Chapter Twenty-Two – 14 years 2 months before the collapse
Jim stood embarrassed as he endured having ‘Happy Birthday’ sung to him, loudest of all was Olivia who helped to cut the cake.
“It’s so good of you to come,” he said to Carter and Mia, handing them their slices. “Thanks for making the effort. It was such a surprise.”
“Well, I’m a temporary man of leisure,” said Carter. “They removed me from my position at the factory because of my foreign heritage.”
“What factory?”
“Yes, it’s been a long time. Anyway, I’m not too upset about it because I owed the factory more money and my removal relieved me of those debts. I thought you’d have moved abroad by now.”
“I can’t leave my country, Carter.”
“Even if your country hates you?”
“At least they hate the Spanish and the Irish more.”
“A
