Chapter Thirty Eight

When James got off the phone with Jenny, his mind was buzzing. Over the years he had always been able to outwit any competitor and secure contract after contract. He was now going after the biggest acquisition of his life; he wanted Jenny back. Surely he could outwit a farm boy. He recalled talking to Henry once. The conversation had been brief but James recalled every word… “Look, bud, I’m James Hamilton and Jennifer is mine. She’s my girl and we intend to get married, so get lost creep and don’t call her again.” He remembered slamming down the phone and that his innards ached for hours and days afterwards. He could barely watch the movie that he and Jenny went to. Well, that approach worked then but a different approach was needed now. Perhaps James would call Henry, feel him out and see if he could be persuaded once again to butt out.

James’ mind was getting into gear… his next move was already taking shape. A plan was forming, however to get others to cooperate in the plan was a different matter. He picked up the phone and called Regina once again.

“Hello, this be Matilda.”

“Glad I caught you in; did you see Marj— I mean Jenny— yet today?”

Matti checked the clock on the night table. “It’s only seven thirty, Mr. Hamilton, I be seeing Jenn—I mean Ms. Hamilton later today. I told you everything last night, how she be and how the hospital is in such an uproar over all this healing business. I ‘spect she don’t be changing much from last evening until now.”

“Yes, yes, of course… and you don’t have to keep saying Ms. Hamilton. I know you have been calling her Jenny… is that clear?”

Matilda just didn’t know how to take Mr. Hamilton anymore, he was changing by the minute. “Yes, sir, that’s clear. I will try to—”

“It’s okay, Matilda, I’m really calling about another matter… we talked about this before, but I would like you to consider staying longer and try to influence Jenny to come back. I can pay you extr—”

“I’m sorry Mr. Hamilton; I leave it all up to Miss Jenny to decide how she want to spend the rest of her days. That be her business and not mine. Chloe and me are going to visit with her one more time today and then we both be flying home first thing in the morning…”

There was a brief silence and then Matti continued, “I wish to come home now, if you’ll have me. I appreciate from the bottom of my heart that you allowed me to come here and be with my mistress and friend. I’ll never forget this special time and the miracle that be happening. You be a good man for allowing me to come.”

Matti never thought that those words would ever come out of her mouth… but the Lord can do strange powerful things. Thomas be right after all. Maybe, just maybe, a little of Miss Jenny be creeping into Mr. Hamilton’s soul. Soon I ‘spect I be accepting Mr. Hamilton just like Jen.

“Are you certain, Matilda? Just think how the estate would be with her back.”

“Yes, it would be heaven, that’s for sure. But I came to give whatever support I could to my friend and will continue for the rest of my life. Now, I know what you want me to do, but I can’t. There be no way I can interfere with Miss Jenny’s life, or anybody else. I need to come now. My work here is done.”

The words, ‘you be a good man,’ stuck in James’ mind. He couldn’t remember anyone ever saying that to him and he felt the sincerity of it. He had no choice but to agree with his employee.

“Matilda, I understand what you’re saying, it is Jenny’s life and you’re welcome for what I did. It was for my benefit to get her back. I realize now the wonderful lady I had in Mrs. Hamilton and for the rest of my life, I will regret the way I treated her and drove her away… but I’m no fool Matilda, I would like to have her back in my life and I will do anything to do so.

“Yes. Come home, Matilda.”

Next, James called the office to speak to his son but he wasn’t in. He left a message for him to call or drop by the estate. J.J. would be a key player in getting Marjorie to consider coming back. The kid had a serious attitude problem… he reminded him much of himself.

Maybe he’s at home, James thought as he dialed the number

“Hello,” said Nora softly. There was a hesitancy in her voice, as if she was almost afraid to know who was calling or… hoping someone would call.

“Morning, Nora, it’s James. Is J.J. in?”

“Oh…hi, James. No, J.J. isn’t at home.”

“I tried the office but he wasn’t there. Is he on his way to work?” James wanted to know.

A silence hung over the line…

“Nora, where is J.J.?” There was urgency in James’ voice and it was rising. It frightened Nora; she had seen James lose it many times.

“We, we had a fight two nights ago and he may have gone to some hotel. I don’t know where he is, James.”

This time it was James who didn’t answer promptly, but for only a moment.

“What the hell is going on, Nora? J.J. isn’t fooling around is he?”

Nora didn’t answer. James faintly heard her crying. The sound was muffled.

“Nora, I’ll see if I can find him. If he calls or comes home tell him I want to see him. It’s urgent! … Are you okay…?”

Nora was surprised to hear James express concern. She wanted to tell him that things hadn’t been going well for months. J.J. was working way too long almost every day and many times he didn’t make it home. Nora suspected that he was seeing someone but wasn’t certain. She was afraid that if she mentioned it to James, J.J. may resent it and get even more distant.

“No, I’m fine… if you do get a hold of him please, tell him to call home.”

“Yes, yes, I will. Goodbye.”

“What the hell has gotten into that kid?” muttered James, as he made his way out the back onto the patio. The sprinklers were on and the morning sun caught the moisture on the blades of grass. He had often heard Jenny say how the lawn glistened like millions of diamonds. At the time, he thought she was getting carried away by some fantasy world, but she was right… the entire scene before him sparkled with a calming freshness. It soothed him.

James sat down at the patio table and picked up his pen. He wondered if Jenny liked the card he sent with the lilacs. He forgot to ask and she didn’t say. Maybe she didn’t notice. It took him forever to write that short note. If it had to do with a business letter, James would have been done in minutes but to write a note on a small card was like writing a five hundred page manuscript. He tore up note after note. He had thought of hiring a writer but he knew Jenny would detect its artificiality. No, he had to do it on his own and he was glad he did. It gave him an unusual sense of accomplishment and…something more. He didn’t know what that “something more,” was, however. He thought he would try to write another note, perhaps longer. He had just written her name down, “Jenny” when he heard talking in the kitchen through the screen door. It was J.J. He was announced by Charles.

“Your son is here to see you, Mr. Hamilton.”

“That is completely unnecessary Charles,” said J.J. as he walked out directly behind the butler.

“Hi, James. The office said you wanted to see me.”

“Did you see Nora?” James looked hard into his son’s eyes.

“What does she have to do with it? She doesn’t have to tell me to see you.”

“I’m not referring to that, J.J., she said you haven’t been home for a couple of nights—”

“What the hell did she tell you that for? It’s no-one’s concern what I do.”

James shook his head. He could see himself in his son: arrogant, proud and cocky. J.J. was on the road that James had prepared for his son, but now he needed a sharp detour. His son clearly had an attitude problem, but James was aware enough and honest enough to know that it was part of his doing. He was reaping what he helped to sow.

Anger was growing within him and normally it would have found an outlet by now. He would be tearing a strip up and down his son’s hide, but he put a hold on it and instead said, “Look J.J., I mean, look, Son, Nora is a good girl and you have a son that needs a father. I thought I knew best when your mother and I lived together but I was wrong and I am now paying a heavy price for my mistake. I turned on your mother and I got you to turn on her, too.”

James looked hard into his son’s eyes and said something that surprised even himself…

“J.J., I was wrong. The reason your mother and I split up was all my doing. I did a good job in convincing you differently, but now I want you to know the truth. If you want to turn against me, go ahead, but I want you to forgive your mother. In fact, there is nothing to forgive. I am finally realizing what a wonderful woman she was and I will give anything to have her back. And J.J., Nora is the same; don’t make the same mistake that I made. You will regret it for the rest of your life.”

James stopped trying to read J.J.’s reaction. But his son held a cold glare. At one point in his life, James would have considered what he just said as words to manipulate and win over. He hoped J.J. wouldn’t interpret his past actions and words in that light. For the first time, James meant every word he just said. James continued in an attempt to add more truth to his words.

“Look at Susan. I took her over your mother and look what is happening. She is blackmailing me for millions. How I could have taken her over your mother was an unbelievable mistake on my part. If you are seeing someone else other than your wife, please stop immediately. You have a wonderful family, J.J., don’t blow it.”

J.J. was having a very hard time standing there listening to his father. He couldn’t believe his ears! He knew his dad had softened since he got sick, but this was ridiculous. James sensed J.J. wasn’t swallowing his words.

“J.J., listen to me. Something wonderful has happened to your mother and she couldn’t be more deserving. She had died yesterday morning and suddenly she came back to life as the attendants from the morgue were coming to get her. She is completely cured and apparently as good as new if not better according to Matilda. The doctors can’t explain it. They claim it was a miracle.”

James stopped to make sure J.J. was giving him his full attention… to see if his words had any impact at all on his impervious son.

“J.J., I want your mother back and I need your help. I want you to make amends with her—we both want to straighten things—”

“Forget it, James. Since when has it ever been we. That’s a joke and with Marjorie it’s over between us. For as long as I can remember it’s been over. I don’t know her. I have little feelings for her. In fact, I could care less if she lived or died. You always took me away and discouraged me from having anything to do with her. And now you ask me to forgive her and like her. It’s like a stranger coming up to me on the street and saying, ‘call me Dad, I love you.’ I can’t respond to that, James. I spent most of my upbringing apart from Marjorie and when I saw her kissing that store owner, I knew she betrayed you. It all but destroyed the little that was in your marriage, as far as I’m concerned —”

“No! It wasn’t Jenny that kissed the man, it was him that kissed her. And it was wrong of me to take you away from her for all those years. It was my mistake and I want to make it all better. Surely I didn’t turn you away from her to that extent. Surely you realize that she is your mother, your own flesh and blood and not just some stranger you met on the street. She has always showed care and concern for you. It’s just that you have never reciprocated. I never allowed you to or discouraged you from doing so. It’s my fault, J.J., not hers. I am admitting and taking full responsibility.”

“Well then you tell her and make amends. Do it without me. There is no relationship between Marjorie and me. There has not been for as long as I can remember. It’s always been you and me. And the only way I could reach you was to do what you wanted just like all the other CEO’s. Well now I’m tired of it. I will do what I want to do.”

“Look, son, try to—”

“No! You look! it’s too late for that and I would appreciate it if you would stay out of our marriage. What’s going on between Nora and me is our business and no-one else’s. Didn’t you always say that? That you can handle your own affairs and didn’t need anyone to butt in?”

“I might have said that, if fact I know I have, but in this case with family, I was wrong, J.J… How can I convince you of that?”

“That’s up to you, James. If you think it was wrong, then that’s fine for you. You can live your life the way you want and let me live mine the way I want. If I want your advice I will ask for it.”

“Ahem,” Charles said.

Both men turned to the butler standing at the doorway.

“Are you ready for your afternoon tea, sir, and can I get a cup for your son?”

“No, Charles, I was just leaving.” J.J. turned to his father and was going to say something, but seemed to think better of it and stormed back into the house and out the front door.

“I hope I wasn’t interrupting, Mr. Hamilton.”

“No, no, that’s fine, Charles … I am just reaping what I have sown.”