by Clay, Verna
Max glanced around the table again. "Please don't ask questions about my plans because, like I said, they're still in the making. I just know this is something I have to do. Okay?"
His upper management nodded and Max chuckled at their expressions of surprise and confusion. To them, he had reached the pinnacle of success. He had achieved the goal they all strived for day after day, but he was walking away from it. Little did they know that six months in Oasis had revealed the true meaning of success for his life. The success he wanted came with names—Pilar and Willie.
Just the day before he'd called his grandfather and informed him of his resignation and asked that Bertram be returned to San Diego. Then he'd demanded that Max, Sr. meet him in two weeks at Desert Princess Trailer Park. Rather than argue, his grandfather had agreed to both—Max's resignation and meeting him at the trailer park.
Max lifted the folder in front of him. "Now, folks, if you'll open your folders, let's get started on matters pertaining to the running of this company."
* * *
Pilar sat in the plastic chair outside her trailer and watched the late afternoon sun continue its steady descent. Red, orange, and yellow streaks splashed the sky. The weather was chilly, but in a few weeks spring would burst forth again. Spring in the desert was beautiful. She pulled her jacket tighter. Inside the trailer, Willie sat at the kitchen table doing homework. She could see him through the open curtains and her heart expanded with love.
Over the past two months his father had done everything in his power to make up for his shortcomings. Parker had planned so many activities with Willie that Pilar had had to ask him to chill. He'd looked sheepish and replied, "He's just so much fun to be with, I want to make sure we don't miss anything."
His words had touched Pilar deeply and she'd said with genuine affection for her ex, "You won't miss anything. I promise."
He'd smiled, showing her that same affection with a pat on her shoulder. "Thanks Pilar. I'm sorry I was such an idiot while we were married. I want you to be the first to know I'm giving it another shot. I've asked Sondra to marry me."
Pilar smiled, "And?"
"She said she'd think about it."
Pilar laughed. "I just bet you'll hear something good soon. She's been in love with you for years."
"I hope you're right. I'm doing my damndest to convince her."
The headlights of a vehicle caught Pilar's attention and thoughts of Parker vanished. The car looked familiar and her heart jumped. When Max's Mercedes pulled through the gate, she covered her mouth with her hand. What's Max doing back here?
He drove his car to Princess's trailer and parked.
* * *
Max exited his vehicle and glanced toward Pilar's trailer. She was standing and staring at him. He had a lot he needed to tell her, but first things first—Gramps and Princess.
His mouth twitched and he almost smiled. Pilar was wearing that moomoo thing. After a slight nod at her he turned and stepped toward Princess's door. He inhaled deeply. Before he could knock, the door opened and Max, Sr. said, "Welcome, boy. I didn't expect you for another day or so."
Max was shocked that his grandfather was already there. He replied, "Likewise, sir. I didn't expect you to arrive for two or three days. When did you get here?"
"The week after you left."
Max frowned. "You've been here all this time? Who's running the show in New York?"
Max, Sr. grinned. "Hell, son, I got a cell phone and satellite on my RV. I'm running the show for now, but getting ready to transition the reins to someone else."
Max wondered if he was that someone else. He needed to speak his mind and then talk to Pilar.
Princess peered over Max, Sr.'s shoulder. She said, "Howdy, Maxie! If yer gramps would git outta the way, you could come on in."
Max, Sr. winked at his grandson. "I love a woman who speaks her mind."
Max blinked. Was this Max Rutherford, Sr., CEO of Rutherford Acquisitions? Max entered the living room and laughed. Princess hugged him and then sat in her easy chair. Max said, "Princess, what have you done with my grandfather? Surely this isn't the same man who ordered me to the desert?"
She giggled like a schoolgirl and blushed—blushed! Max decided to be forthright. He knelt beside Princess's chair and reached for her hands. Softly, he said, "You're my grandmother, aren't you?"
Her eyes misted and she shifted her gaze to Max, Sr. He stepped forward and knelt on the other side of her chair. Slowly, she removed her hands from Max's and cupped her grandson's face. "I am your grandmother and I love you very much."
Max, Sr. placed one arm around Max's shoulders and the other on Princess's knee. His voice broke when he said, "Max, it's time for you to know the truth."
Max looked from Princess's wrinkled face and the smile so reminiscent of his father's, and said, "How about a cup of coffee first?"
Princess gave him a look that thanked him for his sensitivity in allowing her to compose herself. "You boys let me up so I can brew us somethin' delicious."
While Princess prepared coffee, Max informed his grandfather that Bertram had arrived in San Diego and was carrying on as temporary CEO of the Company until it was ready to be sold. Reluctantly, he added, "Much to my surprise, my stepbrother did an excellent job during my absence and willingly stepped down when I returned. I actually found myself liking him for the first time."
Max, Sr. nodded. "You boys started off on the wrong feet, and mostly I blame your stepfather for that. The man was an ass with no business sense whatsoever. He was jealous of you and Skye being my direct descendants and turned Bertram against you in childhood. I think maturity and a good woman have changed Bertie for the better."
"I didn't know he was seeing anyone."
"That's because you always avoid him like the plague. He met a gal a year back that runs a daycare, and from what I understand, she told him in no uncertain terms that if he wanted to get serious, he'd have to be a hands-on boyfriend."
Max laughed loudly. "Bertram working in a daycare center! Now I've heard everything."
Max, Sr., added, "And you managing a trailer park? What's this world coming to?"
Max said, "Touché."
Princess returned carrying a tray with mugs of steaming coffee and several creamers. She set the tray on the coffee table and said, "One of the best inventions ever is flavored creamer; I think I've tried just about every one."
Max reached for a mug, selected hazelnut, and poured a liberal amount into his coffee. He settled back on the couch, sipped, and waited. His grandfather and grandmother were about to expose their secrets.
Princess returned to her chair and Max, Sr. sat beside Max on the couch. Holding his mug in both hands, his grandfather asked Princess, "Do you want to tell our story, or should I?"
She reclined her chair, and said, "You tell it, Max."
Max, Sr. sipped his brew, placed his mug on the table, and said before beginning his tale, "Your sister knows nothing about this. We'll tell her when the time is right." He puffed a breath and then began.
"After I made my first few million, I was burned out. I was thirty and burned out. Can you believe that? Anyway, I took off across the country in my old Chevy, and when I saw the turnout for Oasis, something in me drew me here. At that time, the town was barely a town, and Belle had only been here a year. She'd inherited the trailer park from an uncle that died shortly after opening it. There were only a handful of trailers in the park and one was empty. I asked if she'd rent it to me, and she did. During the two months I was here, I fell in love with Belle. She was beautiful, feisty, and put me in my place, often…and none of that has changed." Max, Sr. glanced lovingly at her. "I was the one who started calling her Princess all those years ago and later learned that she'd renamed her trailer park after it."
Max, Sr.'s face darkened as he continued, "I was married when I met Princess and I fought my desire for her. It wasn't until a week before my departure that I gave in to temptation. Was it wrong? I can't answer
that. She gave me a son and grandchildren. And she gave your grandmother Eleanor unspeakable joy."
Max gave his grandfather a questioning look.
His grandfather said, "Let me explain that statement, son. Eleanor was barren and longed for a child more than anything in life. I'll tell you honestly, Max, I loved two women. When Princess contacted me and told me that she was pregnant, she presented a solution that only a mother's love could offer." He glanced at Princess. "Do you want to continue?"
With sad eyes, Princess said, "Yes." She pulled her recliner back to the seated position and leaned toward Max. "Your grandfather and I didn't have secrets from each other. I knew he was married and I knew he loved his wife. I also knew that she longed for a child. I was only twenty when I became pregnant and I wondered what kind of life my child would have being raised by a single mother living in the backside of the desert. I didn't have the foresight that Pilar has, or her tenacity."
Max found that hard to believe, but he didn't voice it.
She swiped at a tear that dripped from the corner of one eye. "So I told Max I wanted him to raise our child. I knew he and his wife would love him and provide him with everything I couldn't." More tears leaked. "I never married, and throughout your father's life, Max and Eleanor kept me informed and sent pictures. And when your grandfather wrote that your father was a "tree loving" man who wanted to help every cause he came across, I couldn't have been prouder. My Max was a wonderful human who really cared about people, and contrary to what anyone says about your grandfather, he is, too." Now tears were coursing down her aged cheeks. "When my boy died, I wanted to die with him. Max came to see me after his death. It was the first time we'd met since I'd handed our child over to him, and he told me all about you and your sister. Of course I knew I had grandchildren, and I'd received pictures of both of you over the years, but his descriptions of you and Skye and your antics, helped my heart to heal. My boy never knew I was his mother, but I held on to the hope that one day, before I died, I could meet my grandchildren." Her voice broke and she looked back at Max, Sr. "Maybe you'd better continue."
Max, Sr. reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. "Here, honey." Princess accepted the cloth and covered her eyes, silently weeping.
By now, Max was ready to cry himself and he had a lump in his throat that prevented him from swallowing.
His grandfather inhaled deeply. "No one knew that Eleanor wasn't Max's mother. After I confessed my indiscretion, she forgave me and actually got excited about the baby. I promised her I would never cheat again, and I never did. For the term of Princess's pregnancy, Eleanor and I moved to Italy. We rented a small place in the country and awaited the birth of your father. After he arrived, I returned to Oasis to receive my son. It was one of the happiest days of my life, but also one of the saddest. Taking Max from Princess made me feel like a baby thief."
Princess interjected, "It was difficult, yes, but necessary at the time. If given the same choice in this day and age, I don't know that I would make the same decision, but Eleanor was a wonderful mother and showered my boy with love." She lifted the handkerchief back to her eyes.
Max glanced at his grandfather. The old man continued, "So I returned to Italy with my child and your grandmother loved him from the first moment she saw him. Your father, far from tearing us apart, brought us closer. We were very happy and soon returned to the states with our son. Oh, there were those who suspected things were not exactly as they seemed, but who would confront the wealth and power I'd gained." He looked at his hands and then confided, "As my business skyrocketed, I became even more involved with making money, and I found myself away from home often. I thank God that Eleanor had Max to make up for my absences. I'm also thankful that she died before Max. I don't believe she could have survived his loss. I almost didn't. It was my work ethic that got me through dark days, but also took me away from my grandchildren. I'm an obsessive worker and I'm not proud of that. But old age has a way of changing one's perspective." Max, Sr. reached for his coffee and Max noticed his hand trembled. His grandfather said, "So, Max, now you know everything."
Max sipped his cold coffee that still tasted good. "Not everything."
His grandfather quirked an eyebrow.
Max asked, "Are you two finally getting together after all these years?"
Max, Sr. grinned. "Hell yes." He turned his gaze on Princess and the smile she returned positively glowed.
Max set his cup down. "I've come to love happy endings. Now I need to find my own."
Chapter 31: Do I Stay or Do I Go?
Pilar didn't know how much longer she could endure the suspense of Max being back in Oasis. She sat with her hands under her knees and drew circles in the sand with the toes of her tennis shoes. Every few minutes she glanced at Princess's trailer, hoping Max would reappear.
Finally, he did, and she couldn't inhale enough oxygen.
He walked past his car and continued toward her. With her heart hammering she stepped to the edge of her picket fence. Max's face revealed nothing of what he was thinking. They faced each other on opposite sides of the fence.
Breathless, she said, "Hello, Max. I didn't expect you to come back. Is everything okay? Your grandfather's been here since you left. I think he and Princess have a thing for each other. In fact, I know they do." She was rambling in her nervousness.
Max said, "I resigned Rutherford Acquisitions."
Pilar's eyes widened. "Why?" she asked barely above a whisper.
"Because of you. Because of Willie. Because the past two months away from you have been hell. Because of the magic of Oasis. Because I want to become a desert rat. Because I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Tears clouded Pilar's vision. "But Max, we're so different."
"No, honey, we're not as different as you think. I understand your values and I believe in them. I love you and Willie. Give us a chance, sweetheart."
Pilar shifted her gaze to the ground, torn between throwing her arms around Max or sending him away. If their relationship failed, she would just die because she loved him so much.
Softly, he said, "What's it to be, Pilar. Do I stay or do I go?"
A picture suddenly flashed through her mind and she lifted tear drenched lashes to stare deeply into Max's steady blue gaze. A little smile broke her serious expression and she said, "If you like white picket fences, then I'm all yours."
Max grinned and launched himself over the fence. "I love white picket fences!" Gathering Pilar into his arms, he lowered his head and said, "I'm committed to you, baby."
Pilar pressed her lips to his and again saw the image. Beyond a doubt, she knew it was a vision from the future—her and Max, weathered by years, holding hands and watching a glorious desert sunset.
Epilogue
Max heard a car drive up outside his grandfather's RV and glanced out the window. He'd been staying with Gramps—the term had become an endearment—while Pilar planned their wedding. In one week, he would be a married man. He still wasn't sure about his future in the workforce—maybe Princess would ask him to manage the park again—but he wasn't worried either. Pilar and the desert had taught him to enjoy each day. Did he miss the challenge of building companies—yes, he'd be lying if he didn't admit it, but he loved Pilar and Willie more. The boy had shouted his joy when he returned from a visit with his father and found Max there. And when Pilar announced they were getting married, Willie had said something that touched Max to his core. The boy had exclaimed, "Now I have two great dads. Boy, am I lucky, or what?"
Max returned his attention to the car that had just driven up and frowned. What was his grandfather's attorney doing in Oasis? Ben Albright, a portly gentleman about the same age as Max, Sr., exited his vehicle, scrubbed a hand across his bald head, stretched, and then turned when he was hailed by his client walking back from Princess's trailer.
Max opened the door to the RV and greeted Ben. Max, Sr. said, "Come on in, sir. I appreciate you traveling all this way."
>
Ben responded, "My pleasure. It was time for a road trip, anyway. I flew in to Phoenix and rented this car."
The men entered the RV and Max poured refreshments. Pilar had taught him how to make fabulous tea, and he loaded glasses with ice. The February afternoon was unseasonably warm and cold drinks would hit the spot.
Max, Sr. invited Ben to sit at the dining table and motioned Max over. "Have a seat, son. As you no doubt suspect, Ben is here on business, and that business concerns you."
Max cocked his head questioningly and sat across from Ben. The elderly man reached for the briefcase he'd placed at his feet and pulled out a file folder. He set it in front of him and glanced at his client. He asked, "Ready?"
Max, Sr. nodded. "Proceed."
Ben met Max, Jr.'s gaze and said, "You have been disinherited."
Max didn't move a muscle or show any expression.
Ben continued, "In a sense that is."
He opened his file folder. "Rather than wait until his demise, your grandfather has decided to turn the running of his company over to others, so he can enjoy his remaining years with the woman he loves. Of course, considering his health, he'll live to be at least a hundred." Ben's smile at Max, Sr. conveyed years of friendship. Ben continued, "Anyway, your grandfather's empire will now revert into the hands of several loyal employees, most notably, your stepbrother, Bertram."
Max knew there was more to the story, so he nodded and waited.
Ben continued, "You, however, are now the owner of the town of Oasis."
That shattered Max's composure. "What!" he exclaimed.
Ben gave a small smile and after a nod from Max, Sr., said, "Your grandfather has owned the town for over thirty years. Ownership of towns by individuals is not unknown, but his ownership has never been made public, and he's not interfered in the politics of the town. The elected officials of Oasis don't even know who the owner is. And I must say, over the years, they've done an excellent job of caring for their community considering its remote location. Your grandfather does, however, provide annual financial assistance and additional assistance when needed, such as the building of the school and library, and repairs to the water tower.