I smiled.
“Hmmm I must have failed to mention that. Yes, we’ll have a strategy conference, just like last week. Every Friday, at my place. See you then.”
I emphasized the ‘just like last week’ and smiled, confidently. I slipped out before she had time to comment. By this time I was walking around on a cloud. I was going to save her company, I was sure. And I was well on the way to completing a fantasy of mine. But there was a little more to my fantasy.
Friday night came. I had dinner out and was home long before nine. At exactly nine there was a soft knock on my front door. If I’d been ten feet away I wouldn’t have heard it. I opened the door and my mom was there, tall, beautiful and once again, with no luggage, just her work case.
“You’re right on time, I like that.”
I said in an even tone. Mom didn’t flinch, she walked in and stopped as I closed the door. We walked down the hall, towards the great room. As we passed the dining room mom paused. She looked in at the empty table.
“I thought we were working tonight?”
I smiled and put my hand in the small of her back, pressing her along.
“No, it’s done. The employee stock class has been added and the bonds distributed. You’re safe.”
She just stood there.
“When did you know this?”
“Thursday.”
She straightened up and got her boss face.
“And you withheld this information until now? Why? I have a right to know.”
I moved close to her. Inside her space.
“Your company, your dream was safe and secure. I didn’t want to tell you in a cold office setting. This is personal and needed to be done in a very personal manner. Miranda, mom. Nobody is going to take your company from you, ever.”
She began to tear up. I’d never seen that. She just looked at me, lines of moisture pooling at the base of her emerald eyes.
“You did this, didn’t you? It wasn’t Warren or Calder, it was your plan, your ideas. Don’t lie, they already told me.”
I took her case and put it down. Then I moved in close and took my mother in my arms. I pulled her tight to me, she didn’t resist, in fact she succumbed. I thought I heard a sigh. I moved my mouth to her ear and whispered, my lips just brushing her skin. I felt her tremble as I spoke.
“When I got this project I was honored. Nothing was more important than protecting my mother’s dream, her life’s work. I am the aegis of my mother’s dream and I will never waver in its defense.”
She moaned, deeply. I pulled back. She looked a little disheveled, confused. She looked at me wordlessly. She was waiting for me to speak. I smiled broadly and picked up her case.
“Let’s get you settled in. This will be a celebration night, not a work night.”
She followed me without a word. I got to the room she had last week and the same items were out except the tee shirt was shorter and I knew it would be tighter and it was much earlier at night.
“I’ll be down in the laundry off the butler’s pantry when you’re ready.”
Familiar patterns of behavior adjusted with small changes make the big changes easier, right? I actually had laundry to do so I changed into my nylon shorts, nothing underneath, of course and a tee. I was head deep in the machine when she arrived.