“Do you really think that’s the reason?”
“I told you it was complex, but, yeah, I suspect that is eighty-five percent of the reason she doesn’t use the money. Besides, she has you, why should she use her own money?”
“Right! I’ll call her this week. Maybe we can work something out.”
Ronnie smiled. “Margie, more coffee please.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
I took a sip of coffee, and glanced at my two table companions before happily saying. “Isn’t this a beautiful Thursday morning gentlemen? Makes you feel alive.”
“Charley, you’re unusually cheerful this morning. What’s going on?”
“Terry … today might be the beginning of a new era for Jimmy’s.”
“And for Jimmy’s owner, I assume, as well?”
Terry Weldon was our attorney, just as his father had been before … and my frequent date. We weren’t serious about each other, at least I wasn’t. Terry might have a little more feeling for me than I did for him. Nevertheless, he handled all our legal work, so I needed him this morning. “Ronnie, why don’t you fill in Terry while I go back and get us some breakfast started?” I excused myself as Ronnie began briefing Terry on our meeting on Monday with the Player’s Investor Group.
Terry was a good man, and a good friend. We had known each other for at least five, maybe six years. We started dating off and on three years ago; nothing exclusive. But sometimes we got a little too serious. I had slept with him on two occasions over the last few years. Not awesome, but not bad. With the event of this last weekend fresh on my mind, I was beginning to think some time with Terry might be good.
Stop it girl! Why? Can’t I have some fun too? Terry’s not bad.
Ronnie, Terry and I spent the better part of an hour and a half going over the proposal, and developing questions for the group. It became fairly obvious that I wanted to plunge right into the potential partnership. Ronnie however was more reluctant, and Terry didn’t express an opinion.
By 10:30 we had talked enough so I suggested a break. “I need to go get ready for this meeting, and Ronnie needs to get ready for the lunch crowd. Terry, do you want to come upstairs with me while I change clothes and put on my business face?”
I noticed Terry glance at Ronnie and Ronnie give him a raised eyebrow look. “Sure, maybe we can go over these questions again.”
“We’ll be down for lunch before going on to the bank.” As I opened the apartment door and went in, I turned to Terry. “Come on in.”
“Are you sure, Charley? You’ve never invited me into the apartment before.”
I understood his reluctance. I had been noticeably vocal about this apartment being my sanctuary. “Come on in, I need some company before this meeting. Take your coat off and fix yourself a drink. I’ll be out in a minute.
I undressed down to my bra and thong and walked to the closet. I could hear Terry rustling around the unfamiliar kitchen, opening cabinets and pulling out drawers. I shouted down the hall. “Glasses in the top left cabinet. Beer is in the fridge. Fix me one.”
I heard him find the glasses and beer and open the bottle. While I put up my hair, I questioned him about the meeting. “What do you think I should do?”
He answered, a little too quickly I thought. “It’s what you always wanted Charley. I’d go for it, assuming we get all the legal stuff worked out of course.”
“How long do you think that will take?”
“Depends on the deal. Two maybe three weeks, assuming we can get an understanding today.”
“That soon?”
Terry didn’t have time to answer. There was a knock on the door. Wouldn’t be Ronnie or Wilma, so who would get past the kitchen and get up here? “Terry, see who’s at the door please.”
I quickly slipped on my robe and stood to see who our guest was. I heard Terry ask through the door. “Who is it?”
I was visibly startled at the voice that answered back. “This is PJ McCoy. Is Charley there?”
Terry just stood there; his hands raised in a ‘what now’ gesture. Finally, he regained his composure and said to the door. “Just a minute, I'll get her.” But to me, he whispered. “Is there a problem?”
I wanted to tell him the only problem was that he was there. But obviously I couldn't. I held the robe tightly around me and walked to the door. “I'm coming PJ.”
At the same time, I motioned Terry back into the living room. I took a deep breath, and opened the door to a somewhat anxious man. He reached for me and pulled me to him. Before he could kiss me, he looked down at my robe which had fallen open when I greeted him, and he instantly looked beyond me to Terry in the living room, with his coat off, his tie undone and a beer in his hand.
Instead of the kiss I expected, I was met with a surprised look that quickly changed to a painful scowl. Almost immediately a low guttural ‘Damn’ issued from those tightly gripped lips. A more forceful ‘God Damn it!’ followed and burst forth. “I hoped you were different. Stupid me!”
PJ just stood there, his head shaking for what seemed like an eternity, before he turned and slowly walked down the short hall to the stairway.
“Wait PJ, you don’t understand!” I rushed out the door to follow him. He stopped and turned to face me. His distorted face frightened me. I stopped short of him by three feet. I could see his puffed up eyes and his pouted lips. He had his fists knotted, and raised to his face like a prize fighter. After a full minute, when he did speak, his voice was low, intense and deliberate.
“Understand what? I don’t understand that you said you could love me, and three days later you have a man in your apartment. Oh yes, the apartment that you’ve never invited anyone to. And you come to the door half naked? Is that what I don’t understand? I’ll tell you what I don’t understand. Why I got on a plane to fly back to this hell hole. I don’t understand why I was so gullible. I don’t understand why I’m so stupid. I fall for the sex trap once and got kicked in the balls, and now I’m here again, falling for the same damn thing. I need a drink!”
He didn’t turn to go. He just stared at me with his eyebrows pulled down low, his lips gripped tightly together and his body quivering. To tell the truth, I didn’t know what to do. I could walk away and have fewer headaches, or I could confront him and try to salvage whatever was left of any relationship we had, or could have.
I made up my mind. “Phillip Jefferson McCoy, you’re an ass. A big ass. You leave me at the airport with a quick kiss, after the weekend we had together? What the hell do you think I thought? Or did you even care? I virtually begged you to agree to our seeing each other again. What did you say? ‘I’ll think about it.’ You’ll think about it and I’m supposed to wait around while you think about it? And now you’ve thought about it, and you walk back into my life, without a phone call, or a text message, or anything, and you expect me to fall into your arms again and pick up where we left off? And you’re mad at me? Let me tell you, I am totally pissed at you!”
I was on a roll. Suddenly, it didn’t matter what he thought. I was going to get things off my chest. In a calmer voice, I followed up. “Now if you’ll come back to the apartment, I will introduce you to Terry Weldon, our attorney, and I’ll tell you what is actually going on? If you don’t really care about hearing my side of the story and you want to stay mad and feeling sorry for yourself forever more, keep on walking. It’s up to you.”
I turned and took a few steps toward the apartment, praying he would follow. I took a couple of steps and turned. PJ was still standing there. “Well?”
And I turned and walked to the door.
I waited at the door and PJ came in, but the scowl was still on his face. He is a big man, and right now he didn’t look happy, not one little bit.
I walked into the living room and turned to PJ.
“PJ McCoy, I would like you to meet Terry Weldon. Terry is our attorney for the Bar and a good friend. Terry, this is PJ McCoy, former Memphis Grizzles player and now basketball coach at Cu
rtis University, and a good friend too, I hope.”
The temperature seemed to drop a couple of degrees. The two men exchanged cool, polite and correct greetings.
“Good to meet you, Coach.”
“Good to meet you Mr. Weldon.”
To Terry’s credit, he recognized the tension between PJ and me and guessed we needed to talk. “Charley, why don’t I wait for you downstairs?”
“Okay, Terry, Thanks.”
I walked Terry to the open door, and went back to an uncertain conversation.
Chapter Twenty-Three
When I returned, PJ was standing at the window, pretending to be interested in something outside. I immediately began to talk. “Want something to drink, PJ? I have beer, or a soft drink, or water?”
“No thanks.”
It was time for me to get to the bottom of it. “Okay, what’s going on? Do you want to start over again, and tell me why you’re here?”
I was amazed at my calm voice. I was like a swan gliding on a lake above the water, the picture of grace and self-control. But under the water the swan’s feet, just like my feelings, were furiously churning.
PJ turned from the window. His face was relaxed, his hands unclenched, with an embarrassed and pleading smile slowly engulfing his face. Once again, he became the man of my dreams.
He spoke barely above a whisper. “Charley, my emotions have a short fuse. My temper has gotten me in trouble before. I hope you understand and can forgive me. I was on top of the world when I came up the steps. All I could think of was taking you in my arms again and showering you with kisses. And next thing a male voice answered the door, and you opened it almost naked, and I saw the man in the background. My emotions sank, and my temper rose. I just lost it. I’m so sorry. Can you forgive me? Can we start again?”
“Of course, I forgive you this once. But why did you show up on my doorstep to begin with? You didn’t even call me.”
“Charley, I didn’t call you because I wanted to see you, and I didn’t want to take a chance that you might hang up on me.”
“PJ, I’m the one who said I wanted us to see each other again. You were the one who threw cold water on that idea, not me.”
“I know, I know. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting the kind of weekend we had. But once it started, I just went along with the flow. I was okay, as long as we were just enjoying each other, but when you said something about taking the relationship to a different level, well you changed the game. I wasn’t expecting that. And I wasn’t sure that is what I wanted. Sex is one thing, but a relationship is another. I just froze and pulled back.”
“PJ … it’s my turn to apologize. I guess I’ve been thinking about it a long time, and just assumed you would automatically think it was a good idea.”
“Charley, it’s a great idea. I just needed time to think about it. I’m not as spontaneous in real life as I am on the court. Truthfully, I’m just a plodder and it takes time for me to work through something. But I will tell you this. Once I decide something, it’s hard to get me to back down. And I’ve decided that I want to see more of you … if you still feel the same way.”
His speech sounded a little practiced, but I didn’t doubt his sincerity. I choked back a small sob, and wrapped my arms around him and pulled him to me. He was tearing up as well, when I felt his hand on my chin lifting me to him. My lips opened to receive his. This time, we kissed out of love, and not passion. To be honest passion is more exciting, and sends long shivers running throughout my body, but there is nothing more satisfying than a kiss that screams ‘I’m yours and you are mine’. I lingered in his arms and held him close. I never wanted to let him go.
Nothing lasts forever I guess. PJ leaned back. “Now tell me about this attorney and what is going on.”
I couldn’t help feeling he was a bit premature in breaking the mood. I wanted more, maybe some time in the bedroom. But, that’s his personality. I figured I would have to get used to it. Still I couldn’t let him totally off the hook. “So now you want to talk? No more time for some messing around? Really?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his startled look. I could hear him thinking.
“Huh?”
“Set yourself down. Want a coke, or something stronger?”
“No thanks.”
I spent the next thirty minutes wrapped in my bath robe, sitting on the sofa recounting the offer from the investor’s group. He had a few questions, but generally was silent, and taking in as much as he could. I could see that his style is to collect information and spend some quiet time thinking about it, the direct opposite from the way I operate. I didn’t really want him to tell me what to do, but I really wanted his reaction. “So, Ronnie and Terry and I are meeting with them at 1:00. Do you want to sit in with us?”
“If it would be okay with you?”
“Good. Let me finish dressing, and we’ll go down to have some lunch before going over to the bank.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
After introducing Terry and PJ, the eight of us, four in their group and four in ours, walked to the bank under an overcast sky that made the temperature hot but almost tolerable. The conversation was relaxed, no business out here. “Hope you’re all staying over. Vincent Gill is in concert Friday night. I can get tickets if you like?”
“Sounds great, let’s talk after our meeting. Say … who are we going to meet with at the bank?”
“No one in particular. They have more space than we do at the Bar. Besides, its lunch time, and we wouldn’t have any privacy if we stayed at Jimmy’s. So I reserved the Board room. I’ll introduce you to Shelby Loomis, the bank’s President, if he’s available.”
“Sounds good.”
As it turned out Loomis was out of the bank, so Mrs. Watson showed us to the bank Board room. The cavernous room was richly paneled in a light maple finish, with portraits of Old Mr. Loomis, Shelby Loomis and the current Board members up on the wall. A long, highly polished table with twelve cushioned leather armchairs dominated the room. At the end was a small wet bar which Mrs. Watson had opened, and generously supplied with soft drinks and a fresh pot of coffee. I had to grin when I noticed that she also had a bowl of GooGoo Clusters, Nashville’s original candy bar, on the buffet.
“Gentlemen,” I began. “Have a seat and let’s see what you have for us today.”
Quinn and his group had made another version of the same presentation they had done earlier in the week. Terry and PJ both asked a few questions, but Ronnie and I had heard it all before and we were anxious to move on. When they finished, Quinn asked the critical question.
“Ms. Howard, are you interested?”
Obviously I’d been thinking about this question ever since I was first approached. It sounded like an excellent opportunity, and I was indeed very much interested, but I wasn’t eager to let them know, not just yet. “Mr. Quinn. Obviously, when anyone expresses an interest in giving away money, I would be a fool not to be interested. But, to tell you the truth, I haven’t had Jimmy’s evaluated yet, and I haven’t heard any of the financial details of what you’re proposing.”
This must have been the answer Quinn was looking for. His partner, Ben Eckerd, removed a thick folder from his briefcase and began a presentation complete with demographics, cost calculations, revenue projections, and all the myriad information typical of a CPA. For the next forty-five minutes, Eckerd rolled out their proposal: fees, conditions, contracts, payments, options. He finally ended with. “That’s the way we see this arrangement shaping up; any questions?” Frankly, I understood less than half of his presentation, but the parts I understood seemed to be very attractive.
I was ready to tell him that when PJ spoke up. “May I, Charlotte? Mr. Eckerd, we have just heard this proposal for the first time and frankly we need some time to digest it. Why don’t you leave us a copy and let us study it?”
Ronnie had been quiet up to this point, but he said. “I agree with Coach McCoy, we need time to think about this.”
&nb
sp; After a pause, I noticed Terry glancing at Quinn and Eckerd before saying. “I agree.”
“Sounds reasonable to me, in fact we brought extra copies for you. I would urge you to remember, we are in a bit of a time crunch because of our financing source. Call me as soon as you feel comfortable talking further. I’ll be in touch in a couple of weeks.”
I agreed to consider the proposal and contact him shortly. With that we wrapped up the meeting and prepared to leave. Quinn’s group was staying next door at the Summit, and Terry had an appointment in his office for which he was late. That left Ronnie, PJ and me to walk back to Jimmy’s.
I stood up and walked back to the wet bar that Mrs. Watson had set up. “Might as well drink Loomis’ cokes and eat a GooGoo. I’m sure my money is paying for it anyway!”
PJ slid his chair back to join me. Ronnie remained seated with a look on his face that I’d seen before. He usually looks that way, when he has something on his mind; silent and deep in thought.
“Want a coke, Ronnie?” I suggested.
With a wave of his hand and a grunt, he signaled no.
With my coke in hand, I ventured back to my silent friend. “What are you thinking so hard about?”
By this time PJ was back also with a coke and a GooGoo, and the two of us sat across from Ronnie, waiting for him to respond. He finally spoke up. “Am I the only one who thought something was wrong with this meeting? Didn’t the two of you pick up on something?”
I felt the question was directed to me specifically. Ronnie was just introducing his own questions. There was a lull before Ronnie spoke again. “I’ve seen good salespeople and I’ve seen bad salespeople, but this group is beyond good; they are slick. Too polished, too prepared. They mentioned earlier there was urgency about making a quick decision on their proposal. But today they just mentioned it almost in passing. I suspect any urgency is not because of a financing partner; I think it’s something else. They didn’t press the issue, which I think they would have if it was really important.”
Charley Page 13