Pink Slips and Glass Slippers (38 page)

After sharing a pizza, they enjoyed an ice cream, then worked off the calories with Duke. Stopping at the park, they tossed tennis balls until Duke nearly collapsed. Back home, Miss Ingram tucked in Parker.

Knowing they could sleep a little longer, they stayed up a little later, working off even more calories. Afterwards, Chase cuddled with Brooke until she fell asleep. He didn’t want the night to end, but sensed he had better let her sleep. Sleeping beside Brooke, he considered himself the luckiest man on the planet.

Parker enjoyed Brooke almost as much as his father did. He hadn’t asked about his mother since they returned.

After school, Brooke baked her daddy’s famous lobster lasagna for Parker, Chase, Oksana, and Dmitri. Chase even brought a couple bottles of Pouilly Fuissé—her favorite wine. Chase and Parker cleaned up the kitchen as Brooke phoned her father. She had thought of him while preparing dinner, but didn’t have the nerve to tell him where she was. Brooke wouldn’t commit to a weekend visit with her dad, using the excuse that she had met someone—big mistake. Weston’s incessant questioning rivaled the Nuremburg Trials. Brooke promised to see him soon, and with slight guilt, she hung up.

Brooke met Chase, Oksana, Dmitri, and Parker on the deck. Parker entertained them by chasing Duke all over the yard, never quite catching him.

“Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl”—Chase’s ringtone bellowed amid the laughter and chatter. It was Mary, who said, “It sounds like you have company?”

“I can talk. What’s up?”

Mary said, “I’m calling to remind you about Will’s birthday party.”

“Oh, right. I’m glad you called.”

“I wanted to ask you a favor…”

Chase smiled, stood, then finished the call inside. When he returned, he said, “Bedtime mister.” Parker put up a mild protest, but Chase lifted him up, saying, “You need your rest. You have a big weekend.” He winked at Brooke, asking, “Can you get him to bed? I need to ask Oksana something.”

Parker started snoring the moment his head hit the pillow. Brooke felt tipsy, and started preparing for bed. She guessed Chase was still talking to Oksana. While brushing her teeth, Chase surprised her. She laughed and nearly swallowed the toothpaste. She rinsed, then stood. Chase slid his arms around Brooke from behind, then kissed her cheek. Brooke turned and their lips met. After a long kiss, Chase said, “Oooo, minty fresh,” with a sparkle in his eye. Brooke turned to face him—she could stare at his lashes all night.

Their passion intensified. Wild kissing intertwined with wilder groping as they flung their clothes across the tile. The effects of the wine worked its magic; Chase paused, awestruck by Brooke’s moonlit figure, then raised her in the air. She felt a déjà vu until he lowered her onto the granite counter. Then, her eyes widened. His deepening thrusts sent shivers throughout her. She moaned, not wanting the feral feeling to end. Then, she burst a flood of ecstasy, gasping with each pulse. Chase’s eyes expanded, then he moaned his release. Quivering, they hugged. Brooke’s voice dropped as she said, “Wow…I hope we don’t make this granite melt.”

Gasping, with sweat beading on his forehead, Chase said, “You make me melt.”

Chase lifted Brooke off the counter and carried her to their bed. The combination of wine and savage lust had the couple sleeping instantly.

Several minutes later, Brooke entered a vivid dream state…

Tanner looked healthy—just like the college days. She was sitting on Chase’s lap, topless yet uninhibited. They were floating around the beach. She kept saying, “Come back,” to Tanner, but he smiled lovingly, and finally said, “I never left. I’m always here, by your side—like I promised you.”

“
But, you’re gone Tanner, I can’t see you…”

“
I’ve tried so many times to reach you but I’m running out of time.”

“
Come back.”

“
I can’t come back. But, I’ve been there every time you asked—the wind, the coins with our special dates, Angel’s Academy, I even kept that spider from biting you—I know how much you hate spiders.”

“
Come back to me, Tanner. I’m sorry for loving Chase.”

“
I brought you Chase. It’s
okay
. You need to let me go. There’s so much I need to do here—but not till you let me go. Be with Chase. He loves you like I love you.”

Brooke was crying. Then Tanner wiped her tears and chanted, “Read the letter. Read the letter. Read the letter…”

“What letter? What letter? Read what letter, Brooke?” Chase pulled Brooke close.

“Huh,” Brooke’s eyes fluttered as she crossed over the ledge of the two worlds.

Chase asked, “Are you okay?”

“I…I was having a dream…” Brooke’s eyes glistened.

“I know.”

“Oh, it seemed so real,” Brooke slid out of bed, grabbed a paper and pen, and headed to the bathroom. She wrote everything she could recall. Satisfied she had captured the important dream details, Brooke set her alarm an hour earlier.

“I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain…” The James Taylor song made Chase bolt upright. Brooke said, “Sorry, that’s my alarm. Can you take me back to my car? I have to grab something from my apartment before work.” Groggy Chase dropped Perky Brooke off at her car. The sun wouldn’t rise for another half hour. They kissed; Chase even looked cute with sleep in his eyes. During the fifteen minute drive back to her apartment, Brooke recalled the dream one more time. Unable to fall back asleep, she kept replaying it.

Once inside the dark dwelling, she felt a chill. Is that you, Tanner? Another chill. Brooke flipped on the main light, then stood still with hackles rising. Nothing. She plodded toward the credenza, realizing she hadn’t read the letter since that day. She clicked on the lamp and froze—

Three shiny dimes sparkled from the base of Tanner’s picture.

Brooke lifted them up, examining each one under the light—
holy shit
: the year we met, our wedding year, and the year he died. Hackles rose again. The light flickered. “Tanner…Tanner, you’re freaking me out…” Brooke scanned the room—nothing.

Brooke inched the drawer open and removed the envelope. The lights flickered again. “Tanner…Tanner, knock it off…I need light to read.” Then, another light illuminated. Brooke’s eyes nearly popped out, then she felt a strange sensation which made her giggle. Brooke had enough proof—only Tanner knew that ticklish spot. She glanced at his picture and smiled. Her fear now soothed, she was ready.

Opening the envelope, she read each word with heightened awareness. She comprehended everything differently, like she’d cracked the code to a hidden treasure. She wrote the key phrases:

1. A room full of children who adore you and your beautiful eyes and radiant smile.

2. The place we dreamed of by the ocean.

3. As God is my witness, I’ll find a way to help you in the afterlife like that movie you and I watched.

4. I’ll protect you and even help you meet someone who loves you, though it’s not possible to find anyone who could love you more than me.

5. I’ll try to give you the things we dreamed about.

Brooke felt a burst of energy. Tanner had kept all of his promises. Brooke’s life story began to flash, things made sense—.

Travis Bodady magically found her the GenSense job. She originally thought the recruiter chased the obituaries, but now she knew…

Shane magically appeared at the perfect time…

The money after the GenSense buyout…

Buying the Hilton Head place…

Angel’s Academy…

Chase…

Tanner’s line resonated—
I brought you Chase.
Brooke’s heart warmed. Come to think of it, I fell for Chase the moment he breezed into that boardroom. It was as if I had been healed from blindness that day. Then, the way I fell in that elevator…I learned about Guardian Angels in grade school. After all these years, now I believe. She smiled at Tanner’s picture and it started to shake slightly—like an earthquake’s tremor. Earlier, this occurrence would have spooked her; now, she felt comforted. She slid the three dimes in with the letter and sealed the envelope.

Brooke knelt with the letter in her trembling hands. She glanced up and said, “God, I don’t always understand your mysterious ways, but I thank you for helping me understand a little bit of it right now. I feel so much better. Please free Tanner to do the great things he spoke of doing in Heaven. Thank you for bestowing so many blessings—Tanner, daddy, GenSense, Shane, Angel’s Academy, and Chase. Amen.”

***

Chase’s last drive to Pharmical felt bittersweet. With the top up and the wipers squeaking, the weather matched his mood. Henry had set up a lunch meeting, which meant the soon to be former CEO’s severance made the top of the board meeting’s agenda.

He parked across from Starbucks and settled for a moment. Glancing at the sign, he realized he’d miss Marcus more than anyone left at Pharmical. No contest. Marcus was genuine, unlike all the corporate phonies. He recalled Dixie-dawg’s line—“The higher you climb, the more people want to fuck you over.”
The dawg prophet?
Ruth’s betrayal stung the most, but Henry’s ranked a close second. At least The Butcher didn’t hide his intentions—I wonder if he’ll be there today? After ordering his final two quad Espresso’s, he shook Marcus’s hand and slipped him two folded one-hundred dollar bills, and said, “You call me if you ever need anything.”

Chase wouldn’t miss the corporate paranoia, but he would miss his few authentic friends.

Marching across the office floor toward the corner, the glares struck him like blow darts. Chase maintained upright posture, ignoring each cubicle pygmy. I wonder how they found out? Spotting Ruth sitting cocksure, he fixed his gaze on his office. Chase passed her; she said, “You want me to hold your calls again?” Her voice struck his back—fitting.

While closing the door, Chase grunted what Ruth perceived to be a “Yes.” He plopped on his chair, then started a slow 360 degree twirl. Later today, he figured it would all be boxed and labeled. He’d take what he could—especially the Coach K memorabilia—but probably just have the rest of it shipped.

Chase wondered who would occupy his chair—probably an outsider. He ignored both his paper and electronic inbox, and spent the rest of the morning enjoying his last Espresso while playing internet backgammon.

Ruth’s buzz startled him. “Sorry to bother you…Henry Stoddard’s ready for your lunch meeting.”

That was fast.
It wasn’t even 11:30 a.m. yet.

Henry stood to greet Chase. After a firm handshake—reminiscent of when they first met, Henry plopped down at the white clothed table, and furrowed his brows, “The board has reached a decision.” Chase stared into Henry’s eyes. Henry continued, “I was able to sell them on your proposed severance agreement.”

I was able to sell them?
Chase wouldn’t be able to stomach any food if Henry kept this up. They’d have to go outdoors—this restaurant wasn’t big enough for Henry’s ego. Chase stuck to his plan and just listened.

Henry said, “I might be able to add an extra kicker, provided you work with us on clearing up this mess.”

Chase gulped hard, again hoping to contain his rampant thoughts. He drew a deep breath, then motioned his hand into an open palm and raised his eyebrows.

Henry continued, “Joanne’s PR firm is willing to help.”

“PR? What are you talking about?”

“Relax. You go on a couple of the right shows…say a few good things about
Stabilitas
, distance it from Heather’s problems.”

Chase crossed his arms across his chest, “I’m not going on any TV show to badmouth my ex-wife.”

“That’s not what I’m asking…We don’t expect you to badmouth her, just to correct the misinformation about
Stabilitas.
”

“No TV interviews, and I’m not going to lie for money.”

“For Christ’s sake Chase, why do you have to make this so difficult?”

“I’d say the severance I proposed was a gift to Pharmical, but if you’d rather play hard ball…”

Henry slammed the table, rattling the silverware and nearly spilling the water glasses, “Goddammit, I’m not playing hardball here. You already got what you wanted—I’m just asking for you to right what’s wrong.”

“So long as your idea of right and wrong agrees with mine, then I’ll listen,” Chase stood, placed his napkin on the table, then said, “Send me what you’ve got in mind and I’ll consider it. But, I’m not going on TV.” Chase stood and began to leave.

“Where are you going? We haven’t even ordered?”

“I lost my appetite. You can eat my lunch.” The pun wasn’t lost on Henry’s face.

“Sit back down or the deal’s off.”

“Deal? What deal? You want to puppet parade me and turn my life into a public spectacle, I’ll see you in court. I have an ironclad employment contract. I should know—I wrote it. Tell your board to kiss my—”

“Sit down! And, lower your voice. Be reasonable here.”

Chase noticed all the eyes now glued to their table like ringside at a boxing match. “Lower my voice?” Chase said—with a hushed voice.

“Sit down or else.” Henry’s face had turned darker than iced tea.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Of course not. Sit down. You’re not leaving until you sign these papers.”

“The only papers I’ll sign are for the severance we discussed.”

Henry’s lip trembled. Chase couldn’t tell if Henry was going to cry or explode—or both. Henry rubbed his neck, then said, “Fine, here.” He gave Chase exactly what he wanted.

Chase read each page carefully. Henry scanned the room, wanting to order, but the waiter cowered in the kitchen. Henry scrutinized Chase’s signature on the first page, chuckled, then said, “I think we scared our waiter off.”

Chase finished signing six papers in duplicate and grabbed his copies. He studied Henry’s solemn face, then stood, “Thanks for lunch. Goodbye Henry.”