Chapter 38
Don was gone. Madeline drew on heaps of fortitude and then went to get her phone upstairs. Shockingly, Tamara answered. Madeline wasn’t prepared. She hadn’t formulated her spiel and wouldn’t get the chance now. Madeline realized that if she didn’t start talking quickly, Tamara was going to hang up, and who knew when she’d answer her mother’s call again.
“Hello, darling,” Madeline said to lay the foundation for a sensible discussion.
Tamara returned the greeting. “What do you want, Mother?”
Cranky and irritated was the way Tamara sounded. Madeline wasn’t deterred.
“I have to tell you something very important.”
“Did something happen to Don?” she asked, sounding overly distressed.
“No, no, nothing like that.”
“Oh, you scared me for a second.”
“Didn’t mean to,” Madeline said, stalling. The proposal had to come across perfectly for Tamara to give it any serious consideration. Madeline smirked. She could present a proposal to a board of directors without losing an ounce of rest. But not to her daughter. Tamara was her Kryptonite.
“If it’s not Don, what about you? Is there something wrong with you?”
“Nothing a good night’s sleep can’t cure.”
“Then what is it?” Tamara demanded.
There were a million ways to tell Tamara they were going after the division, but none sounded right. Madeline wasn’t going to beat around the bush any longer. She decided to blurt out the truth and deal with the fallout. “You need to know that DMI is going after the West Coast division, and we’re offering a sizable price, far above market value.”
“Really?” Tamara retorted, her tone snide. “When did this happen?” she ranted.
“Today. We’re pitching the proposal to Zarah as soon as the paperwork is finished.”
“DMI wasn’t interested in the division until you found out I wanted it. Why am I surprised?” Tamara said, cackling and then abruptly quieting down.
Madeline didn’t want to let Tamara get too angry. “This move is for you.”
“For me? You must be kidding.” She cackled again. “This is about you, Mother. It always is. I should have known not to let you get too close. You’ve burned me again.”
Madeline had to find the mechanism that would calm Tamara down and allow her to see the big picture, the one where their family was working together. “I am doing this for you and Don. You both mean the world to me.”
“Huh, you have a funny way of showing your love, going behind my back to buy a company you knew I wanted.”
“I’m sorry you feel this way.” One division wasn’t a company. If Tamara had the business savvy necessary to build a company, she would understand the flaw in her statement. Yet Madeline would rather eat nails than criticize Tamara, a daughter who was three seconds from ending the call and possibly their relationship. Madeline swallowed her negativity, and her pride slid down her throat too.
“Just so you know, I’m not withdrawing my interest. You might have more money, but I have a friendship with Zarah. It’s got to be worth something,” Tamara declared.
Friendship was great, but offering Zarah an even exchange for Harmonious Energy wasn’t to be matched. Madeline opted not to share that piece of information. The fire was already burning out of control without fuel being added. “Once you think this through, I’m hoping you’ll agree this is best for everyone. You can return to DMI and assume your rightful place as president.”
“Second in charge, right?”
“I don’t think you should see it as second.”
“I really don’t care what you think, Mother.” Under normal circumstances, Madeline wouldn’t allow such a flagrant show of disrespect from her child or anybody else’s. She’d give Tamara a pass in this case but placed no guarantees on doing the same in future encounters. “Mother, I’m not letting you bully me into changing my mind.”
“Is that what you think I’m doing?”
“It’s exactly what you’re doing, and I’m not letting you get away with this. The past is dead. I’m not a child. If I want to buy my own company, I’ll do just that,” she said, drilling the message into Madeline’s soul. “I will never be controlled or overpowered by anyone again, including you.”
Madeline could have fired back but didn’t.
“So go ahead and put in your overpriced offer, and I’ll put in mine.”
“You’re seriously going to do this?” Madeline replied, running out of ways to reach Tamara.
“Oh no, not me. You did this. May the best Mitchell win.”
Madeline was crushed. “Do you think we’ll ever be able to fix our relationship?”
“Never know, Mother. I’m willing, but you have to show me some respect. It’s the only way I can let you back into my life.”
“I guess there’s hope.”
“Of course, but it will be up to you. Bidding on the West Coast division isn’t the ideal step toward fixing our relationship, but you are who you are.”
Madeline grinned. “That I am.”
“I’m going now,” Tamara said.
Madeline reluctantly said good-bye.
Right before Tamara disconnected, she said one more thing. “Mother, you’re a trip, but I love you. I have to go.” She hung up the phone without letting Madeline reply.
The line went dead. “I love you too,” Madeline uttered, with no one on the other end of the call to hear her.
Melancholy poured into her soul. Madeline lay across her bed and allowed herself to recall only positive memories of her only daughter. Tamara’s comment about the past being dead lingered in her mind, and perhaps it was true. Madeline didn’t care. With her future in flux, clinging to the past was her greatest treasure, and she’d cling to it with all her might.