A May-September Wedding

by Bill Sanderson

  So, Cal, your mourning year is over today. Remember me fondly, but look to the future. Some accounts say that our dear departed watch over us, so the odds are good that I'm watching you right now. So put that ring in a box and go find yourself a good woman.

  Take care of yourself, Cal.

  All my love,

  Brenda.

  Cal read the letter with his eyes slowly filling with tears. "I love you, too, darling." After a brief cry, he wiped his eyes and reread the letter. Brenda, as usual, was right. He did need a wife. Phyl's smiling face singing softly as they worked together in the kitchen came to him immediately.

  'If there's no spark between you and Phyl...' Cal sat back and groaned. It wasn't just that Phyl was twenty-one years younger, it was that she was still able to have children. He'd seen the stark yearning on her face when she held Elaine's newborn at David's Easter dinner. If they had kids he could be seventy-five when the last one graduated high school.

  'If there's no spark..." Cal couldn't count the number of times he'd had to force himself to not kiss Phyl since the literacy fundraiser. He could see the smouldering 'kiss me, stupid' look in her eyes and she could probably see the same thing in his. Too many people were asking him if they were going out, so other people could see those looks, too.

  '...no spark...' If she was ten years older he'd be proposing today. But he'd seen the snickers and behind the back ridicule that Jack Littleton faced and he didn't want to be subjected to that. Phyl would get pelted with the same garbage.

  Cal put his head in his hands and said, "I'm sorry, Brenda, I can't, not right now."

  After school, Cal, Phyl and the kids went to the graves to say some prayers. Phyl noticed a white band of skin on Cal's tanned left hand and felt her heart tumble. But the sight of the two adjacent gravestones drove out all thought except the memory of grief and their late spouses.

  After a few minutes of silent prayer, Cal asked, "Where do you want to go for supper?"

  In the next few minutes the car was filled with suggestions ranging from The Works to Friday's Roast Beef House, but they eventually settled on Mamma Theresa's downtown.

  The meal was excellent, as usual, and the somber mood from visiting the graves had vanished. Felicity and Lydia were teasing each other about a cute guy in the other grade eight class and Tim was rolling his eyes.

  Cal reminded them that they were too young to marry but that it was all right to have good friends. Phyl told them that the purpose of dating was to find a husband, and both of them needed to finish school at the very least before they got married.

  The girls looked at each other, rolled their eyes and fell into a giggle fit. Cal caught Phyl's eye and smirked.

  Cal sat at Brenda's desk and began to go through her papers. He'd been avoiding it for the past year, only retrieving the files marked for her final instructions and last tax returns.

  There were useful files of receipts for things like the furniture and appliances. He noted that certain of the recent warranties had expired and other than the note on the dining room set receipt that said, 'Don't throw this out, we may need to know the pattern name to replace a chair or two,' everything was up to date.

  The tax files were in order back several years. There were files of each of the children's report cards and post-secondary transcripts. There was a file drawer labelled 'Investments'. The most recent additions to the 'To be sorted' file were several statements addressed to him and a large unopened envelope from Brenda's lawyer labelled 'Ownership - Transfers of Investments'.

  Cal got up to get a fresh cup of coffee and think for a bit. He looked out the front window to see Phyl, in a beautiful light green spring dress, unloading groceries from the station wagon. A smile of appreciation for her beauty came to his lips unnoticed. Then he turned back to the desk.

  There was a sticky note inside the front cover of a hardbound book labelled 'Investment Log'.

  Dear Cal:

  It's about time you opened this. I'm guessing that it's been almost six months since I passed away. This book tracks all of the investments by date that I've made since I got Grandma's inheritance. The red book is the same info organized by investment.

  You will want to follow up with Joyce at PrivateMortgage.ca to see what our returns have been. We haven't needed to touch any of that money in a long while. If you have someone you feel deserves a special deal on a mortgage, like the Morrison kids at church when they want to buy their first house, put them in touch with Joyce and let her know that we'll invest at prime or less.

  All of the investment documents related to David's company are in the file drawer labelled Richardson Holdings Corp. That's where our other investments in stocks and bonds are held. If you need cash for something you can declare a dividend from the holding company. Lawrence from church is the broker I deal with because he has the same philosophy for investing that I do. You won't go wrong if you continue to take his advice.

  Not having a mortgage ever, thanks to Grandma, let me build up a nice cushion for us. I've always been grateful to you, my love, for letting me handle the investments and the budget. I think I did an okay job.

  Take an extravagant vacation and think of me. I'm sorry we only got the two big trips together.

  Love, Brenda.

  In Brenda's meticulous handwriting, the log book detailed all of the things she had done to manage the money from the month before they were married Thanksgiving weekend in 1973 to the week she went into the hospital. Cal flipped to the end of the book. There was over $100,000 in her investment banking account at the time of her death.

  A red hardbound book listed all of the assets owned by Richardson Holdings with each asset on its own page. Shares in various banks, petroleum companies, preferred shares David's hi tech firm, preferred shares in Brenda's favourite independent book store, mutual funds, mortgage investments, and so on.

  A printout with instructions on how to get into her computer files for the net worth spreadsheet was tucked into the red book. Using the instructions, he easily found the net worth spreadsheet. At the time of her death, Brenda's little investment hobby had been worth over eighty million dollars. Cal let out a low whistle.

  There was a file in the same directory named ReadThisCal that set out Brenda's philosophy and techniques. The main point was that she spent two mornings a month, usually the 15th and 30th to review and track the performance of each investment in the portfolio. She gave detailed instructions about deciding when to sell and when to buy.

  He started to open all of the statements that had been accumulating for a year to sort them into the various piles when the doorbell rang.

  He went downstairs to see Phyl, in her lovely green dress, standing at the front door.

  "Hi, handsome." Phyl gave him a sunny smile. "It's too nice to stay indoors all day, so I was wondering if you'd like to wander the Market with me. I'll even spring for lunch."

  "I was finally going through Brenda's investment records." Cal looked like he was going to refuse.

  Phyl said, "Don't go all Brenda on me. If you really need to look at that stuff, I'll invite Felicity over tonight and you can work on it after sundown. It's too nice a day to be sitting inside poring over numbers."

  Cal remembered Brenda's letter and how she said Phyl had gotten her to lighten up over their long friendship. Feigning reluctance, he said, "Well, I suppose. Just let me go close the window in the office so everything stays where I left it."

  Phyl came into the entrance and watched as Cal took the steps two at a time. Phyl's heart sped up a bit as she admired his retreating form. When he came back down she said, "I was hoping to find some plants for the flower beds in front of the house."

  They drove down to the Market and had a wonderful stroll though all of the stalls. Phyl took Cal to the Irish pub for lunch and they sat in the window watching all of the people hurrying back to work. "Are you happy that you retired, Cal?"

  Cal thought for a bit. "Content rather than happy. I wasn't quite sure a
bout it but I am glad I'm out of the procurement politics. I'd gotten senior enough that I wasn't doing what I really like, which is crawling around ships and doing inspections. Instead I was going to meeting after meeting listening to people trying to ask questions that would land them the next ship or weapons system sale or making excuses about why things were late or substandard. It wasn't fun anymore, and then I had that run-in with Paul."

  Phyl said, "I'm still not certain about school for me. I put in my application to Algonquin and I should hear back in a while, but I checked the balances in the investments and even with all the house repairs and the new car, I'm taking in more than I spend. So I don't really need to work. I'm tempted to just stay home and volunteer where I'm appreciated."

  "I don't need to work either, but if someone offers me a contract to do ship inspections I would like to take them up on it. I'd have to ask you to look after Felicity while I was away."

  "That's no problem. She and Lydia are joined at the hip. They're less trouble when they're together."

  "Okay then, with your permission I'll let a couple of people I know that I could be available for the right project."

  Phyl said, "As long as the project will be fun and you won't come home snarling like you did after the last Washington trip about those used helicopters, it's no problem at all."

  They turned to other subjects and just enjoyed the breeze from the open windows until half past one. Phyl bought some flats of annuals for the flower beds and a couple of indeterminate cherry tomato plants for the planter on the deck. Cal picked up fresh ingredients for supper from the market stalls and invited Phyl to bring the kids over after their homework was finished.

  Supper was noisy and fun because they could barbeque on the deck after a week of drizzly weather. Tim went to hide in the basement and watch the hockey game while the girls went to Felicity's room to listen to some music.

  Phyl said, "Well, I guess I promised I'd leave you alone to look at paperwork. How about I clean up so you can get started?"

  Cal realized they were alone in the kitchen and he almost stepped forward to take Phyl into his arms. Phyl was praying that Cal wouldn't back off this time and she put on her most welcoming expression, but Cal blinked and turned to the front of the house. "Thanks," he said in an almost normal voice.

  Phyl waited until she heard his footsteps upstairs before she started muttering to herself about stubborn misguided hidebound old men. Then she remembered the very pleasant afternoon and began to hum as she loaded the dishwasher and put the leftovers away before looking for some other household chores to do.

  Cal matched the investment statements to the files in the cabinet. Most of the investments had dipped significantly when the banking crisis hit the US but all had recovered, except for one which he made a note to speak with Lawrence about. He opened a reminder notice from Revenue Canada and made a note to call Brenda's accountant, his accountant he supposed, to arrange for an appointment to get the financial statements and tax returns done for the holding company.

  He opened the envelope on the ownership transfers and found a letter from David acknowledging the change of ownership in Richardson Holdings and asking if he'd like to invest more money in the company. Remembering Brenda's warnings and the couple of courses on reading financial statements from his last job he dug into the files to see if he could figure out what Brenda had been concerned with.

  The financial statements for David's company going back ten years were in the cabinet. David was the sole common shareholder and Brenda had all of the preferred shares which were conditionally convertible to common. Brenda's initial investment had allowed David to patent an improvement to cell phone antennas that eliminated the need for an external antenna of any kind.

  The returns were exceptional for the first four years then they levelled off. The revenue continued to grow but the expenses grew faster. From dinner conversations, Cal knew that David and his research team hadn't gotten any bigger and they owned the building they were in. So why were they losing money?

  There were raises and bonuses but those seemed to be in line with the income growth. There were a couple of new patents that were bringing in good revenue,. The administration costs stayed reasonably proportional.

  Cal continued down the expense categories. Travel went up in 2006 and stayed at the new level. Professional fees went up and down but stayed in a normal band. Consulting fees? David had never mentioned using a consultant. Patent lawyers, yes, but not consultants.

  Cal looked at the progression. $50,000 in 2006 up to $450,000 in 2010. This tipped the earnings from very healthy in 2006 to dipping into reserves last year.

  What was this about? Cal was about to pick up the phone to call David when there was a loud crash from the kitchen. "Are you okay?" Cal yelled down the stairs.

  Phyl's slightly panicky voice called, "I dropped the glass lemonade container as I was carrying it to the fridge. I'm barefoot and I don't dare move."

  Cal called down the stairs, "Just stay put. I'll tidy up and be down right away." He hastily piled all of the papers neatly in the middle of the desk and put a paperweight on top.

  Cal entered the kitchen to see a very frustrated teary eyed Phyl standing very still in a puddle of lemonade. "Just a minute, dear heart, I'll get my shoes and work gloves for the glass and the mop for the lemonade." He saw the tears forming in her eyes and said, "Take a deep breath or two, I'll be right back."

  Lydia and Felicity came in with their shoes on and began to mop up the edges of the lemonade spill with paper towels. Cal got an old cereal box from the recycle bin and began to place the broken glass inside. Phyl stood still doing deep breathing exercises until Cal was able to lift her over the broken glass to the edge of the kitchen where she grabbed some paper towel to wipe off her feet before fleeing to the half bath to wash up.

  The other three cleaned up the rest of the glass and lemonade. Tim emerged from the basement to announce the score in the Montreal game and ask what happened before grabbing a drink and a snack and heading back downstairs.

  Lydia said, "Mum's going to need some time before she calms down, Beast."

  Felicity looked agreement with her best friend, "We should get out of her way, Monster."

  Cal looked at both of them. "Cowards."

  They both looked at Cal and said, "Yep." Then they kicked off their shoes into the front closet and ran back upstairs.

  Cal called after them, "Thanks for the help."

  Felicity called back, "You're welcome." Lydia added, "No problem."

  Cal walked back to the front closet and took off his shoes and gloves then tapped on the door of the half bath. "Phyl, are you okay?"

  Phyl's tear streaked face appeared around the slowly opening door. "I feel like an idiot, Cal." She walked out of the room and wrapped her arms around his waist before putting her head on his shoulder.

  A surprised Cal finally put his arms around Phyl and began patting her back as she got his shirt wet. "It wasn't anything Phyl. It was humid today. That container could be very slippery when it got refilled." He tightened his arms around her to reassure her.

  They stood in the hall holding onto each other for a while. Phyl's breathing calmed then started to change rhythm as she realized what they were doing. Her breath got shallow and faster as she willed Cal to keep hugging her.

  Cal felt Phyl relax as her breathing calmed. He told himself that she was a friend in distress and tried not to react to the armful of warm woman. Phyl had toned up since he'd held her at the fund raising dance. The muscles of her back were sleek and firm and the soft curves nestled against his chest were reminding him how long it had been since he'd held an attractive woman.

  'If there's no spark between you...' Cal lost himself in Phyl's hug and allowed himself to feel the spark grow into a flame.

  Phyl could feel Cal trying to pull her closer and she looked up into his eyes with a question. Cal's answer was shake his head and move back. "I'm sorry, Phyl, I can't..."

&nbs
p; Phyl dragged him over to the sofa to sit and, sensing that pushing him to kiss her would be wrong, said, understandingly, "I know. I think your reasons are silly, but I respect them, and you. A whole lot." She pulled his arm around her shoulders. "But I'd like you to hold me for a bit longer."

  Cal, still somewhat dazed, replied, "I can do that." He reached for the satellite radio remote with his free hand and tuned into a jazz station.

  They were still cuddling when the girls came downstairs to get a drink. Neither Phyl nor Cal noticed their presence nor their approving looks.

  Chapter Fourteen – June

  Cal collected the mail and went upstairs to the study to deal with it. Despite Brenda's teasing, Cal was really very organized when he had to be, but no one he'd ever met was as organized as Brenda.

  The stack was mostly ad mail, but there was a statement from PrivateMortgage with a note from Joyce asking Cal to give her a call. From the numbers it looked like Cal could think seriously about offering the Morrisons a no down payment mortgage if they were ready to buy a house.

  The other large envelope was from an accounting firm. Inside he found a copy of the latest financial statements at April 30 from David's company, Antenna Solutions. The bottom line suggested that he was almost bankrupt. Scanning the statements he saw that the preferred dividend had been deferred, the payables were rising and that the consulting fees had risen to $520,000.

  Deciding that this was too strange, he called the company. "Antenna Solutions, how may I help you?"