screaming along with him, but she too soon found an interest there and enjoyed the exercise around the golf courses each week getting better at it until she could give her husband and daughter a run for their money.

It was there Naomi gradually developed an interest in one of her childhood friends whose parents ran the medical centre. They began spending more time together until eventually they fell in love and Barry Fuller proposed and she accepted. Barry was now a qualified doctor hoping to one day take over his parent’s clinic so was committed to stay in Silver Cascade.

Steph eventually got over her grief at the failure of her marriage and allowed over time the son of a partner in Fisher and Partner’s CPA Practice to be in her life. They were married on the clear understanding this would be her home forever. Too many bad memories on the west coast and this was her place of safety.

Robinson had finally given in and went into retirement selling his controlling interest in the CPA firm to Richie who immediately sought partnerships as the business expanded under Richie’s direction. Richie was making sure business was not all his life as he loved spending time with Aly. There were too many burnouts in a business like this if conducted alone.

Aly was inspecting herself one morning before heading for work at her office building she had a busy day ahead. Today she was looking forward to working in the ceramics workshop where the old garage had once been while Naomi looked after counselling commitments upstairs. She paused to inspect some grey hairs poking through while Richie watched it all thanking his good fortune at finding this remarkable woman.

“Richie I’m getting old!” she wailed.”

Richie moved over to envelop her in his arms, and she sank into his embrace gratefully. He couldn’t resist this woman. She was his constant passion.

“Aly I only see a young beautiful woman in the mirror. Where is this old person you were talking about?”

She spun around quickly and looked into his eyes.

“You don’t have to lie Richie be honest!”

He took a more careful look.

“I can only see the most beautiful woman that ever existed and I better leave her alone otherwise I’d be tempted to miss work for the day.”

She patted his arm affectionately.

“You’re an unconvincing liar but I love you to bits and don’t want you to miss work but will certainly tempt you tonight after what you just said.”

They both laughed as she pushed him away adjusting his coat.

“Rest up you are going to need all the strength you can muster as I greet you when you get home tonight.”

Richie bent forward and kissed her then sped to the car to get to work on time. He was the happiest man alive to have such a wonderful wife and extending family.

Conclusion.

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