vanishes.”
Jon nodded. If he were
to succeed in getting his father to agree with his point of view, candidness
was not an option. He’d think of a way to open his father’s eyes to Paul’s
faults as a businessman later, but right now there was another matter he wanted
to address.
“Oh, Dad, I meant to
ask you: did you know about Mother’s ring?” Before Jon finished the sentence
Hank cut in.
“I wanted Paul to have
it; I think your mother would have agreed.”
“But I thought she
wanted the ring to remain in the family,” Jon retorted.
Hank frowned. “As your
brother’s future wife, Lisa is now part of this family.”
Jon was too rattled up
to hold back. “Yes, Dad. I only meant to say that family heirlooms should be
passed on to children and grandchildren, but obviously you know best. Suppose
Lisa calls off the engagement, then what?” The sapphire ring that now adorned
Lisa’s ring finger had been a present from Hank to his wife on their twentieth
wedding anniversary. It was a custom design, consisting of a flawless sapphire,
framed by highest clarity diamonds in a platinum setting. The trouble was that
Jon’s mother had passed away without a chance to leave a will. At the time, his
father had been too overwrought by grief for Jon to approach the sensitive
subject, and now it was obvious that he had waited too long.
“When Paul told me
about his plans, I was too overjoyed to think about something like that… Look,
son, I understand your concern, but I think that Lisa is a decent enough woman
to return the engagement ring should she wish to call off the engagement, and
I, for one, sincerely hope that it will not come to that. And as for my
grandchildren, there will be plenty to go around for everyone. Right now I just
want to bask in the joy of seeing my sons succeed – both personally and
professionally.”
“You’re right, Dad; it
was a heartfelt gesture. I’m sorry I over-reacted.” Jon shrugged. There was no
way of convincing the old man, so he might as well make the best of it.
“I’m glad we’re in
agreement, Jon. I wanted your mother’s memory, the memory of our marriage—”
Hank broke off. “To be passed on while I was still around to see it. Who knows
how many days I have left on this earth, and to tell you the truth, without your
mother, I wish there wouldn’t be that many.”
“Dad…” Jon felt his
throat tightening with guilt. He’d been so preoccupied with his own affairs
that it never even crossed his mind to think about how his father was coping
with his wife’s death. “Dad, you know that you are loved very much by your
family; you are very important to us.” Jon stopped short; he was a pro when it
came to peddling corporate speeches in boardrooms, but when it came to speaking
from his heart, he choked.
“I know, son.” Hank
patted Jon’s hand. “Well, I’d better get out of your way. You’ve got a company
to run.”
“Okay, Dad. But you
know that I’m always there for you, should you need to talk or anything…” Jon
offered awkwardly.
“I know, son. I know.”
Hank turned toward the door. “And Jon…”
“Yes?”
“Remember what I said
about your brother: he’s got the potential to run the company as your partner.
Help him realize it.”
Jon nodded. “I will,
Dad.”
Once the door behind
his father closed, Jon pressed his fists against his temples. He had enough
worries keeping him up at night. Now, he also had to devise a way to involve
his younger brother in the business while keeping him out of the loop on any
matters of substance. God forbid Paul, with his Boy Scout mentality, should
ever find out about the changes that Jon had implemented at the firm. His
naïve, prudish brother would be the first in line to confess to the SEC and the
Feds. Still, Jon had to admit that the old man did have a point. Rather than
trying to keep Paul away, Jon should embrace his younger brother. This way,
Paul would begin to trust him and consult with
Jon nodded. If he were
to succeed in getting his father to agree with his point of view, candidness
was not an option. He’d think of a way to open his father’s eyes to Paul’s
faults as a businessman later, but right now there was another matter he wanted
to address.
“Oh, Dad, I meant to
ask you: did you know about Mother’s ring?” Before Jon finished the sentence
Hank cut in.
“I wanted Paul to have
it; I think your mother would have agreed.”
“But I thought she
wanted the ring to remain in the family,” Jon retorted.
Hank frowned. “As your
brother’s future wife, Lisa is now part of this family.”
Jon was too rattled up
to hold back. “Yes, Dad. I only meant to say that family heirlooms should be
passed on to children and grandchildren, but obviously you know best. Suppose
Lisa calls off the engagement, then what?” The sapphire ring that now adorned
Lisa’s ring finger had been a present from Hank to his wife on their twentieth
wedding anniversary. It was a custom design, consisting of a flawless sapphire,
framed by highest clarity diamonds in a platinum setting. The trouble was that
Jon’s mother had passed away without a chance to leave a will. At the time, his
father had been too overwrought by grief for Jon to approach the sensitive
subject, and now it was obvious that he had waited too long.
“When Paul told me
about his plans, I was too overjoyed to think about something like that… Look,
son, I understand your concern, but I think that Lisa is a decent enough woman
to return the engagement ring should she wish to call off the engagement, and
I, for one, sincerely hope that it will not come to that. And as for my
grandchildren, there will be plenty to go around for everyone. Right now I just
want to bask in the joy of seeing my sons succeed – both personally and
professionally.”
“You’re right, Dad; it
was a heartfelt gesture. I’m sorry I over-reacted.” Jon shrugged. There was no
way of convincing the old man, so he might as well make the best of it.
“I’m glad we’re in
agreement, Jon. I wanted your mother’s memory, the memory of our marriage—”
Hank broke off. “To be passed on while I was still around to see it. Who knows
how many days I have left on this earth, and to tell you the truth, without your
mother, I wish there wouldn’t be that many.”
“Dad…” Jon felt his
throat tightening with guilt. He’d been so preoccupied with his own affairs
that it never even crossed his mind to think about how his father was coping
with his wife’s death. “Dad, you know that you are loved very much by your
family; you are very important to us.” Jon stopped short; he was a pro when it
came to peddling corporate speeches in boardrooms, but when it came to speaking
from his heart, he choked.
“I know, son.” Hank
patted Jon’s hand. “Well, I’d better get out of your way. You’ve got a company
to run.”
“Okay, Dad. But you
know that I’m always there for you, should you need to talk or anything…” Jon
offered awkwardly.
“I know, son. I know.”
Hank turned toward the door. “And Jon…”
“Yes?”
“Remember what I said
about your brother: he’s got the potential to run the company as your partner.
Help him realize it.”
Jon nodded. “I will,
Dad.”
Once the door behind
his father closed, Jon pressed his fists against his temples. He had enough
worries keeping him up at night. Now, he also had to devise a way to involve
his younger brother in the business while keeping him out of the loop on any
matters of substance. God forbid Paul, with his Boy Scout mentality, should
ever find out about the changes that Jon had implemented at the firm. His
naïve, prudish brother would be the first in line to confess to the SEC and the
Feds. Still, Jon had to admit that the old man did have a point. Rather than
trying to keep Paul away, Jon should embrace his younger brother. This way,
Paul would begin to trust him and consult with
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