Chapter 55
Dave was feeling a bit tired, having run from one meeting to the next. He would take a break after this meeting, around five thirty. Frank slid the financial report to him. Dave flipped through the twenty-page document, checking for any red highlighted numbers. He found several.
“Tell me what’s going on with the Southern region,” he said, fumbling in his pocket for his reading glasses.
“Not much to tell,” Frank said, glancing quickly at Madeline. “There were a few start-up issues that impacted the bottom line.”
“You mean with getting Daniel up to speed as chief of operations?” Dave asked. He recalled several delays near the end of last year but didn’t realize it had impacted sales three quarters later.
“His transition into my old role wasn’t as smooth as I’d hoped, but it will work out.”
Dave rolled his eyes at Frank. “I’m sure Daniel will be fine once he gets the rest of his team in place.” No matter how good Daniel was in the role, he was never going to be as good as Frank was.
Having his brother step down from the operation’s position had been a personal low for Dave. For a second he longed for the old days when he, Madeline, and Frank were a solid team, impenetrable. Those days were long gone. Operating with less support was one of the many consequences of Dave’s transgression that lingered. Repentance, forgiveness, and even redemption had been immediate, but it had become brutally clear that God hadn’t let Dave’s sinful nature go unpunished. It felt as if the consequences of his actions were going to be spread across several lifetimes—his, Madeline’s, his children’s, and Frank’s. God help his family to learn to live with this inevitable wrath.
Dave turned his attention to the report. Dwelling on the rest would bear no fruit.
“The numbers for the Southern region aren’t great, and so you may also want to consider bringing in a regional director for the South,” Madeline suggested.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Dave said.
“I basically cover the Eastern region now. I could focus exclusively on the East and keep my marketing role,” Madeline said.
“With the extra help, maybe I can get freed up to finally build my leadership library. It has been a dream of mine for ten years,” Dave remarked.
“Where’s the oversight and finances coming from?” Frank asked. “Madeline just told us that numbers for the Southern region are down. Do we really have money to fund a pet project at this time?”
Dave knew Frank was more apt to question his decisions. He wasn’t alone. Several clients did too, but the lack of trust in him didn’t diminish his role as CEO. He was still in charge, with a vision to fulfill. “I’ll expand the management structure. I’ll also pull together a board of directors to provide objective oversight,” Dave said, rearing back in his seat, grinning.
“So you have this figured out?” Frank asked.
Dave nodded. “Who knows? Maybe we can finally begin to build up the international sector too.”
“Slow down, little brother. We want to lock down the United States first and then venture out.”
“My dream is for us to expand beyond Detroit and the United States. I want to take our teachings to the masses,” Dave revealed.
“Maybe you do, but I’m getting older, and I don’t intend to work crazy hours like I used to,” Frank remarked. “That’s why I gave up the operations role. You’ll be on your own with the international expansion, and the West Coast, for that matter.”
Dave sighed.
“Speaking of hours, it’s going on five o’clock. I have a few things to do before getting out of here for dinner with my wife. I have to go,” Frank said, slapping the table lightly.
He left Dave with Madeline.
“That brother of mine is something else.”
“He is, but Frank loves you.”
“He does, but the past has changed him.”
“I can relate,” she said, cutting her glance at him briefly.
He let the comment drop, figuring it would lead to another discussion that wasn’t going to bear fruit. He and Madeline had a functioning relationship, and he preferred to keep it working.
“Oh no,” he blurted out. “I was supposed to meet Sherry and Joel at his soccer practice.”
“What time?”
“At five.”
Madeline snickered. “Some things change, and some things don’t.”
“I’ve missed most of the games this year. I have to make the one on Saturday. It’s his championship match. The little slugger is so excited.”
“Saturday!” Madeline shouted. “We have to pick up Andre. I told you on Monday to block off your calendar.”
“Oh no, I forgot about Andre.”
“You always forget about Andre.”
“That’s not fair, Madeline. Besides, he is twenty-two years old. He’s not a kid who needs a chaperone. He didn’t let us come to visit for his birthday. What makes you think he wants us there this weekend? He’d probably prefer to fly home alone.”
“Dave Mitchell, we have to fly out to Colorado and pick up Andre. We haven’t been able to do much for our son. So I’m not letting you get out of this. Come on, you have to go. Please,” she pleaded. “We can’t let him down.”
“Wow. This is awful, but I guess you’re right.”
“I know I’m right,” she said as she seemed to relax. “The boy could have come home last year or earlier in this school term, but he was so fed up with us being inadequate parents that he chose to stay away. It doesn’t get much worse when your child would rather sleep in a cramped dorm room instead of coming home. We’ve let him down repeatedly. I know it, and you know it too,” she said, her voice cracking. “The counselor said Andre is willing to give us a chance. We’re the ones who dropped him off in Colorado, and I want us to be the ones who pick him up. His counselor agrees.”
“All right, I’m going with you to Colorado. I’ll have Sharon make the arrangements.”
“Great,” she said. “I’m heading home. Maybe I can catch dinner with Don and Tamara. Since they’re teenagers, it’s almost impossible for the three of us to be home together in the evening. I catch them when I can, and Thursday seems to be the best night. I’m out of here. I’ll talk with you tomorrow.”
“Have a good night,” he said as Madeline left. Dave clasped his hands together and meditated. He needed the extra reinforcement before calling Sherry. He already anticipated her reaction, and it wasn’t going to be positive. No more delay, he thought. He dialed home. She answered sooner than he expected.
“Sherry, I’ve made a huge mistake, and I’m going to need your forgiveness.”
“What is it?”
“I totally forgot that Madeline and I have to pick Andre up from school on Saturday.”
“No, you don’t. You have to come to Joel’s game. He wants you to be there, and so do I.”
“I know, but it’s one of those situations I can’t change.”
“What are you talking about? There are plenty of other options.”
“Like what?”
“Madeline can go alone. Plus, Andre is over twenty-one years old. He’s an adult. He can fly home on his own. He doesn’t need two parents picking him up, especially when one has another obligation.”
Dave appreciated Sherry’s frustration. He’d just used the same ineffective argument. He was frustrated by the scheduling conflict too, but a commitment had been made to Madeline. “Andre is an adult, but the counselor apparently wants us to come out there as a show of support.”
“What about Joel’s support? He doesn’t have any other family members to attend the match. You’re it.”
“Sherry, my hands are tied here.”
“Then untie them, and find a way to make Joel’s game.”
“I can’t.”
“No, you mean you won’t choose Joel over Andre.”
“I’m not choosing sides.”
“Oh, you are, whether you admit it or not. You’re definitely choosing Madeline over me. Will there ever be a day when Joel and I come first?”
He’d heard that question repeatedly from both women. He hadn’t answered Madeline earlier. He wasn’t going to answer Sherry now. No answer would be satisfying to her. There would be no benefit derived from an extended discussion about this, but there was hope. Eight years ago, Madeline was barely speaking to him. She was so mad. Day by day they’d managed to build a solid partnership again within DMI. There remained several sensitive topics between them, but overall they got along. He knew healing was possible.