ABANDONED DREAMS

CHAPTER 8

Chapter 8

Stephen

When I returned to work, we called all of the department heads together. Freddy’s attorney was there to break the news to them. Felo sat beside me and held my hand. I looked at her beautiful face, so full of love for me it seemed to glow. It made me smile even though I was nervous.

I winked at her and rubbed her leg under the table. I could never see my life without her. I thought we would start a family. But, we hadn’t spoken of it since Freddy died. Everything seemed to have stopped for us all. Our daily routines that is. Once the announcement was made that I would be the boss, I saw looks of anger and jealousy between many of those who were there. Others were genuinely happy for me. The attorney read out a letter that was left by Freddy to his workers. One that I didn’t know existed until he announced it and pulled it out.

Dear friends,

I call you friends because that is what you are. I have personally interviewed, hired, ate lunch with, attended company functions with and depended on you all throughout the years.  Even though I am gone. Which is the only way you would be hearing this letter, know that I depend on you still. I depend on you to continue to do the great jobs that you have all done while I was here with you. As they were truly great. I couldn’t be any prouder of you all. I ask you to continue to run the departments as if I walked amongst you. It is the only way the business will survive. That and Stephen. Some of you are aware and some you are not.  Stephen started off driving for me when he was trying to make a way at university. He studied hard. Not just in school, but in life. And me. He was a great student of them all. I taught him the business as if he were my son. He shadowed me. Helped me to make decisions. Worked as a remarkable architect and assistant for years. He knows as much, if not more of the direction that the company is headed than even I.       You all know that I have a son. One day, he will run my business. Junior, will take up the torch where I, reluctantly, had to leave it. That is with Stephen. Not reluctantly because I don’t think he will be great. I know that he will. Reluctantly because if I could still be there with you all, I would be. Please treat Stephen as you would me. Yes, because he is now your boss and deserves your respect. But not just for those reasons. But, because you loved me and I you as well. Help him to preserve my memory and legacy. And in time, hand a business that is thriving even more to my son. I miss and love you all.

…Freddy

By the end of the letter, there was not one person there who was not in tears. It was as if were attending his funeral all over again. Felo wiped my eyes. Knowing that I must be strong now. I must look the part of what I was at this point. Their boss. I stood and one by one, I took Kleenex to each person, hugged them or shook their hands and thanked them for all they have done and are going to do. I allowed everyone in the company that wasn’t working on anything urgent to have the rest of the day off to compose themselves. But, first, they were to pass copies of the letter out to their employees in their departments.

Once this was done, they left to take a day and think back on what Freddy had asked.  That and his kindness to them. Felo and I left a couple of hours later after she helped me put some things in order. She had been herself, yet different. As if she had a secret.

We decided to go back our home and check on it. We hadn’t been in days. We needed to get fresh clothes and then return to Emmy and Junior. As we both went out and hung clothes to dry in the back yard, she hummed a song. I joined in. Once the last shirt was hung, I slid my arm around her waist and we walked inside to pack clean clothes to return to the house with Emmy and Junior.

As soon as we walked into the bedroom, she sat down and patted the bed beside her. She wanted me to come and sit. With her. I did just that.

“I want you to know how proud of you I am.” She told me.

“Truly. What is it that I have done?” I asked.

“Everything. You have lived up to the promises you have made to everyone. Including Freddy.”

“I try to be a man of my word.”

“And you are. I see how you are with Junior and it warms my heart.”

“I love him as a son and understand him as a brother. Our love for Freddy bonds us in this way.”

“Yes. It does. And I know that you will do all you can for him. And for our child as well.”

“Yes. I will. You know this. When we have children, I will love them as no one has ever seen a father love their children before.” I promised her.

“Good. And because you are a man of your word. I have tried to be a woman of mine. I told you that I would give you children. Did I not?” she asked.

“Yes. You did.” I agreed.

She then took my hand and placed it on her stomach. I was slow to understand at first.  Then I jumped up off the bed and straight into the air. When I landed I went into a traditional celebratory dance. One that we did at our wedding even.

“Eish!! What do you say woman? EH? Am I to be a father?” I asked her with a smile so wide, my cheeks hurt once I finally finished my dance.

“Yes. You are. I carry your child here inside me.” She said, rubbing her belly.

“Laaaduumaaaa!!” I yelled as I danced around the room.

“Are you playing football?” She asked, smiling at my excitement.

“Nee. But I scored!!” I said as I picked her up from the bed and swung her around in celebration. Causing her to smile too.

She had lifted my spirits and I knew it would do the same for our families, Emmy and Junior. Junior would have a sibling of sorts. They wouldn’t be that far off in age. We could even raise them together in a way. It was the best news I had heard in my life. And I loved her even more for it. I then began to thank God and Freddy. Where one life ended, another was beginning. I knew this was a gift from him as well. I would honor all of my promises to him. No matter how hard. And little did I know how hard it would be to care for Junior. We were all soon to learn.

………….. Just The Beginning

Follow Junior as he grows older and sets his course even against the wishes of his deceased father and Stephen in Abandoned Dreams 2: Junior’s Choice