Chapter 20: The Return

Three years later

Dave was meeting with the company Lawyer. They meet once a week to check on commitments and anything important or urgent.

"Carl's team is doing great as expected." said the Lawyer

"I wouldn't have hired him to replace me as the manager of my previous team if I didn't know he can deliver." said Dave. "That team will be a waste if I don't place a good manager to handle them"

"It was a good decision, Boss." said the Lawyer. "By the way, I think you've seen the news this morning. Samuel Spencer was brought to the hospital again yesterday. Nobody can say what the problem was. But people are starting to speculate that FlyAir's CEO might need to retire soon."

Dave indeed saw the news. And it immediately made him worried. Although he no longer has personal relationship with Samuel, he will never forget what the older man did for SkyRock.

"He's not young anymore. But his mind is still very sharp." said Dave

"Have you seen the contract proposal?" asked the Lawyer

"I've seen it. But I'm still thinking about it. A partnership with FlyAir again? That's something that we need to dig deeper before we decide." said Dave.

"You were able to deliver the commitment we made them in one year instead of the agreed two years. I think FlyAir knows what you can do. Now that SkyRock and FlyAir are almost the same size, there is no other company FlyAir can get the best partnership from than SkyRock." said the Lawyer.

"I don't know if that partnership can really help SkyRock. If there are rumors like Samuel's retirement, a partnership with FlyAir might pull SkyRock down. There are always two sides of a coin here." said Dave.

"Are you going to visit Samuel Spencer in the hospital?" asked the Lawyer

"I owe Samuel a big debt. Things like visiting him when he's brought to the hospital, regardless of the decision to have a partnership with FlyAir or not, I have to be there to make sure he knows I am still thankful for everything he did for SkyRock… and for Dad." said Dave.

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Rica is anxious. This was Uncle Sam's second hospitalization in just a month. What is going on with him? Why is he not telling her anything?! Rica looked at her Mom who was sleeping on the plane seat beside her. Her Mom did not like the crowded New York. The past three years had been hard for her Mom. But Gene stayed by Rica's side all throughout.

Rica checked her email. She saw something from Robbie, her childhood friend.

"Robbie? I just said goodbye to him yesterday." thought Rica.

The e-mail says Robbie will be going back to San Francisco too a week after. He said that he can't accompany Rica now since he will manage everything that needs to be finished this week so that he can follow her next week.

"Wow. What has gotten into him? He had never gone back to San Francisco for the past what…18 years?" said Rica

Rica's mom woke up.

"Still a few hours?" asked Gene

"Just an hour left, Mom. We'll be home soon." said Rica, smiling.

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Dave and Carl were sitting on the car going to the hospital. Carl was stressed. Dave was not an easy to please boss and he was very demanding. Carl can't remember when he last had a good night sleep.

"You keep checking your phone." said Dave

"Luis led our sub team to a presentation to a client. I wanted to know what's going on there since you pulled me here without warning." said Carl

"Relax. Your team is the best in the company. And Luis is pretty much ready to take on your role. So don't be too anxious." said Dave.

"You're saying that because you don't have David Lopez as your Boss. If you had him as your Boss, I assure you that you will be more anxious than I am" said Carl.

Dave laughed. Carl had sacrificed a lot when Dave asked him to work for SkyRock. There were other offers for Carl which can pay him higher but Carl chose SkyRock because of Dave's request.

"Does Belle know all your angst about work?" asked Dave

"Who else would I pour my heart to?" asked Carl

"I better meet with Belle soon. Just so that I know how to keep you working for me." said Dave, smiling.

"I have to tell Belle which part she needs to highlight to you so that I can get a bigger raise this year." said Carl, chuckling

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Rica arrived in San Francisco with her Mom. They went through all the queues in the airport rather quickly. Their driver was already waiting for them when they got out of the airport.

"Nice seeing you again, Mark. Can you bring my Mom home first?" asked Rica

"Wait…How about you?" asked Gene

"I'm going straight to the hospital. I can't stand the anxiety anymore. I need to see Uncle." said Rica.

"I'll go with you." said Gene.

"No Mom. You are tired. And I don't want to take care of two fellas if you ever get sick too. So go home and rest first, OK? Then you can visit Uncle tomorrow." said Rica, giving her Mom a reassuring smile. "Mark, please take care of my Mom."

Gene can't argue that she's tired. She was not good with flights. She's worried about Samuel, but Rica was right…she needed a few hours of sleep.

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Dave was immediately allowed to go inside Samuel's room

"Ahh Dave…I've not seen you for a long time." said Samuel

"He was not yet allowed to entertain visitors, but when he heard you're here to see him, he overridden the doctors instructions." said Samuel's secretary

"Oh, If you're resting, I can just go back here some other time. I don't want you to get tired just because we came." said Dave

Samuel was looking good. He was lying on his bed, but he only had dextrose and nothing else.

"Hush, of course I won't push you to leave young man. The CEO of SkyRock is very busy and I know it wasn't easy to get this time to visit me." said Samuel, smiling.

"I will always make time especially if it's you. You know that Samuel." said Dave

"Ah…But I don't want your secretary to reschedule everything just for me." said Sam

Samuel's secretary yawned at that. Dave had to suppress a chuckle.

"You brought your friend." said Sam.

"Yes, you've met Carl before." said Dave.

"Yes, of course I remember him. He delivered some parts of the contract we had with SkyRock. I remember him." said Sam.

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Rica took a taxi going to the hospital. Everything seems to look familiar. Three years…it had already been three years since she left San Francisco. Amy was now married. Who knew Amy will get a boyfriend just a month after Rica left? And Victoria just got a new boyfriend three months ago. Rica is excited to meet her friends.

Rica saw the FlyAir Building. It still looks new. That's good. She'll be spending a lot of her time there from now on. She will make sure Uncle Sam does not go back to work prematurely. She will handle everything that needs to be done while Uncle Sam is recovering. She needs to do this, Uncle Sam is not getting any younger.

And then Rica saw the SkyRock Building.

"Cool, it still looks the same. I wonder how everybody is doing." said Rica, a smile on her lips. Rica remembered the time when she was working there with everyone. "I hope everything is going well."

Rica arrived at the hospital and asked for some information before going to her Uncle's room. She was almost not allowed to go in by some security, but her Uncle's secretary went out of the room and saw her.

"Rica! You are here!" said the secretary

Rica hugged the secretary

"How were you Nina? You're looking good." said Rica

"Really? Haha! You are so pretty! Well your hair is shorter. But it suits you." said Nina

"Thank you, by the way, this man doesn't allow me to go in." said Rica

"What? You don't know her? She's Mr. Samuel's niece. She's like the patient's daughter."

The man looked embarrassed.

"I am sorry, Mam. We did not expect you." said the man.

Rica chuckled.

"It's ok Nina. He doesn't know. It's meant to be a surprise." said Rica, smiling.

"But your Uncle has visitors now." said Nina

"Visitors? I thought he is not yet allowed to see visitors?"

"Your Uncle insisted on seeing them." said Nina

"Are these business contacts?" asked Rica

"Yes, somewhat like that." answered Nina

Rica's patience was little. Her Uncle is sick and yet he goes into a business meeting? In the hospital? This has got to stop!

Rica entered the door and immediately went to her Uncle.

"Uncle!" called Rica

That voice…. Sam could not believe that he will be seeing Rica on San Francisco soil.

"Rica? You're back?" asked Sam

"Of course I am. You made me really worried. It was not easy getting a last minute flight." said Rica, walking towards Sam's bed. "But please Uncle, can you stop entertaining business visitors and rest first?"

"Ahh…But they were not ordinary business visitors." said Sam

Just then, Rica turned and saw the two men standing by Uncle Sam's bed. In particular, she had to stop at one particular man.

Dave.

David Lopez.

When the door opened Dave thought the secretary might've forgotten something and came back. But when he heard the voice calling for 'Uncle', his heart started to beat fast. When Sam asked if it's Rica and she answered, Dave's mind went blank.

When Rica walked by Sam's bed, he swore everything turned slow motion in his eyes.

Rica.

Rica Spencer.

Three years.

Three long years.

Is he seeing her for real or is it just his hopeful thinking that they would meet if he visited Samuel? Is this just a part of his imagination that after the three years of longing, he would finally see her again?

"I told you, they aren't ordinary visitors." said Uncle Sam

Rica smiled at Dave and Carl, the kind of smile you would give someone you've met in a business meeting.

"Mr. Lopez, Mr. Cox, nice seeing you both. It had been a long time." said Rica

It was Carl who first spoke.

"Ah, Yes. Wow…You're back." said Carl almost breathless.

"Yes, and it's because of this stubborn Uncle of mine. I told him to stop being workaholic but he did not listen." said Rica.

"I go on vacation once every six months." said Sam.

"You are not young anymore, you need more vacation than that." said Rica.

Dave was stunned. Carl had to step on Dave's foot to get his attention back.

"You…are back" said Dave, his voice sounded a bit hoarse as if he did not speak for a long time.

"Yes. I am." said Rica. "I am glad SkyRock and FlyAir are in a good relationship through the years I've been gone." said Rica "I heard you delivered the commitments in the contract way before the schedule. That made us all relieved.." said Rica.

"Of course…You and Samuel helped SkyRock…I can't fail, can I?" said Dave still staring at Rica

Rica nodded.

��Gentlemen, I know you are close to my Uncle and as much as I want to give you time with him, I need to make sure Uncle is on his way to recovery. I need to ask you guys to leave for now and just come back some other time." said Rica, still with that formal smile on her face.

"Rica, Don't be rude to my visitors. I still want to talk to them." said Uncle Sam

"No Uncle, don't keep being stubborn. You need to rest, so just rest for now OK? I'm sure Mr. Lopez and Mr. Cox will find time to see you again once you feel better, right?" asked Rica

Dave couldn't speak.

Rica is asking them to leave…

But He can't. He still wants to see her, He wants to talk to her, He wants to pull her into his arms and tell her how much…how much he missed her.

"Of course. Rica is right, we'll just come back when you're better, Samuel" said Carl

Carl had to pull Dave's coat to tell him that they need to leave.

Carl and Dave made it out of the room. But as soon as the door closed, Carl had to lean on the wall. And Dave had to sit on a nearby chair.

Carl can't believe what just happened in there. Rica…Rica is back! Carl looked at Dave and Dave looked shocked.

"Man...You have to pull yourself together. You can't go back to the office looking like that." said Carl.

"I…I just saw her right?" asked Dave "She was just inside this room right? She's there, she's actually there…I did not just imagine that…"

"Yes, Man. She's back. Rica is back." said Carl while trying to help Dave stand up.

Carl saw Dave when Rica got into that accident three years ago. Dave was in shock and was devastated. Dave even had panic attacks. When Rica left without a word, Carl also saw how lost Dave was. Dave might look to be the composed executive at work, but he was just a wasted man inside. Seeing how Dave is reacting now with Rica's return… it seems Dave is far from over it.

"I need to go back in" said Dave. Dave stood up ready to go back to Samuel's room, but Carl stopped him.

"You can't do that…I know how much you want to see her and talk to her. But no, you can't go back there. Man, she just asked us to give her Uncle time to rest. You don't like to make her agitated than she already is. You will have your chance to talk to her. But now isn't the right time." said Carl.

Dave closed his eyes tight. Carl is right. This is not yet the right time.