I
saac saw the dapper Alan Weems, MEEG’s lead counsel, as soon as he stepped off the
hospital elevator wearing his signature Cardin double-breasted suit. The older man,
a longtime family friend, greeted his mother first. “I’m so sorry, Saralyn,” he said,
pressing a kiss on her makeup-free cheek.
“Thank you, Alan. We’re going to be counting on you a lot during the next few days
and weeks of uncertainty.”
“I won’t let you down. I promise you.”
She nodded. “I know you won’t.” She stood slowly, seeming much older than her forty-eight
years. She normally looked much younger than her age, but she had been at the hospital
all night so she appeared far from her typically perfect self. “I’m going to go sit
with Abraham and leave this meeting to the next generation of Martins.” She looked
at Isaac. “It’s your time now, son. Don’t let me or your father down.”
“I won’t, Mom,” he said, pressing a kiss against her cheek.
She embraced Rebecca. “I’m counting on you, too,” she told her. “We’re going to need
your PR expertise in the office, but Isaac is going to need you even more as his helpmeet.
Stand strong with him, Rebecca. He’s going to need the safe haven that you provide.”
“Yes, ma’am,” she said. “I’m behind Isaac one hundred percent. I always have been
and I always will be. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“I know,” she said, squeezing Rebecca’s hand. She added for the attorney, “Thanks
again, Alan.”
“You take care of yourself, Saralyn,” he said, “and give my best to Abraham.”
She nodded and then turned toward her husband’s hospital room.
“She’s holding up well,” Alan observed. “What are the doctors saying this morning?”
“Not much,” Isaac said. “They induced the coma to deal with his pain, and they’ll
keep him in it until they find out the cause. It’s an awful situation. Dad didn’t
deserve this.”
Alan placed a hand on Isaac’s shoulder. “Your father’s a strong man, Isaac. He’ll
beat this, whatever it is.”
“I certainly hope so.”
Rebecca came and stood next to Isaac. Though he was still angry with her, he appreciated
her presence. Until now he hadn’t considered how small his family really was—him,
Rebecca, Mom, and Dad. Deborah and Michael were a distant afterthought.
“There’s no good time for this, but we need to talk business,” Alan said. “With the
change in Abraham’s status, I’ve postponed the companywide meeting. Our more immediate
need is for a press conference.”
“Can’t this wait a few days?” Rebecca asked, rubbing her hand across Isaac’s back.
“We’re still in shock.”
Alan shook his head. “I’m afraid not. MEEG is not going to stand
still because Abraham is out of commission. We need to mobilize now so that the company
doesn’t suffer a loss of momentum.” He turned to face Isaac. “Your father has several
deals going, and his partners need to be reassured that MEEG can and will stand by
those deals. You’re going to have to convince them of that, Isaac. They’re going to
be looking for a voice from the family, and that’s you. It’s what your father wanted,
what he ordered.”
Isaac nodded. “I know and I’m ready. Just bring me up to date on the outstanding projects.”
“We can start that tomorrow. I’ll be in your office first thing—say eight o’clock?”
“That’s fine,” he said, reaching for Rebecca’s hand in a show of solidarity that she
knew was simple play-acting. “We’ll be there.”
“Good. There is one order of business that we need to take care of today, though.”
“What’s that?” Rebecca asked.
“The board of directors.”
“Now that Dad’s out of commission, the board consists of you, Mom, and me,” Isaac
said.
“That used to be the composition,” Alan said. “Before his accident, your father added
two members: Leah and Deborah Thomas.”
“You’re kidding me,” Isaac said. He didn’t want to even think about his mother’s reaction
to this news. He sat in the chair nearest him. Rebecca and Alan followed, taking seats
on either side of him. “When did Dad do this? I knew he’d offered Deborah a job and
that she’d taken it, but he didn’t mention anything about the board.”
“He was supposed to tell you and them the night of the accident. I know why he didn’t
tell them, but I’m not sure why he didn’t tell you.”
“He tried,” Rebecca said, “but the conversation deteriorated pretty quickly.”
“I understand,” Alan said. “Abraham didn’t think the news would go over well.”
“Then why did he do it?” Isaac asked, thinking how much his world had shifted in the
last four months. He rubbed his temple as he felt another stress headache coming on.
“His only explanation to me was that they are his children.”
“Leah is not his child,” Isaac said, angry on his mother’s behalf. “She’s his former
mistress. Putting her on the board is a slap in my mother’s face. How could he disrespect
her this way?”
Alan put a hand on Isaac’s forearm. “It wasn’t about disrespecting your mother. It’s
that he didn’t trust Michael Thomas. His mother is on the board in his stead.”
At the mention of Michael’s name, Isaac met his wife’s gaze. “At least Dad is rational
where Michael is concerned,” he said to Alan. “But I still don’t like the idea of
Leah and Deborah with seats on the board.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s a done deal. When I leave here, I’m meeting with the two women.
They need to be at the press conference.”
Isaac shook his head. “No way,” he said. “Their presence will only add more uncertainty
to an already uncertain situation.”
“But your father—”
Isaac met the older man’s gaze. “My father’s in a coma and I’m running MEEG. I’m not
going against his wishes. If he put them on the board, they’re on the board, but we
don’t make that announcement at the press conference or at the companywide meeting.
We do it down the road in a month or so. If Dad’s back at the helm by then, all well
and good, then he can make the announcement. If he’s not, then people will have become
used to his absence and the announcement won’t generate much interest.”
“If that’s the way you want it.”
Isaac nodded. “That’s the way I want it.”
“We need to have a board meeting in the next day or so.”
“Let’s talk about that tomorrow morning. Right now, I need to spend some time with
my family.”
Alan checked his watch. “One more thing. Have you told Leah and her family about the
change in Abraham’s condition?”
Isaac shook his head. “Mom wouldn’t hear of it.”
“I know this is hard for her, Isaac, but you’re going to have to make room for your
half brother and half sister. It’s what Abraham would want. It’s the right thing to
do.”
Isaac winced at the terms “half brother” and “half sister.” Deborah and Michael weren’t
only Abraham’s children, they were also his brother and sister. He pushed away the
childhood memory of himself asking his mother for a baby brother or sister. “I know
you’re right, Alan, but she’s my mother and this is killing her. She has to come first.”
“Look,” Alan said, “I’ll let Leah and Deborah know when I go over there, and we’ll
work out a visiting schedule of some sort. Talk to your mother. She can’t make those
kids go away.”
“I’ll try but you should talk to her, too. You’ll probably have more sway with her.
She trusts you.”
“Good enough,” Alan said. “I’ll come back here around lunch and force her to get something
to eat. While we’re eating, Leah and Deborah can visit with Abraham. I’m pretty sure
Michael won’t be visiting, so he won’t be a problem.”
“I understand about Deborah and Michael, but I don’t see why Leah has to be here.
You weren’t here the other day when she and Mom came face-to-face. It wasn’t pretty.
Mom lost it.”
Sighing, Alan stood. “This entire situation is a mess, isn’t it? I’ll speak with Deborah
and Leah. We’ll work something out.”
Isaac stood and extended his hand. “Thanks, Alan. I know Dad trusted you and counted
on you. I’ll be counting on you a lot as we go through this transition.”
“I’m ready to assist you in any way I can.”
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With that, Alan left.
“You did good,” Rebecca said. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Don’t be proud yet,” Isaac said. “Anybody can talk a good game, as you well know.”
Rebecca flinched at his words, and he knew they had hit their target. Unwilling to
offer her any comfort, he left her alone and headed for his father’s room.
D
eborah glanced at her watch again. Alan Weems was a long-winded guy. Handsome, but
long-winded. Why didn’t he just get to the point? She wanted to get to the hospital
to see Abraham. She’d called this morning to check on his condition only to learn
that the doctors had put him in an induced coma. While she knew there was nothing
she could do, she wanted to be with him. Instead, here she sat on her living room
couch while this attorney droned on and on.
“So in addition to your new job as head of Running Brook Productions,” he said to
her, “you also have a seat on the board of directors of MEEG, along with your mother.”
“What?” Deborah asked, jerking upright in her chair. “Abraham didn’t tell me anything
about this.”
“He was going to tell you the night of his accident,” Alan explained.
“He’s right, Deborah,” her mother chimed in. “Abraham told me so himself.”
“When did you talk to him?” she asked her mother.
“A few days ago. He came by my classroom at the community college. He wanted to run
the idea by me before he approached you and Michael.”
Deborah turned back to Alan, unsure how she felt about her mother and Abraham having
secret talks about them. “Okay, there’s a place for me and Mama. What about Michael?”
Alan sat forward in his chair and faced them. “Well, Deborah, your father doesn’t
trust Michael to act in MEEG’s best interests, so he doesn’t have a seat on the board
at this time.”
“That’s not fair,” Deborah said. “Abraham needs to earn Michael’s trust. It’s not
fair to leave him out.”
Her mother placed her hands on Deborah’s. “He hasn’t left Michael out exactly,” she
explained. “I’m holding his seat on the board.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Abraham has made a place for Michael, but I’m holding it until Michael is ready for
it.”
Deborah snorted. “And who decides when Michael is ready?”
“I have Abraham’s proxy, since he’s incapacitated, so the three of us will decide,”
Alan said. “I understand and appreciate your inclination to look out for your brother’s
best interests, but you have to trust that Abraham will do right by him.”
“Why should I trust him where Michael is concerned?” Deborah asked, jumping up from
her chair. “Maybe Abraham feels he has one son and doesn’t need another.”
“Deborah,” her mother chided. “You know that’s not true.”
Deborah sighed deeply. This was all happening too fast. Her father had come into her
life. He bought her a company. Then he had an accident, was hospitalized and placed
in a coma. And now
she’d learned that he put her on his board of directors. How could so many good things
and bad things happen at the same time? Why couldn’t things be all good?
“I’m sorry, Mama,” she said, sitting back down. “You’re right.” She turned to the
attorney. “Forgive me, Mr. Weems. So much is happening so fast. It’s all a bit overwhelming.”
Alan gave her a smile that showed his perfect white teeth. He was indeed a handsome
man. In fact, he was the spitting image of the gorgeous black guy who played the president
on that TV show 24. She guessed his age to be late forties, early fifties. “I know
this has to be a difficult time for you,” he said. “Believe me when I tell you that
Abraham wanted things to go smoothly for you. His accident upset his plans.”
Leah gave a dry laugh. “Not even Abraham can control everything.”
“He certainly makes a great effort, though,” Alan said. “That’s one of the keys to
his success.”
“He was that way when we were kids. I knew he’d never change.”
Deborah heard a wistfulness in her mother’s voice she hadn’t heard before. She wondered
if her mother still had feelings for Abraham. What if she’d never stopped loving him?
“I’ve know him for twenty-five years,” Alan said, “and I can tell you that he hasn’t
changed much in that time. If anything, his basic characteristics have only grown
stronger with age.”
Leah laughed outright. “So you’re saying he’s become more controlling with age?”
“You didn’t hear it from me,” Alan said good-naturedly.
The attorney’s long-term relationship with Abraham caught Deborah’s interest. Maybe
this man could help her learn about her father. She needed that, now that Abraham
was in a coma.
Alan cleared his throat. “I know you two want to get to the hospital, but there’s
one other thing I’d like to talk to you about.”
“What?” Leah asked, concern in her voice.
“Saralyn.”
“Oh,” Leah and Deborah said at the same time.
“I want to preface what I’m about to say with this: You have every right to be at
Abraham’s side while he’s ill. It’s what he would want.”
“I hear the ‘but’ coming,” Deborah said.
“Yes,” Alan said, meeting her eyes. “Saralyn is the ‘but.’ This situation is difficult
for all of you, I know, but I still need to ask you to do a favor—not for Saralyn,
but for Abraham.”
“What is it?” Deborah asked warily.
Leah stiffened. “I hope you’re not going to ask Deborah to stop visiting her father.”
Alan shook his head. “I’d never do that,” he said. “I only ask that for the immediate
future you plan your hospital visits around Saralyn’s so you aren’t there at the same
time.”
“Something tells me that Saralyn’s idea of coordination would be for us to never show
up,” Deborah said. “Maybe you should be talking to her.”
“I’m scheduled to meet with her for lunch today and we’re going to have a long talk.
My idea is that you plan to be at the hospital when Saralyn isn’t there. In return,
she promises to make herself scarce the times you’re there and to keep you updated
on any changes in Abraham’s condition.”
“Somehow I don’t see her agreeing to that,” Deborah said.
“She’ll agree,” Alan said with confidence. “She doesn’t have much choice. You’re Abraham’s
acknowledged daughter. As I said, you and your brother have as much right to be there
as she and Isaac do.”
“What about Mama?” she asked. “She’s family. I want her there with me.”
Leah hugged her daughter’s shoulders. “I’ll go with you sometimes, sweetheart,” she
said. “But it’s not really my place to be
there. My presence would only make the situation more difficult for you.”
Deborah felt a weight settle on her chest. Too much was happening too fast. “But what
if I need you?”
“Then I’ll be there just as I am whenever you need me. But I’m sure you’re going to
find you won’t need me as much as you think you will. Besides, you need time with
Abraham and to get to know your half brother. My presence will only hinder your building
those relationships.”
“But—”
“No buts,” Leah said. “I’m right and you know it.” She turned to the attorney. “We
agree to your plan, Mr. Weems. As long as Saralyn agrees to keep Deborah up-to-date
on changes in her father’s condition, she’ll schedule her visits so that she doesn’t
overlap with Saralyn.”
“I appreciate it,” Mr. Weems said. He turned to Deborah. “I’m taking Saralyn to lunch,
so you’re welcome to ride over to the hospital with me and visit with Abraham while
she and I dine. Afterward, I can bring you back here or I can drive you over and show
you your new office at MEEG.”
Deborah looked at him. She knew she could drive herself over, but she welcomed some
time with this man who knew her father so well. “I’d like that,” she said, “the ride
to the hospital and the visit to MEEG, if you’re sure it won’t put you out.”
“It’ll be my pleasure,” Alan said. “I’d like to get to know Abraham’s daughter.”
And Abraham’s daughter would like to get to know you, she thought. “It’s a date—I
mean a deal—then.”