Chapter 17: Autumn Interludes

It was strange shifting my work week around for my new project. I usually got home from football practice around six. Jeryl would come over to the office by seven unless she had excessive schoolwork. Even if she did, she often preferred to do it at the office instead of at home. Being the only daughter left at home made it strange, she said. We would then work on our search for a couple hours. After talking it over with Mom, I decided to do the bare minimum of company-related work during the week. I might read a research report or sign paychecks, but that was about it.

Of course, the Internet would have been a godsend in locating Jeryl's missing aunt, but that was still several years away. Instead we had to rely on correspondence and records requests sent through the U.S. Postal Service. It was painfully slow.

"Holy cow," Jeryl said as she read a letter one Monday evening. "Mom had two sisters. Helen Angela and Ingrid Catherine." Her face fell a moment later. "It looks like Ingrid died as a child."

I rubbed her shoulders as I read the letter over her shoulder. Jeryl had reached out to the local librarian near her grandmothers' town under the guise of putting together a family history and researching the family tree. The librarian had been only too happy to send copies of newspaper clippings back to Jeryl.

"Helen Angela Morgan," I read. "She was ten years older than your mother it looks like," I said.

"Yeah, but nothing about her other than this birth announcement and this one notice that she won a ribbon for dance at the county fair when she was twelve."

"I wonder where she disappeared to."

"We have a full name, now. Do you think Jim's friends can help us?"

"I hope so. I'll call them tomorrow over lunch and get them the name." Jim had given me an introduction to a small detective agency that several insurance companies used to track down lost heirs and other people who had lost touch with loved ones. They had said that they enjoyed good success at locating lost relatives so long as the person was not making a concerted effort to actually disappear. Hopefully, that would prove to be the case with Jeryl's aunt.

"So, what are we going to do this weekend? Are you going to wine and dine me after your football game?" Jeryl asked playfully.

"Actually, I was going to take you for a bite to eat after the game, but then not see you until Monday."

"What?" She was giving me concerned look. "Why not?"

I smiled. "It's a surprise. I've got to take a quick trip and won't get home until late Sunday night."

"And you're not telling what this trip is about?"

"Nope."

She stood up and gave me a slow, languid kiss. "I bet I can make you tell me."

"Nope." She kissed me again and stood on her toes to nibble my ear. "Are you sure I can't convince you?" One hand was on my shoulder. The other slid down my chest to cup my crotch and give me a gentle squeeze.

I kissed the softly and then whispered. "No. You'll learn about it soon enough."

She sat back and looked at me with a pout. "You're no fun, Paul."

"Oh, I'm plenty of fun, but I want to surprise you, so I need to make this secret trip."

"Are you sure I'll like the surprise? You'd hate to disappoint me, you know."

"Pretty sure. Besides, do you think your mother would let you fly away with me for a dirty weekend during the school year?"

Jeryl snorted. "I'd be lucky if she left it at a simple 'no'. Most likely asking would launch yet another tirade. Things are quiet, if not peaceful at home, so I suppose we should keep it that way."

I hugged my girlfriend. "It will get better, I promise."

The football game ended in a tie Friday night. It was frustrating that our defense gave up no points but our offense could not capitalize. Our three scoring opportunities had all resulted in missed field goals by our sophomore kicker. Afterward, Jeryl tried to cheer me up while attempting to learn more about my trip. I stayed true to my word, mostly by keeping my lips in contact with her delectable flesh so I was too busy to answer.

The next morning, I was up at four-thirty and at the local airport by six. The sky was just lighting up when we took off for Chicago. An hour later, I was boarding a plane for Salt Lake City. Sanford greeted me at the gate as I got off.

"Good morning, Paul."

I tried to be as cheerful. "Good morning. How are things in Salt Lake City?" I asked.

"A little slow, even on a Friday night. I've got the car. You're meeting your decorator at two, so we have a couple of hours before we need to head up to Park City."

"Great. I want to go down to Temple Square and stop by the genealogy center." The LDS church had one of the largest genealogy centers in the world. It was my hope I could learn a little more about Jeryl's missing aunt while I was here.

Unfortunately, the center's records were not yet computerized so I only ended up filling out some request forms, making a donation to the center, and then heading on up the road to Park City. After a quick burger for lunch, we arrived at the mountain house in Deer Valley.

Tremendous progress had been made since finalizing the plans. The building looked almost finished on the outside and there appeared to be a half-dozen craftsmen parked in the driveway and working inside. Carl, my architect saw us pull up and greeted me.

"Paul, it's good to see you again." He waved his hand at the house. "What do you think?"

I stood in awe. The stone and cedar siding of the front of the house was perfect, just as I had imagined it. A large covered entryway stood before us with the three-car garage off to the right of the circular driveway. The steep roofline was covered in slate tiles and the copper flashing and gutters were still bright. I knew they would tarnish with time, but right now they added gleaming accents to the lines of the building.

"I think it looks spectacular. If the inside is half as nice as the exterior, I'm going to love this house."

Carl laughed. "That's the goal. Let me show you around. We're doing finishing work inside right now."

I followed him into the entryway. "We've got radiant heating under all the stone and hardwood flooring, so you'll not have to worry about cold drafts." I looked at the finishing and smiled. The attention to detail was evident. The large closet had plenty of room for coats and boots and there was a built-in bench opposite it for putting on shoes. Past the entryway, you could see the fireplace flanked by huge windows of the great room and dining room looking down the valley and ski slopes.

I moved further into the house. On the left, there were stairs with wrought-iron finials and hardwood banisters curving up and down. "The master suite is over there," Carl said waving his hand beyond the stairs. "Watch your step," he cautioned as I walked slowly toward the windows. The hardwood floors had cardboard runners down to protect them.

The pass-through fireplace separated the great room from the dining room. It was a towering edifice of stone with its chimney running up to the ceiling over thirty feet above. I walked all the way to the windows and then turned to take in the room. A balcony ran above what would be the hallway if there had been a wall between the entryway and great room. Tucked in above the master suite was a library area with built in bookshelves. The balcony disappeared behind the chimney. Along the back wall was a built-in wet bar and cabinets for a stereo. The wall beyond the stairs on this level was also lined with built-in bookshelves. I could imagine sitting here enjoying the fire with a good book as snow fell outside.

"Carl, this looks incredible. I can't wait to see what the decorator has in mind."

"Well, she'll be here in an hour or so. In the meantime, let me show you the master suite."

I followed him into my future room. The suite was designed to have its own sitting room along with a bed and full bath. The bathroom was already finished in marble and granite. "Steam shower and four nozzles, in addition to the full soaking tub you asked for," Carl said. The tub was built into a nook looking across the slope. It was deeper than a regular Jacuzzi tub, being almost four feet deep with built-in benches to sit on. It also had its own re-circulating heater to keep the water hot. "I've never built a custom tub before, but I can see how this would be nice to soak in after a hard day of skiing."

"That was my thinking." At the front of the house, through the bathroom, there was a huge walk-in closet. I strolled to the back of the house and into the master bedroom. It was spacious with its own fireplace. French doors opened out onto a private porch that wrapped around the corner of the house. It was going to be a fabulous spot to enjoy the sunset from in the summer.

Next, Carl led me back out to the great room and past the fireplace. The dining room stretched the width of the house with another great view down the valley. "We really tried to maximize the views from every room," Carl said. "I had to alter the plans a little to do it, but think you and your guest will like what we've built."

I could only agree. The kitchen was next and beyond it the hallway to the three guest rooms and the junior suite at the far end of the house. Carl showed me each room, pointing out the unique features of each. Next we went downstairs. The lounge area was open beneath the great room. The ski locker separated the open area from my office which had great views as well. We were just taking a look at the sauna when the decorator arrived. We finished a quick walkthrough of the downstairs, only glancing at the small kitchenette and bunk room at the far end of the house.

Sylvia Transmeyer was a middle-aged woman who obviously took great pride in her appearance. Her blonde hair had touches of silver in them, but her figure could have passed for a much younger woman. She was trim and athletic with a ready smile and hazel eyes. I shook her hand as she found us downstairs.

"Sylvia, it is so good to see you again," I said. I had met her just the once during the summer when I had signed off on Carl's design. Carl had recommended her to me.

"Thank you, Paul. It's good to see you again. Are you excited about the house?"

"Very. And I'm excited to see how you are going to make it even better."

"Well, then let's get started." She guided us back up stairs and we were soon busy reviewing the sketches and samples she had laid out. By the time I got to enjoy the first sunset from my house, I was exhausted but very happy with Sylvia's recommendations.

"Sylvia, this is all exactly what I wanted."

"I do try to listen to my clients," she said with a smile. "I knew from our first conversation that you wanted decor that would stand the test of time. I think the furniture and finishings will do that for you. If you decide to rent your house out for part of the year, all of this will last under heavy use and also justify top dollar from any renters."

"Well, I don't plan on renting it out, but I will have guests here that I want to both impress and make comfortable."

"I think they will be very comfortable."

"What about the kitchen?" I asked as she collected her samples.

"What do you mean? The pulls and fixtures are all done in there."

"Sorry, I meant pots, pans and dishes. I thought you were handling that as well."

"Of course, but I didn't bring the patterns. I can send you pictures to review if you'd like. I went with rustic stoneware and stainless silverware for everyday use and planned on ordering a twelve place setting set of china and formal dinnerware." She patted my hand and smiled. "I'll make sure you can do a thanksgiving feast or formal dinner proud."

I laughed. "Well, that's a relief. If Carl has the inspections done on schedule, I'm planning on having some family out here for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Maybe both."

"Well, we should be ready for that. Thanksgiving is seven weeks away. All of the furnishings and linens should be in before then. If something is going to be delayed, I can probably get temporary items to fill any gaps."

"I couldn't ask for anything more. I really do appreciate all your help on this."

"It's my pleasure, Paul. I don't often get the opportunity to decorate a whole house all at once. This has been a great project to work on. In fact, I'd like to bring in a photographer to take pictures once it's all done. It's a great house, and it will look fabulous when I'm done."

The next morning, I was back out at the house, meeting with Carl and the landscape designer. I was certain I was spending extra to meet with them on Sunday, but wanted to have a good idea of the landscaping work before the first snows fell. The designer was also handling the exterior lighting. My last set of meetings included Sanford and another of Alison's associates as they went over the security arrangements at the house. By the time I was dropped off at the airport, I was ready for a quiet, relaxing flight home. It had been a hectic weekend, but worth it.

Or, it would be worth it if I could get my girlfriend's family to join me for the housewarming.

"Did you have a good weekend without me?" Jeryl asked Monday evening when she walked into the office. Talk about a loaded question.

I got up from my desk and gave her a big hug and kiss. "It was a horrible weekend. I feel like I spent half of it on a plane. I missed you."

My words seemed to soothe her ire a little.

"Okay, I guess I'll forgive you, or at least postpone judgment until I know what it was all about."

I kissed her. "Thank you. I think you'll like it." She began booting her computer as I went back to my desk. Mondays were the evening we tried to handle any correspondence from the prior week. Kelly usually dropped off a load on Saturday or Sunday. Anything that came directly to the office, we filed until our evening mail day.

"Did I miss anything exciting?" I asked as I grabbed the mail file from the safe.

"Interesting more than exciting. Kelly and Jim were discussing Kelly prepping for the California Bar Exam."

"Oh? Why's that interesting?"

"Why does she need to be licensed in California? It wouldn't have anything to do with us going to Stanford, would it?"

I grinned. It was hard to get much past Jeryl. "Well, I sort of suggested that some of the work would not get put off, and that it might make sense to have an office nearby when we go out there."

"Just suggested?" She asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Just suggested. Jim and Mom then took over. I think they want someone they trust available in case we have any problems out there. I also think we'll have a lot more money to invest in researchers and start-ups soon. Stanford is not a bad place to look for ideas. Candace mentioned something along those lines during our trip to Lockheed this summer."

There was a long, rich history of venture capital funds in the valley, but I knew it was preparing to take off in a tremendous way over the next couple of decades. I had not yet decided if we should start our own fund or join one of the small firms that were soon to explode in the first Internet bubble.

Jeryl smiled at me and then got a serious look on her face. "And you're just now talking to me about it? Am I really just a secretary for you?"

Uh-oh.

"No," I said immediately. "You're my girlfriend and my partner-in-crime. I have no idea what title you should have, but you are much more than a secretary. What do you want to be?"

She pursed her lips and tapped a finger against them. "I can't be CEO, because you are. We don't really need a CMO since you don't actively market your ideas to companies. Jim has General Counsel tied up. What's left?"

"Well, how about COO? You keep me operating on an even keel, that's for sure."

Jeryl went from serious to playful in a heartbeat. She gave a little squeal and jumped up to give me a hug. "COO, that's the title I want. What do I need to do to get it?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"Well, unfortunately, you'll have to wait until you're eighteen so you can legally accept the employment contract that I'm sure Jim will want you to sign."

She gave me a fake pout.

"But, luckily for you, there is a lengthy interview process that we can start on."

She reached between my legs. "It doesn't feel as lengthy as I'd like," She said as she looked me in the eye and licked her lips. "Oh, wait, I think I misspoke."

I pulled her in for a kiss. I thought our play was going further when she stopped me. "Okay, mister, is that any way to treat your future COO?" She stood and straightened her blouse. "You have work to do."

"Wow, if I had known you were going to be a slave driver, I never would have offered."

Jeryl laughed and gave me a quick kiss. "Let's get this mail done and then I'll take care of my male."

It wasn't until we were halfway through the week's correspondence that I realized I was really forgiven for leaving her alone over the weekend. If she was upset still, we would not have had the fun little by-play.

I saw the letter in the office as I was cleaning things up for our Tuesday night AP study group. We had expanded last year's group after we lost our seniors and opened it up to any of the AP courses Jeryl or I happened to be taking. We usually had between eight and ten students there every Tuesday.

The letter was addressed to me from the private investigators we had hired. Part of me wanted to wait until Jeryl got there, but I also wanted to protect her from bad news. I opened the letter and read it quickly. It was good news.

As soon as Jeryl came in ten minutes later, she knew something was up.

"I think we need to plan a visit to Chicago again this weekend," I said.

"It's too cold for a baseball game," she responded.

I showed her the letter.

She read it quickly and then grabbed me for a hug. "She's in Chicago, can you believe it? Oh my God, Paul do you really think we should just pop up there to visit?"

"I think we should, but I don't think we should mention why."

"Mention to whom?"

"Anyone. Did you see what your aunt does?"

Jeryl gave me a puzzled look and then read more of the letter. "Wow, talk about things shaping your life."

Her Aunt Helen was a psychologist who specialized in helping women recover from abusive relationships. The letter included her office contact information.

"And I think we should have Tiffany call her to schedule something for Saturday."

Jeryl was incredibly nervous on our flight up to Chicago. We landed at Midway Field this time. Sanford and Tiffany were waiting for us. Jeryl didn't say a word as we drove across the city to the more affluent north side. She just held my hand in hers.

Helen's practice was in a small office complex. It had its own door. The lettering on the sign read, "Dr. Helen Conrad, by appointment only." Jeryl paused and fidgeted for a minute before ringing the bell.

"Go ahead," I said. "It will be fine."

She brushed her hands down her dark wool skirt, tugged on her jacket and then pushed the button. A moment later, the door opened and an older version of her mother, but with longer, blonde hair stood before us.

"I'm sorry, but we don't allow solicitors here," she said quickly as she started to close the door. Obviously we did not look like a woman named Tiffany who was here for an initial appointment about putting her life back together after fleeing her husband.

"Aunt Helen?" Jeryl managed to say as I stopped the door from closing fully.

She did not resist my gentle push to re-open the door as she looked at Jeryl with wide eyes.

"What did you say?"

Jeryl found her nerve. "I asked if you were my Aunt Helen. Formerly Helen Angela Morgan from Michigan."

Helen took a step back. As the door opened wider, we stepped into her outer office. It was well appointed, but comfortable. There was sitting room for several people and a small credenza with a coffee service set up on it. Helen's eyes were still locked on Jeryl.

"How do you know that name?"

"I did a records search from the local library where my grandmother lives. If you are she, your youngest sister is Janet Morgan, now Janet Salaway. She is my mother. I'm Jeryl Salaway. That makes you my Aunt Helen, doesn't it?"

Helen leaned against a chair and looked intently at Jeryl's face. The color was draining from her own as she brought her hand up to her mouth. "Oh my God. You're little Janet's daughter." Tears came to her eyes. "You're so beautiful. Your cousins are going to be so happy to finally meet you."

She lurched up and grabbed Jeryl for a hug.

"I never thought I'd find out what happened to my family!" she said with a sob. They held each other for several minutes. I caught a glimpse of Jeryl's tear-streaked face as she hugged her aunt. I was happy to see the smile on her lips. It was definitely tears of happiness.

Soon, both ladies got control of themselves and we made quick introductions. Tiffany did get a scolding look when she was introduced, but Helen then gave her a hug and thanked her for bringing her niece back into her life.

"Don't thank me, ma'am. Thank Paul. I just made the appointment," Tiffany said.

"So, Paul Taylor, boy genius is your boyfriend," Helen asked with a smile. "I saw him on TV last spring."

"He is," Jeryl said. "It was his idea and his money that helped me track you down."

"You'll have to tell me about that," Helen said as she escorted us into her office. Tiffany stayed in the front as we sat down. Jeryl told her aunt of our search through old records and then finally getting her name and being able to bring in the private investigators.

"I hope it did not cost you much, Paul," she said with a smile. "If mother were not so stubborn, you could have gotten my address from her."

"What do you mean?" Jeryl asked.

"Well, when she first kicked me out, I was very angry with her. Richard, my husband brought me to Chicago. His family had as much money as ours, but none of the pretense that mother loved to insist on. If we had gotten married before Richard Jr. was conceived, it would have been a fabulous social occasion. Of course, it was all my fault that such a grand affair could not be held. Mother threw me out of her house and Richard brought me straight to his. This was 1946, and that soon after the war, there were many 'premature' babies being born."

"And Richard's family didn't mind?" Jeryl asked.

Helen laughed. "They might have minded, but Richard didn't. He brought me home and introduced me to his parents. A minute later, before they could ask a single question, he informed them that he would be marrying me in-front of a judge the following Monday. When his father asked if he had to marry me, he said, and I quote, 'Of course I do. I love her.' I just about fell apart crying my eyes out."

"Richard's mother got the rest of the story out of me over the next few weeks, but Richard always said he planned on marrying me from the moment he set eyes on me at my coming-out party. He met me there en-route to assignment in Europe. We exchanged letters over the following months and he stopped in Michigan when he was discharged. He insisted I come with him to Chicago. Mother, of course, was having none of that, so he rented a room nearby and courted me right under her nose."

"Getting pregnant was entirely my fault. I thought I knew my cycle, but I miscounted by a day or two. We had been sleeping together for a couple of weeks before I missed my first period and knew I had made a mistake."

"Anyway, as you can imagine, I was pretty upset with Mother during that period. Richard's mother insisted I send her a copy of the birth announcement. I did the same when Karen and Olivia were born. I also sent her a Christmas card and Mother's Day card every year. I've never heard a single thing back from her, but she has always had my return address."

"Wow, I wonder if she kept them all," Jeryl said. "I know she never shared them with Mom."

Helen reached over and patted her hand. "Tell me about your Mom. The last time I saw her she was seven years old and as cute as a button. I felt so bad that I couldn't see her when I left."

Jeryl smiled and then shook her head. After a few fits and starts, she told about her family and then the problems we had over the past few months. Helen reached across the small space between their chairs and held her hand. "Jeryl, I can state categorically that my mother was wrong both in her thinking and attitude. I'm so sorry she infected Janet's thinking as well. If I can do anything to help set things straight, I'd be happy to."

"Well," It was my turn to enter the conversation. "How would you feel about joining us in Park City for Thanksgiving?" I asked.

"Joining you?" Helen asked as Jeryl gave me a curious look. I had not discussed this part of my plan with her yet.

"I bought some land out there and am building a house. If we can get Janet to come out for the house warming, we can arrange for you and your family to be there as well. It should be tolerable for use by Thanksgiving. Of course, I've reserved a block of rooms in a local hotel as well, since there is no way everyone can stay at the house. It's not big enough for that."

"Just how big is this house you're building, mister?" Jeryl asked with an arched eyebrow.

I blushed. "Five bedrooms, plus two small apartments for security and staff. We could probably sleep fourteen to sixteen people there if we needed to."

"And that's too small?" Helen asked.

"My Mom and Jim." I raised two fingers. "Kelly and me." I raised two more. "The Salaway's." We were up to nine. "Helen and her family is thirteen. Uncle Ben and his family, and we're already at seventeen. I want a few others along for the housewarming as well, so rather than hurt anyone's feelings, I booked a block of rooms in town as well and figured I would go over the guest list with you before finalizing things."

My forethought was rewarded with a smile. "And just when were you going to talk to me about it," Jeryl asked a tad too sweetly.

"This weekend?"

"How are we going to get my mother to agree?"

"I figured we would let your dad take care of that. I've got the plane tickets booked. Jordan and Jyl will fly out straight from school. I'll do the same for Helen's family."

"I can't let you pay for our tickets, Paul. You've only just met me."

"Helen, I lost my father just before I turned five. I refuse to let Jeryl lose her mother over this. If flying you to Utah for a week and putting you up helps you all heal the rift in your family, I will insist on paying that price. I'll even fly Cynthia Morgan out there, if that will help."

Helen looked at me with renewed interest. After a moment, she nodded. "That is probably what it will take to finally resolve some perceptions in our family. Are you sure you want to ruin a housewarming with the fireworks you're likely to see?"

Our football season ended with a whimper instead of a bang, but I found I didn't really care that much. The coaches were happy with my performance on defense. I had led the conference in sacks and our defense had given up the fewest yards per game in the conference, but the offense never really jelled. Frankly, with planning my Thanksgiving surprise, I was glad we were done at the end of the regular season.

Jeryl was trying to contain her excitement over the plans and getting her mother and aunt together. I urged caution. "Jeryl, I really hope everything comes out alright, but you can't predict how your mother or grandmother will react. You heard your aunt; your grandmother has never shown a sign of regret or remorse over throwing her out. Do you think she's just going to reverse a lifetime of resolve when she sees her oldest daughter again?"

"No. She's going to have a cow and start to say something stupid, and I'm going to sit on her until she listens and learns that the world has changed," she said with a grin. Then her look sobered. "I know you're right, Paul, but I want to at least start the healing. Aunt Helen told me that in all of her experience counseling people, until there is acceptance for responsibility, there can be no reconciliation. She has accepted what actions she was responsible for. If mother and grandmother can't do the same, we probably will have the fireworks she anticipated."

"If we do, we'll deal with it. Now, we really need to finish up deciding who we want in the house and who should stay in the hotel." We had gone over a dozen permutations in the past week.

"I think you should stay in the master suite." I had been suggesting we give it to Mom and Jim or her parents. Mom and Jim had let us know that they would stay in the hotel, away from some of the family drama they expected to play out. "It's your house, your rules. If you put Mom in the master suite, she'll subconsciously assume she is the lady of the house and it is her rules."

"Okay, I can see your point. Mom and Jim would have been better at keeping everyone on an even keel, though. So that puts your folks in the guest suite." I made a note on rough outline of rooms I had sketched out. "Where are you sleeping?" I asked.

She arched an eyebrow at me. "Really? I'm staying with you come hell or high water, mister. If Mom doesn't like it, she can go to the hotel. I've told her I'm done living the life she expects me to."

"Easy. I love you and want you with me, but I wasn't sure you wanted to stoke the fires any more than they will be."

"We'll be there two days before my folks. Aunt Helen and my cousins will be there the day before mother arrives. I'm tempted to put Aunt Helen in the guest suite, but that might be pushing things."

I shrugged. "If one of her daughters shares it with her, that would be fine."

"No, give it to Mom and Dad. Put Jordan and Jyl next to them, Karen and Olivia in the middle room and Aunt Helen in the first one."

"What about Richard? He is the oldest. Maybe we should put the girls in the bunk room?"

"How many bunks?"

"Six. It's got good closet space and a double bath. It was kind of designed for a large group to rent out. With the kitchenette down at that end, it can be pretty self-contained. It even has a separate ski locker at that end of the house for ski gear."

Jeryl thought about it.

"That would let Richard and his fiancé stay in one of the regular rooms. I wonder what grandmother will think of that? Okay, let's put all of the girls downstairs. If we need to, I can stay with them. Will Kelly be staying at the house?"

"I don't know. I'll call her. If she is, and stays in the bunk room, that leaves a guest room open."

"What about grandmother?"

I shrugged again. "Your call. I can keep a room in the hotel open just in case."

"If we could talk Mom and Jim into the master suite, I could stay in my office. That would get their moderating influence in the house and keep the illusion of your behaving to your mother's expectations."

Jeryl's eyes narrowed. I raised my hands in defense. "Hey, I'm just saying that we might not want to rub your mother and grandmother's nose in our love life all week. The bunk room and my office are both downstairs. You could keep your stuff in the bunk room and still be with me every night."

"Will Jim and your Mom agree to that? They seemed pretty set on trying to stay at the hotel."

"I think if we explain wanting a neutral adult presence, they will understand and agree. Then we just need to have Uncle Ben and his family in the hotel. Candace will be down there along with a gentleman friend she invited along. I'll keep some spare rooms as well, just in case we have a total blow-up. I think a couple of security folks will be down there also."

"I thought you had an apartment over the garage for them."

"I do, but Alison wants to have at least four people out there to cover us for the week. The apartment sleeps two comfortably, but the second apartment is for the cook and housekeeper for the week."

"Housekeeper and cook?"

"Well, we are having a housewarming party while we're out there."

"I know, doofus. That's the excuse we're using to get grandmother out."

"Well I'm not doing all the cooking and cleaning for that, and I was not about to volunteer you or your sisters and cousins to do it. Sylvia, the decorator has arranged everything. This is a bit of a trial run for them. If I like how things go, they may become either full-time live-in caretakers, or kept on retainer for when we visit."

"What about Lisa and Jim?"

I had invited my two friends to come out for the week as well. "Neither can make it. They've got finals the following week and want to not worry about travel while having plenty of time to study."

"That's too bad. Who else is going to be at the party Wednesday night?"

"Carl and Sylvia and all the craftsmen have been invited. Carl was taking care of the final list for them. I also invited Professor Brighton up from Salt Lake. Sylvia is actually arranging the menu and everything, so we get to just enjoy it."

"Wow, it is nice having the money to throw that kind of shindig."

I smiled. "It is. So, we have accommodations sorted out?"

"I think so, as long as we can talk your Mom and Jim into it."

"I'm sure we can."

We did manage to convince them of the wisdom of our plan the next evening over dinner. By the time school ended on Friday, all of our plans were in place and I was packed for the mountains. Jeryl skipped work since we would be heading out early Saturday morning. Her mother was not too pleased that she was flying out two days ahead with me, but gave her grudging acceptance when she learned Jim and Mom would be on the same flight.

By the time we landed in Salt Lake City, I could already feel the pressure lifting from my shoulders. Alison greeted us at the gate and the five of us headed to the parking garage after collecting our bags. We had not sent them ahead on this trip. Sanford was waiting with two Range Rovers we had modified here in Utah. We piled bags into Sanford's and then climbed in the other with Alison behind the wheel. Soon we were headed east on I-80 toward Park City.

"The scenery is gorgeous," Mom said as we wound our way up Parley's Canyon. "I can't believe they already have snow. Are you planning on skiing this week?" She asked.

"Maybe. Park City opens Wednesday if they have enough base. Deer Valley, where the house is doesn't open until next week. Hopefully they'll have enough snow when we come back out in December."

"Oh? You're not coming with us to Taos again?"

"Well, I'm going to Taos. I just might pop up here before or after to check things out. It all depends on how the next few days go, Mom."

The scenery continued to improve as we made our way past Park City and up into the mountains. We turned up the road leading to the house and Jeryl grabbed my hand. She squeezed it tightly as we pulled into the private driveway and slowly pulled around the gentle curve to catch our first glimpse of the house. It looked majestic with the neatly plowed driveway and clear blue sky behind it.

"Oh my, Paul. You never told me how big it was. Wow." Alison pulled to a stop right in front of the covered entryway. Sylvia was standing by the door to greet us and rushed down the steps to the car as I climbed out.

"Paul, welcome home!" she said with a smile and then a wave toward the house. "I know you're going to love it."

We hurried inside and Jeryl and Mom oo-ed and ah-ed as we stopped to take off our jackets. The rich leather furniture and area rugs covered the floor before the fireplace and the snow covered slopes glistened in the afternoon sun through the towering windows. Sylvia quickly became the tour guide. I trailed along behind Jeryl, Mom, and Jim touching the smooth wood and soaking in the peaceful feeling of the place.

Mom and Jim made appreciative sounds as they explored the master suite. "Paul, are you sure you want us to stay in here? This feels like it should be your room."

"It is my room, or will be, Mom. But for this week, let it be yours. I just hope you can tolerate the masculine decor I asked Sylvia to pick." The walls were a light green with deep cherry finishing. It was masculine without being dark.

"I think we'll be just fine in here," Jim said with a smile. He had already settled into one of the deep leather couches by the fireplace.

"Come on, old man," Mom said as she pulled him to his feet. "We need to see the rest of this place."

We quickly moved through the other bedrooms and the guest suite and then stepped into the kitchen to meet Mrs. Eccles the cook and housekeeper. Her daughter Samantha was her assistant. Both were fit, outdoorsy types with matching blonde hair and rosy cheeks. Samantha kept her eyes downcast after meeting us.

"Samantha seems a little shy," Jeryl commented as we headed downstairs to continue the tour.

Sylvia overheard the comment. "She is. I think that's one of the reasons her mother decided she should work with her. I don't know if the poor girl would get over her nerves enough to find a job or husband on her own."

We descended the main stairs to the game room and once again paused to enjoy the view over the flagstone patio, past the hot tub and down the slopes.

"No snow on the patio?" Jim asked.

"Radiant heat to melt it as it falls," I said. "Same thing for the driveway in front of the house and garages. It's supposed to keep it clear at up to four inches an hour."

"Nice. I should look at that for Taos."

The game room continued with the oversized leather seating, but we also had a full-size billiards table as well as a projection television wired in to show TV or movies with a retractable projection screen above the fireplace. Sylvia only waved toward the ski locker and my office and then led us past the game room to see the sauna and small exercise room before reaching the downstairs kitchenette. It had its own breakfast nook overlooking the slopes. Beyond that was the spacious bunk room and its over-sized dorm-style bathroom.

"By closing this fire door between the kitchenette and the sauna, you can make the bunk room area pretty self-contained if you decide to rent it out," Sylvia said.

"It's a nice feature, but I don't think I'll be doing that."

She nodded. "I know, but I wanted to make sure you understood your options. That is the back staircase that goes up toward the garage and laundry room. You can close off that hallway from the rest of the house as well to keep guests out."

"What about your office?" Jeryl asked.

I smiled. "It's back past the ski locker. I didn't think anyone would be interested in seeing it."

Jim laughed at the look Mom and Jeryl gave me.

"Ok, I'll show you. Sylvia, I don't want to hold you up. Thank you for meeting us here today."

She beamed. My mother and Jeryl had been heaping praise on her throughout the tour. "It was my pleasure, Paul. Everything is set for the party Wednesday, but if you find anything that's been overlooked, you have my number."

We watched her go and I led them past the stairs and ski locker into my office. It had a heavy oak door that almost made it look like it led to a storage area. Once we stepped through the door, that notion was dispelled. The dark hardwood floors and trim work were offset by lighter beige walls. The windows still had a nice view with a large trestle partner's desk running parallel to the back of the room while the area closer to the patio had an overstuffed pair of chairs along with a couch and coffee table. Bookshelves lined the walls. A small fireplace was set in among the book shelves.

At the back of the room there was a short hallway with a storage closet on the right and a bathroom to the left. I walked back to the bookcase at the end of that hall and reached under a shelf to press a small lever. The bookcase released and swung forward.

"Alison insisted on having a safe room in the house. I don't think we'll ever need it, but if we do, come down here."

I pulled the door fully open to show the room within. "We've got three bunk beds in here, along with food and water and a small bathroom. It also has a separate phone and electric line. Once inside, you can lock the room and the exterior latch won't work."

"Wow. It's like something out of James Bond," Jeryl said.

"But it is only useful as long as no one knows about it, right?" Jim asked.

I nodded. "That's right. You guys need to know about it, but nobody else does. Alison had her folks actually finish out this space, so even most of the contractors that worked on the house think it's storage. She insisted we keep it close."

"You hired her because she is smart. Make sure you two listen to her," Jim cautioned while looking at both Jeryl and I.

"We will," Jeryl promised.

I nodded as well.

I closed the safe room and we headed back upstairs. Samantha stood at the top of the stairs waiting for us. "Mother has some lunch laid out, if you're hungry, Mr. Taylor."

I stifled a laugh, not wanting to embarrass her. "Please, just call me Paul, Samantha. I don't need the formality."

We followed her into the kitchen where Mrs. Eccles had a small buffet of fresh sandwich meats and cheeses and condiments set out. We all helped ourselves.

"Thanks for a great lunch, Mrs. Eccles," I said. "We probably need to sit down and discuss the remainder of the week with you."

"Oh, Sylvia already went over everything with me. You four are here until a week from Sunday. I've got arrival times and room assignments all filled out for everyone else. Ms. Alison told me no one had any food allergies to worry about and has taken care of arranging transportation as people arrive. The first batch staying at the house should be in around dinner time tomorrow, right?"

"That's right."

"Well, I'm planning on a ham dinner since that gives us the most leeway in case there are any flight or road delays. If they get in on time, we'll plan on dinner at seven. Is that alright?"

"That sounds excellent. The next batch of guests will arrive Monday afternoon. We'd like to have something simple and give you and your daughter the night off so you are well rested for the party on Wednesday."

Mrs. Eccles gave me a motherly smile. She knew there was more to it, obviously. "Yes, we planned on leftover ham on Monday. We'll have it set up for you to warm things up and we'll be away from the house before your guests arrive. When we get back, we'll just be in the apartment if you should need us for anything."

"Tuesday the last of the house guests arrive. I've made reservations in town so we don't disturb your preparations for the party."

"That's thoughtful, but I like to keep a well-stocked pantry and refrigerator. I've put plenty of soda and bottled water in the refrigerators upstairs and down. You need to make sure your guests drink plenty to stay hydrated in this climate," she cautioned.

"The party is being catered, so I don't need to cook much. You'll have to decide what you want to do about a bar."

I blushed. "I'm too young to drink, but suppose we can have some beer and wine available."

"Most of your guests won't partake, though a few will. Some of the construction boys picked up bad habits before settling down," she said.

"What about Thanksgiving? You'll be spending it with family, won't you?"

"We don't need to, Paul. You've hired us for the week, at least."

"No, no. I insist. If you can get things started and let us know how to finish it, that's good enough. Of course, if you want to join us, you're more than welcome."

"That's a nice offer, but I'll call my sister and we'll probably head down there for dinner after I get things set here."

"Okay. I want to make sure you're not waiting on us all the time. I'm fine if you have set times for meals and let everyone fend for themselves the rest of the time."

"That's sweet, but you're paying very well for our service. If you want anything, just ask."

Soon, we drifted back to the great room and sat to enjoy the fire and the view down the slopes. Jeryl snuggled up next to me on one couch and Mom did the same to Jim on the other. It felt incredibly comfortable.

"So what's Kelly up to, that she couldn't come out until Monday?" I asked.

Jim smirked. "I think she is just giving you two a little alone time before she arrives. Of course, she told me she wanted to finish going over items for her California Bar Exam next week, but I'm pretty sure she's ready for it."

"She didn't waste any time scheduling and preparing for that," I commented.

"Well, I think the idea of establishing an office out near Stanford got her pretty excited. I think she's ready to be out from under her old man's watchful eye for a little bit. Setting up a new office is hard work, but exciting."

"How big of an office are you thinking of?"

"Six offices, a couple of conference rooms and a reception and break area. Probably a couple thousand square feet."

"Wow, why so big?"

"We'll each have an office there. The sign on the door will be PT Innovations, so you need an office. Kelly will be the head of that office but Candace and I will need space if we are out visiting. I assumed Jeryl would want an adjoining office to yours. Two conference rooms should give us enough flexibility to hold larger meetings as needed. We'll have a spare office if we want to expand any."

"Sand Hill Road." I said.

"What?"

"We want our office on Sand Hill Road. Several venture capital firms' offices are there. We should try to ride their coattails as VC investing becomes more popular."

"You think it will?"

I nodded.

"Okay, I'll make sure Kelly knows. She's flying from here to California and wants to start looking for office space after she takes the bar exam."

Jeryl and I decided to take a walk in the brisk mountain air before sunset and headed outside. We walked around the house, admiring details and taking in the beautiful mountain before returning to the warmth of the house. I helped her settle her things in the bunk room. In turn, she helped me unpack in the office. Unpacking soon led to undressing and having some delightful private time on the office couch. We were tired and hungry by dinner time and enjoyed Mrs. Eccles' butter-roasted turkey breast with potatoes and broccoli immensely. By the time we went back downstairs after dinner, the bed in my office had been pulled out from the couch and made with sheets and a thick down comforter.

Jeryl came to me as I turned down the lights for the night. As I lifted the covers for her, she slipped off her robe and slid in next to me in all her naked glory. I kissed her gently and we made slow passionate love for the second time that day before falling asleep in each other's arms.

We were all relaxing in the living room with cups of homemade hot chocolate when Aunt Helen arrived along with her son Richard and his fiancé, Trisha. We had not met Richard on our visit up to Chicago, but had met Helen's two daughters, Karen and Olivia. Richard was a tall, confident man in his mid-thirties with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes. He had a ready smile that did not seem to reach his eyes. He was all business when he met us, but I could see him taking in the wonderful sights of the house.

Trisha, his fiancé was a petite woman in her late twenties. She had long, raven hair with dark eyes. She was unfailingly polite, but confident in her own right. She walked into the house and seemed to take in the furnishings and arrangement with a professional's eye.

"I'm so glad you could all come," I said as Jeryl helped take their coats.

"Like my kids would miss the fireworks," Helen said with a laugh. "I'll tell you both, that I reconsidered a dozen times over the past two weeks. Jeryl, if I were not so curious to meet your sisters and have at least a chance to see your mother again, I would be worrying over a Thanksgiving menu plan instead of flying out here."

Jeryl laughed. "Well, you can still help cook on Thursday if you insist." We introduced my mother and Jim who showed them to their rooms just as the second Range Rover with Karen and Olivia arrived. Jeryl and I stayed by the front door to greet them.

"My goodness, Paul. Did you really have this built over the summer?" Karen, the oldest asked. She and her sister were light haired like their mother. They were both a little taller than Jeryl with trim builds. Both were only a few years older than us, with Helen joking that she had rushed the first child and delayed the second two. I knew they were twenty-one and twenty-two. Karen had just finished school and started at an accounting firm in Chicago. Olivia was finishing her degree in fine arts and planned on continuing to get a master of fine arts.

"Last spring this was all just trees and potential," I said. Jeryl began the tour as I apologized for putting them in the bunk room.

"It's not exactly roughing it," Jeryl chided as she showed them the spacious room with its built in bunk beds. Each bed had its own reading light and privacy curtains as well as the ample closet space and built in cabinets and drawers.

"This is so cool," Olivia said as she examined her chosen bed. "I've never seen built-in beds like this and everything you need to store stuff is right here. I bet Trisha is going to flip when she sees this."

"Why?" Jeryl asked.

"Trisha is an interior decorator. She is always looking for novel ideas and new ways of using a space. Paul, if you want to win a fan, let Trisha meet with your decorator for an hour or so. She must be flipping at some of the things you've done here."

"I'm sure Sylvia would be happy to meet with her."

Soon we were all back upstairs and fresh hot chocolate was being handed out. Outside, the sun was sinking toward the ridge line and a light snow was starting to fall. Trisha was the only one not sitting. She kept pacing along the walls looking at details before turning back to take in the whole room. Richard's eyes tracked her with a loving look.

"Trisha, you look as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. What's the matter, dear?" Helen asked during a pause in the conversation.

Trisha looked startled and then embarrassed. "I'm sorry. It's just this room and house is so well put together. Every time I notice something new, it makes me look back at the whole room or space again. Paul, your decorator and architect must have worked closely together. There are niches in the shelving that look to be sized just for the piece she put there. It's really amazing. I wish I could have walked through here while I was still in school. It makes so many complex concepts obvious."

I smiled. "I'm sure Sylvia would love to meet with you and talk through everything. Carl will be here Wednesday night for the housewarming party as well. I'll make sure to introduce you."

"Until that happens, dear, why don't you sit down and relax?" Richard asked. She blushed again and moved to sit next to him. "Besides, if anyone should be consumed with nervous energy, it should be mother."

Helen waved him off. "I've found a niece I never imagined and am staying in a five-star resort if there ever was one. I've got nothing to be nervous about. I'm sure Janet and Mother would be nervous if they knew what was waiting out here for them." She grinned as she said it, but it made me a little nervous.

"As a professional," Jim said. "How should we handle it tomorrow when they arrive?"

Helen looked thoughtful for a moment. "Janet and Jerry are arriving first?"

"They all land within twenty minutes of each other, if the flights are on time," Jeryl said. "We have two cars picking them up, just like we did with you guys."

"I think I should decide to freshen up when they get here. I can come back out to the living room while they get settled. That way, there will be a certain amount of inertia for them to overcome if they have a flight impulse."

"Surely you don't think my Mom will run away, do you?"

Helen smiled at Jeryl. "Fight or flight is programmed into our instincts. As a professional, I can tell you that women tend toward flight. When she sees me and acknowledges who I am, her psyche is going to feel threatened. I'm hoping that you and her family will be an anchor to keep her here. With my mother, I imagine fight will be the response. It always was. It's good that Janet will be able to have time before our mother arrives to get used to the idea that I not only did not ruin my life, but never wanted to leave."

Jeryl squeezed my hand.

Later that night, Jeryl joined me in my office sofa bed and snuggled up tight to me. She had been quiet since dinner. While her silky nightgown was an enticement for romance, I sensed that she only wanted to be close tonight. I kissed her softly, and held her in my arms until she drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, I woke her with a kiss and then headed to the treadmill down the hall to get some exercise in. By the time I finished, Jeryl was back in the bunk room with her sleeping cousins.

Everyone seemed tense as we waited for the next set of guests to arrive.

As soon as I saw Jerry's face, I knew it had not been a pleasant trip for him. He knew what we had planned, since it was the only way to get permission for Jeryl to come out with me early and to ensure Janet would visit as well.

"This is a fine house you've built," Janet said with frosty tones.

"Mother," Jeryl said. "Why don't you come in and get settled before I take you on a quick tour of the house. Paul has his mother and Jim in the master suite, but wanted you and dad to stay in the guest suite down this way." She led them off. A few minutes later, Helen and her children joined me in the great room.

"Lord, give me strength," Helen said as she paced back and forth.

Richard patted the couch next to him and she reluctantly sat next to him.

I was about to offer some encouragement when Jeryl and her mother returned. Janet stopped by the fireplace, staring at Helen who rose gracefully. The family resemblance was obvious.

Helen smoothed her knit dress and then clasped her hands in front of her, as if to keep them from fidgeting. "You've grown into a beautiful woman since I last saw you, Janet."

What little color Janet had in her face drained away and she put her hand out against the stone of the fireplace to steady herself. "Helen? How ... Where..."

"It is me, Janet. Jeryl and Paul found me. They invited us out to meet you. This is my son, Richard," she said as she turned and motioned to him. "He was named after his father."

Richard stood and extended his hand. "Aunt Janet, it is a pleasure to meet you," he said. Janet shook his hand, staring at him silently.

"These are my daughters, Karen and Olivia," Helen said.

Both girls stood. Janet nodded to them, but kept most of her attention on Helen.

"Janet, I'm sorry for not trying to find you sooner. I hate to think what stories mother has spread, but I never wanted to leave our family. I hope you believe me."

Janet stepped closer to Helen. "I was seven years old. You were my idol. How could you leave without even saying goodbye?"

"I was given no choice. I'm sorry." Helen wrapped her arms around her younger sister and hugged her as both broke into tears.

They held each other for several minutes before we heard a commotion by the door.

"What did we miss out on?" Jyl asked with her usual cavalier tone.