Anointed (Urban Books)

by Patricia Haley

  Dave snickered. “Best choice.”

  “So, we’re off to the Magic Kingdom Wednesday morning for two weeks. I wasn’t sure what your schedule was like. Do you prefer to leave in the morning or afternoon?”

  He stammered. “I can’t go yet. Remember, the Tri-State southern expansion is happening next week with the possibility of bringing on three key clients. We’re in the final preparation phase, and I can’t leave the office for another week or two.”

  “You know I don’t keep up with your schedule anymore. I have too much to do here to be spending valuable time worrying about what you’re doing at DMI. What I do know is that the children are counting on you to show up, me too.”

  “It’s not that I want to bail on you and the kids. Madeline, I know you know that.”

  “I’m beginning to wonder exactly what I do know about you. I knew you to be a family man who knew how to set priorities.”

  “That hasn’t changed.”

  “Apparently it has, if you can’t take two weeks out of a whole year and dedicate it to children who are starving for your attention. Why do they have to get in line behind the southern division, the eastern expansion, the west this and the northern that?” she said, sitting up and letting her neck sway with each piercing word.

  “That’s not fair, Madeline. We agreed on the sacrifices DMI would require before we got married. I was upfront with you from the beginning about my calling. I never tried to change you and up until now, you’d done the same.”

  “Children change you, Dave. I agreed to make the sacrifice. Your children didn’t. They came into this world and into this house innocent. You brought them here. Now, you have to be involved in their lives; otherwise, I fear that you’ll regret it down the road. I promise you that, because they’ll end up resenting you for putting DMI first.”

  “I pray that’s not true.”

  “Here we go,” she said, falling back on the pillow. “Here, wait; let me tell you what you’re getting ready to say. You’re going to say that God has a plan and that you’re going to pray for direction, right?” Madeline didn’t let Dave answer before she was talking again. “Of course I’m right. Tell me this, Mr. Holy Dave Mitchell; do you really need to pray about whether or not to take a vacation with your wife and children?”

  “Madeline, there’s nothing I’m going to say that will satisfy you at this moment.”

  “Sure, there is.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “Simple, say that you’ll have your bags packed Wednesday and get on the plane with us. I’m not asking for much, just two weeks of you playing husband and daddy. DMI can have the other fifty weeks a year. Sounds like a bargain to me.”

  “I want to go.”

  “Then go,” she yelled.

  “You didn’t let me finish. Even if I could take a few days from the southern division preparation, I have another pending lawsuit that’s also coming up the following week. I have spent zero effort on due diligence.”

  “Can’t Frank handle it?”

  “Yes, to a degree, but when we go to court, I’m the one who gets questioned.”

  “You are full of excuses, Dave. That’s what I’m hearing, a bunch of lame excuses.”

  Dave got up from the bed. “Let’s table this and talk about it at a better time.”

  “There is no better time. We’re leaving in two days.”

  “Fine, Madeline, you’re right, I owe the children some time. You’re absolutely right. I’ll come down for the weekend, and fly back for the meeting next week. It will be good for us.”

  “A weekend is not going to cut it, Dave. We want you there for the full two weeks, but if you can’t swing that, then no less than a week.”

  “I just can’t do a week right now, but I can schedule the time next month.”

  “No way, have you been to Orlando in July? It’s a sauna, way too hot. I want to go when the children can enjoy the vacation. This is about them and not what’s most convenient for you. Put them first for once. Let them see what that feels like.”

  “No matter how guilty you try to make me feel, Madeline, I can’t go next week.”

  “Well, let me tell you this, if you can’t come for at least a week, don’t bother coming at all. We don’t need your part-time involvement. How about that?” she said, turning her back to him and refusing to utter another word.

  Chapter 39

  Dave peered into the bathroom mirror. He was convinced that quality was more significant with his kids than quantity. His rationale seemed valid, but Madeline wasn’t hearing it. She wanted more, the very position he’d been afraid would rise up from the moment they’d gotten engaged. He’d warned her long ago that one day she’d want him to be available and his calling would take priority. He recalled the conversation as if it happened today, instead of thirteen years ago sitting on a park bench at the riverfront. Lord, what must I do? He pondered. Dave wanted to go with his family, but no matter how he tried to rationalize the trip, it wasn’t the best time.

  The kids deserved a break. He got that part of Madeline’s argument, and she was right, no disagreement there. But they had the entire summer. There had to be at least one other week over the next two months when they could squeeze him into their plans. He was willing, just not this week or next. He planned on Madeline cooling down and letting him join them on the weekend. If not, he’d have to wait for another opportunity in the near future. He turned on the water and let the four showerheads pour down on his body as he prayed God would do the same with an outpouring of peace and wisdom into his soul. The water rained down on his head.

  Bam, the decision was made. It was final, he couldn’t go. He allowed himself to wallow in the disappointment for a matter of seconds and then cast aside his simmering anguish. It was done.

  Dave dressed eagerly and was rushing out of the bedroom, but not before kissing Madeline good-bye. He could tell she hadn’t returned to sleep quite yet. He bent down and whispered, “I love you and the kids,” and sealed it with a kiss on her cheek, trusting that as he took care of God’s business, God would take care of his.

  “Talk is cheap,” she muffled, moving away from him.

  He walked out of the room, accepting their reality, and hoping she would come to terms with it too.

  Dave’s drive into the office wasn’t worry-free. The issue with Madeline had been marginalized, not necessarily resolved but discussed. Sherry’s fiancé was the other issue bugging him. During the conversation with her last night, Dave had gathered additional information about Edward’s background and skills. The man needed a job. Dave owned a multi-million dollar company and recognized his realm of authority. Yet, none of the scenarios he conjured seemed to include DMI as a viable place for Edward. For one, there weren’t many pipefitting needs in the building. DMI leased a portion of the facility with expansion plans that would eventually require them to own the entire place, but for now, the needs of a maintenance man or skilled tradesman was minimal. Secondly, and the most significant to Dave, was that Edward could possibly serve as a distraction for Sherry, at a time when her concentration and dedication were critical. Dave required her full dedication. He racked his brain considering various potential employers. Who owed him a favor?

  Dave parked in the DMI lot, having fully utilized the thirty-minute drive in. He stayed in the car and pulled out the bulky phone that was mounted inside the center console. He had an idea and didn’t see a reason to wait until he was upstairs to put the plan in motion. He dialed directory assistance to get the area code for Texas and then the number for Longhorn Industrial and Manufacturing. After a few diversions, he had the company’s president on the phone, a colleague he’d met years ago at an executive conference. They’d maintained periodic contact.

  “Joe, it’s Dave Mitchell here. How the heck are you?” Greetings and chitchat commenced and concluded in the span of a minute. Both men were busy and time was valuable, Dave knew neither had any to spare. He got directly to the point. “Joe,
I need your help.”

  “What can I do for you?”

  “I know a young man here who desperately needs a job. He was recently laid off due to restructuring at General Motors and hasn’t been able to land a comparable job since.”

  “What kind of skills does he have?”

  “Based on my understanding, I believe he was in the skilled trades apprenticeship program for pipefitting. I don’t actually know him personally, but he comes highly recommended by one of my valued employees. If I can help the poor guy who happens to be down on his luck, then I’m willing to give him a hand. We both remember what it was like in the beginning.”

  “Certainly do,” Joe said. “Tell you what, Dave, I’d love to help you, but we don’t have much use for a pip-efitter in any of our operations.”

  “Understood, but I have a feeling that any decent job is going to be of interest to this young man.”

  “What kind of a salary is he expecting?”

  “Well, he’s getting in the neighborhood of twenty-five to thirty thousand base.”

  “We can definitely match the base rate, especially with benefits and bonus incentives. I can’t guarantee that we can give him the overtime rates that he might be accustomed to at GM, but we can make a job with us worthwhile for him.”

  “Hey, if this guy is as smart as I’m hoping, he won’t be concerned about the overtime rate. Let’s face it, GM might pay more but he’s not on their payroll or anyone else’s at the moment. If he wants to be employed, he’ll see the merit in your offer. I’m not worried. You present the offer and the rest is a done deal.”

  “Sure about that, huh?”

  “Positive.” Dave had never met Edward, didn’t have to. Dave was relying on the notion that any responsible, unemployed man wasn’t going to turn down a permanent position, not with a family depending on him. Dave was counting on Edward’s manly integrity.

  “Then, I’d say yes, we can find a spot for the young man. What’s his name?”

  “Edward Hanson.”

  “I think our supervisor training program would be the perfect start for him. Every year we take two candidates and rotate them through our various sites. We give them extensive operational and leadership training. It’s quite a premium position around here, and if he’s as serious as you say he is, this will be a prime opportunity for him.”

  “Sounds great.”

  “You do realize that the job is here in Texas?” Dave hoped that’s where the job was. Based on their talk, he could tell that Edward’s struggle was draining on Sherry, but he figured she didn’t know how to fix the problem. If his instincts were right, and they usually were, this job for Edward was the break Sherry needed. The distance would create a natural separation. Her problem would be solved, and she wouldn’t have to do anything. “We have a few locations in Arkansas and Oklahoma, but headquarters is here. After he completes the three-year program, he’ll get his permanent location assigned. Do you think he’ll be okay with starting in Texas?”

  If Edward was smart he would be. “I’m trusting that this young man will seize the opportunity and make a go of it.” Dave could only hope that he wasn’t overplaying his hand and putting Sherry on a plane to Texas. That would be a self-inflicted disaster not worthy of considering.

  “Okay, then I’ll have my Human Resources team pull together an offer and get it to Mr. Hanson immediately.”

  “Oh, uh, Joe, it will be best if my name isn’t associated with the offer. Edward is a proud man and may not accept my involvement in the spirit I intended.”

  “No problem. With as much feedback as you gave me in the beginning, I owe you a favor. I’m glad to be able to help out.”

  “It’s greatly appreciated. I’ll get Edward’s contact information to you later this morning.” Dave was pretty certain Sherry had listed Edward as an emergency contact on her application. His information might be outdated, but between Dave and Joe, they’d be able to get the updated telephone number and address without Sherry’s knowledge.

  Chapter 40

  Dave had his legs crossed on top of the long conference table. A night had passed since his family left and the loneliness was strangling. Madeline was so angry at him that she’d packed the kids up and left when they’d gotten out of school yesterday. Although he didn’t see them much at home, he spent every night in the same house with his family. Admittedly the rapport wasn’t always pleasant, but they were a team. Dave hadn’t forgotten them in his heart, and it ached as a result.

  He dialed the phone number Madeline had left on the counter. The hotel operator answered and connected him to Madeline’s room. It rang and rang until finally the call bounced back to the front desk.

  “There is no answer. Would you like to leave a message, sir?”

  Dave thought about it, and said, “No message, thank you.” He fumbled with the phone receiver for a while before setting it down. He tried concentrating on the business at hand, unsuccessfully. His mind was flooded with years of standing side by side with Madeline in building DMI. She was always at the office with him. Yet, somehow Madeline had managed to keep such close tabs on the kids throughout the day that it felt like he was in tune as well. He never had to feel the emptiness that plagued him today. Madeline had shielded him. Those days of her bridging the gap between work and home were gone. The joy of having long conversations throughout the day and late into the night with her had escaped too.

  He’d had enough. Dave had to get out of the office. He got his brother on the phone.

  “How about grabbing an early dinner?” he asked Frank.

  “Oh, man, you mean I’m going to lose out again? I can’t go with you tonight. I have to eat with the wife tonight. She’s made plans for us, and you know how that is. I can’t dare try to cancel. So, I’m going to put in my time tonight and get a free pass good for another six months. Wish me luck,” Frank said, tickled by his own joke.

  Dave didn’t have it in him to laugh. He’d gladly take a date orchestrated by Madeline. At least that would imply she was interested in being near him. Frank was more blessed than he realized. Dave said good-bye. Left with no other choices, he went to plan B. He stepped in the hallway and found Sherry at her desk.

  “By chance, are you free for dinner? Both my family and my brother have abandoned me.” Before she responded, he added, “If you already have plans, I understand.”

  “I don’t. I’m free.”

  “You sure?”

  She nodded in affirmation and he could see her suppressing a grin. “What time were you planning to go?”

  Dave peeked at his watch. “I can be ready in fifteen minutes.” That would give him a chance to try reaching Madeline once again. His hope of reaching her was low but he’d attempt it anyway.

  Fifteen minutes later, Dave and Sherry were walking out of DMI. She was excited and calm at the same time. Sherry was glad to be able to get away from Edward for the evening. If tonight was like last night, he was home looking pitiful.

  “Are we going to the café again?”

  “If you’re interested, I’d prefer to go downtown to one of my favorite restaurants.”

  “Where?” she asked as they got to the parking lot. If Dave was going, it was bound to be better than the local diner Edward took her to every Friday night for dinner.

  “The Summit.”

  “The new restaurant at the top of the skyscraper?”

  “That’s the one.”

  Sherry had never been to a five-star restaurant, but had heard plenty about the new place and the great reviews from food critics. She hadn’t dared to dream about going to such a place on a weeknight. Who was she kidding? She and Edward couldn’t afford to go any night. The appetizer probably cost more than she made in an hour. She was bubbling with excitement, but didn’t want to come across as someone with no class or exposure to the finer treats of life. She calmed her reaction, determined to speak with control.

  Dave pointed toward the executive row of cars, which was at the opening of t
he garage. “Why don’t we go in my car?” he said.

  Thank goodness, she thought. Hers had been running well since Dave had it repaired at his shop. She had no complaints, but why take the risk of pushing the car that she called “Putsy” fifteen miles each way? Riding with Dave was definitely the best option. Besides, being in his company helped her to forget about Edward, the postponed wedding, and their boatload of problems. Sherry eased into the passenger side of the Cadillac and let her worries stay outside. The next couple of hours were reserved for a good time. She wasn’t going to accept anything less.

  It was magical, the drive downtown and especially the glass elevator ride up to the seventy-second floor, which showcased the glistening evening lights.

  “Mr. Mitchell, I’m glad you’ll be dining with us,” the host said. Apparently Dave ate at the restaurant often, because they knew him. “Will it just be the two of you?” the host asked, looking past them into the entryway.

  “Yes, my wife and children are vacationing at Magic Kingdom in Florida. So, it’s just me and Miss Henderson.”

  “Very well,” the host said, grabbing several menus. “Please follow me. I have a splendid table for you.”

  Dave whispered to her, “You thought the elevator was cool. Wait until you sit down. Every seat has breathtaking views of downtown and Ontario. You’ll see.”

  The candlelight and low tones of people talking set a romantic scene that she’d seen only in movies. Edwards’s apartment wasn’t as big as the entryway to this restaurant. If she waited for him, many experiences would never happen. Thank goodness for Dave and his taste.

  They reached a table along the outer edge of the restaurant. “Madam,” the host said, pulling out Sherry’s chair. After she and Dave were seated, he handed each a menu. He handed Dave an extra one. “Here’s our wine list.” He draped cloth napkins across her lap and then Dave’s. “Your wine steward will be right over. Enjoy your dinner.”