His junior attorney spoke up. “I think we can all agree that this is a stressful time, maybe we should just focus on the paperwork today and then Sherry can organize the meeting you’ve requested.” He looked at Elliott and then me.
I liked him; he wasn’t afraid to speak up. “That’s an excellent idea. I need to get to the funeral home.”
“Of course, I apologize.” Elliott offered.
“Thank you, Michael for keeping us on track.” I smiled. He nodded and avoided eye contact with Elliott.
“Sherry how soon can you have business cards made up for me?”
“I can have them here tomorrow,” she responded.
“Perfect. Do that and set up the employee meeting for after mom’s funeral.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I shook each one of their hands before leaving. I had the company car and driver at my disposal now. It felt silly. But Eddie had insisted. He said it was no time for me to worry about things like traffic and getting to meetings on time. We drove away from the corporate offices, then to the funeral home to sign the final papers that would allow my mother’s funeral to move forward as she had planned.
She had pre-paid and picked out her own casket the day she found out the cancer was back. It seemed morbid to me at the time, but today I was grateful for her forethought. She’d be placed next to my father in the family crypt. I had a space there as well, although I had not made any pre-arrangements. However, today I was thinking it might not be a bad idea considering I’d be going back to the Middle East when all of this was over.
With the corporate lawyer confrontation over I had just one more hurdle this week. My grandfather. His car was in front of the house when I returned.
“Grandpa!” I smiled as I walked into the house.
“Kay, there you are!” He advanced on me for a hug. “Where have you been?” he asked holding me at arms-length.
“At the office to get things straight with the lawyers.”
“And did you give them hell?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s my girl.” He laughed and squeezed my shoulders. Richard Beauchamp was my maternal grandfather and he was the Secretary of the Navy. We kept the family connection very quiet for the sake of my career. I didn’t want any special treatment and I didn’t need the hassle of everyone assuming I was getting special treatment.
“Are you staying here?” He asked leading me over to the sofa.
“Out in the guest house. I just couldn’t…”
He patted my arm. “It’s okay.”
“Besides, you and your security detail will need the privacy of the house anyway.” I tried to smile.
“That is very thoughtful, but not necessary,” he soothed.
“I like the guest house.”
He nodded. “Now tell me how things are going in the Corp?” He hadn’t been a fan of me being imbedded with a military unit, particularly a Marine unit. But I had wanted to go where the action was and I learned as a child, the Marines saw a lot of action.
“Squared away, sir.”
“I know you are. Are they giving you a hard time?”
I shrugged one shoulder. “Some do, some are coming around.”
“Hang in there.” He smiled.
“I will.”
“You’ve got a lot on your shoulders right now anything I can do to help?” he offered.
“No, I have everything under control.”
“You always do. You are your father’s child.” It was a family joke that my grandfather was happier than anyone when my father proposed to mother. At the time my father was a marine and the son my grandfather never had.
I gave him a small smile. “Want to have dinner together tonight?”
“That sounds good.” He agreed.
“I’ll see what we have in the kitchen.” I got up and left grandpa with his security detail I was certain he had work to do.
I found everything I needed for seafood casserole and cornbread. I made sure there was enough for the security detail, as well. It seemed security details were a way of life in our family. My father as CEO of Port City Industries didn’t have a detail but he had Eddie. Eddie’s title was company driver. When he was with my father outside of the office, he never let my father out of his sight. I never got the full story of their relationship. I knew they had served together when my father was a young man. My grandfather, being Secretary of the Navy, couldn’t go anywhere without his detail and pre-checks and sweeps. For every one of my grandfather’s security team that I saw I was sure there was another I couldn’t see.
The rest of the week was a blur, the funeral was well attended, and my mother would have been happy to see so many of her friends. My grandfather had to leave the day after the funeral, and frankly I was surprised he stayed as long as he did. The meetings at the company headquarters to review new contracts and address the employees went along without further problems from Elliott. I gave each employee my personal cell phone and told them to call me if they had any concerns about their jobs or the company itself. A personal touch is what my father believed. It didn’t matter how big the company got or how many cities we were located. He made sure each employee knew he was approachable and would take the time to listen to them no matter the concern.
I remembered accompanying my father to visit employees or employee’s family member in the hospital. He’d set up a scholarship fund for employee’s children to attend the college or trade school of their choice. He was always looking after the them as if he was still a small company of only ten people and I believe that was the secret to his success.
Finally, it was all over. The meetings, the funeral. I returned to
