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“Did she call you?” Carlo asked as Jonathan sat down across from him in the conference room of Connie’s new law office on Sea Kiss’s Main Street. Jonathan and Connie had bought the building and renovated it at the same time that Jonathan’s contractors had been working on restoring the old guitar building for Jonathan’s new research and development center.
A grim smile darkened Jonathan’s normally happy face. “I’m sorry, dude. I never expected this whole thing would get this gnarly.”
“It’s not your fault, Jon. I knew Emma came with a whole mountain of issues. I just didn’t realize the mountain was called Everest,” he said, trying to put the other man at ease over the situation.
Jonathan chuckled as Carlo had intended and then shook his head. “Women. Connie had her share of daddy issues too, so I get it. Emma will come around, Carlo.”
He wished he could be as certain as his friend, but every attempt he’d made to contact Emma in the past week had been rebuffed. She hadn’t answered his texts or phone calls. Since they hadn’t had any events to work together for the two weeks before Christmas, which was only days away, there had been no business reason to see her either and he was missing her. Badly. She was all he thought about day and night and everything was suffering for it. Luckily his brothers had picked up the slack for him, but with Tomás possibly returning to the Army in another month or so, he had to get his head back in the game. Especially if they were going to go through with the purchase of the convention center. That was what he had to focus on for the moment and so he said, “What did your guys say about the condition of the building?”
Jonathan stared at him hard, but then relented and changed the topic. “It’s in good shape. Whatever damage Sandy did has been repaired. Walls, roof, general structure, electrical. I don’t have to tell you the new equipment is top notch. You saw it for yourself, but even with all that, the three million they’re asking for is on the high side since there’s still a shitload of work to do before the building can be occupied.”
“I agree, but I’m not sure we should low ball them,” Carlo said.
Jonathan nodded, but then yanked out some papers for Carlo to view. Comparables for other properties that had recently sold, including the old guitar building Jonathan had bought only months before. As Jonathan fanned the papers across the conference room table, it was obvious that none of the properties had sold for over two and a half million.
“I see the numbers, Jon. But none of these are prime locations on the water. Those always cost way more,” he argued, playing devil’s advocate.
“They do, but I think it’s going to cost another million to get that building ready to open. We’re talking major investments in sheet rock, paint, lighting, landscaping, and more, especially since it’s landmarked. That limits what anyone can do with the property,” Jonathan pointed out and Carlo couldn’t argue with that.
“We offer two to start?” he said and waited for Jonathan as his friend looked over the comparables again.
“Two to start. We shoot for two and a half as the max otherwise we walk away. Do we agree?” Jonathan asked.
It would break his heart to walk away from such an opportunity, but his friend was right about the price and the work it would take before they could use the building.
“I agree,” he said.
Jonathan hesitated for a moment before he asked, “What about your brothers?”
“They trust my judgment. Besides, I’m putting up the bulk of the money for our share and Emma’s.”
“What if Emma’s not interested?” Jonathan asked making Carlo wonder if Jonathan knew more than he was saying on account of his wife’s friendship with Emma.
“Then I’ll cover her share somehow.”
“No way,” Jonathan began with an emphatic slash of his hand. “I don’t expect you to tap into your 401K or sell your house to cover anyone else’s share of this partnership.”
“I don’t need your charity, Jon,” he said. He wasn’t about to take advantage of a friend’s generosity to expand his business.
“And I’m not offering a handout, Carlo. That’s not the way I work. We can structure the partnership where I get an insider price for event space and first crack on dates to offset my initial investment. Take it from me, I’m the winner there because once people see what an amazing venue it is, you’d probably be able to charge way more for the space than what I intend to pay you.”
He searched Jonathan’s face for any sign of duplicity, but his friend was as open as he’d ever been. “Done. You’ll call Mary?” he asked as Jonathan gathered up the papers on the table.
“I will once Connie finishes setting up our LLC. Rumors are flying already, and I’d hate for the asking price to go up just because they think I’m involved. Any thoughts for the name of the partnership?” Jonathan asked.
With a laugh, Carlo said, “Four Guys and a Girl?”
Jonathan joined him with a hearty chuckle. “I think Emma would prefer ‘lady’.”
With a shrug, Carlo said, “Definitely a lady. A very pissed off one. I leave you to choose a name.”
“Great. We don’t have to name the partners to form the LLC so we won’t need Emma for that, but the lawyers are going to want some kind of partnership agreement eventually. You’ll talk to her?” Jonathan asked and tucked the papers into a well-worn leather knapsack.
“I’ve been trying, mano. She won’t answer,” he admitted in frustration.
“She’ll be at our house for Christmas Eve. You’re invited to come. Lots of family and friends will be there.”
With a heavy sigh, Carlo shook his head. “That’s my family’s big night so I’m normally in Newark with them. Besides, the last thing you want is an arctic chill descending on your festivities.”
Jonathan clapped him on the back. “Yeah, you’re probably right. It’s gnarly enough without adding fuel to the fire. I’ll hold off the attorneys as long as I can.”
“I appreciate that,” Carlo said and the two men stepped out into the reception area where Connie was busy unpacking law books from a box.
“Shit, babe. You shouldn’t be lifting anything heavy,” Jonathan said and rushed over to help his wife.
“I’m pregnant, not an invalid. Besides, they’re not that heavy,” she said as she grabbed a few and plopped them on a shelf in one of the bookcases that lined one wall of the reception area.
“I can’t believe you even use these anymore. That’s so 18th century,” Jonathan groused as he helped her with another stack of books.
“I don’t, but they make people think you’re a real lawyer,” she said with a roll of her eyes as Jonathan took yet another pile from her hands.
As Carlo grabbed yet more books, she directed him to another bookcase where she had some official looking plaques and awards.
“How are you doing?” she asked and gestured to where he should place the legal tomes.
“I could be better,” he confessed and after, endured her prolonged scrutiny.
“I don’t know who looks worse. You or Emma,” she said and instructed him and Jonathan on where to place the next round of books. He was grateful that after her comment, all the attention was on emptying the boxes sitting in the reception area. Once the cartons had been broken down, tied up for recycling, and placed at the curb, the three of them stood in the room, inspecting their work.
As Connie had said, the books, awards, and photos grouped on the shelves were not only pleasant to look at but screamed “Lawyer.” Successful lawyer at that, he thought, proud of his friend for what she had accomplished.
There were more boxes inside her office. Jon and he helped her unpack those as well as hang her various diplomas and proofs of her admissions to the New York and New Jersey bars and various courts in the area. Carlo rested his hands on his hips as he viewed the documents and with a low whistle said, “Very impressive, counselor. I’m glad I have you on my side.”
Connie stepped over and laced her arm through his. “You do have me on your side and in more ways than one, Carlo. Give her a little more space. She’s confused and hurt and even if the latter might be unreasonable, to her it’s completely understandable.”
Carlo glanced at Connie out of the corner of his eye. She was a beautiful woman and pregnancy had only seemed to make her prettier. Or maybe it was the glow of happiness as Jonathan walked over, slid an arm around her waist, and dropped a kiss on her forehead.
“Get your own girl,” Jonathan teased.
Carlo smiled and put his hands up as if in surrender. “Believe me, I’m trying to.”
Connie jabbed him in the ribs. “Try harder.”
