Chapter 27
Marilyn
A watched pot never boils, my grandma used to say. Apparently, watching a clock also doesn’t make time go any quicker. Thankfully, my last meeting of the day cancels, giving me the out I’ve been wanting, the out to head back to Riverbend—to Devan, Justin, and Ricky. I send Devan a quick text message and one to my mom, telling them both I’ll be down in a few hours. I fill my mom in on what happened to Justin; however, seeing as she’s in Riverbend, I would expect she already knows.
Texting Ricky is unnecessary since I have his phone. I’ve had it plugged in all day, and it’s charged. The only thing keeping me from snooping is the face ID security and the fact that I don’t want to be that girlfriend, the one who looks at his private things, like the notebook I accidentally read.
It wasn’t exactly an accident, but that sounds better in my mind.
Gathering all my things, I make my way down to the front of the building, hoping to sneak out a little early without drawing too much attention. The elevator doors open on the first floor, and my hopes of an invisible escape are dashed.
“Marilyn,” Mr. Stevens says, eyeing me up and down, no doubt assessing by my long coat and computer bag that I’m on my way out of the building.
“Mr. Stevens.”
He tilts his head. “Are you in a hurry, or may we have a few minutes to speak?”
Like I could turn down one of the partners. “Of course I can take a few minutes.”
He steps into the elevator and hits the button for the top floor.
We’re quiet as the doors close. Finally, as we begin to ascend, I ask, “Is there a problem?”
“I’m hoping you can tell me.” Small lines spider from the corners of his eyes as he lifts his face toward the ceiling and inhales. “Some days, I feel like I’m getting too old for all of this.”
“Are you considering retirement?”
He scoffs. “Elenor doesn’t want me at home underfoot all day long.” He grins. “I think she’s hiding a male lover.”
My eyes open wide.
“I’m teasing. She likes her space, and I respect that.”
I let out a breath. “You could travel.”
“I’m quite content with where we are.” The doors open to his receptionists, and he gestures for me to exit first.
I step to the side, allowing him to lead the way as I follow him to his office.
“Please,” he says once we’re inside, “take off your coat. I have some questions that may, in the mind of some, be inappropriate.”
I stop mid-unbuttoning my wool coat. “Excuse me?”
He has a tiredness about him that seems unfamiliar. His suit coat is gone, and his shirt is wrinkled. Mr. Stevens gestures toward the sofa and chairs in the corner of his office near the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Laying my coat over the back of one chair, I sit in the other and smooth my skirt over my legs. Never in all my time working at this firm has Mr. Stevens been inappropriate. If anything, he’s always been kind and supportive.
Mr. Stevens takes a seat on the sofa, sitting forward, his knees spread. “Let me preface this with, it is perfectly acceptable for you to tell me that you don’t know, you think it’s wrong of me to ask you, or it’s none of my business.”
I inhale. “That’s a bit foreboding.”
“I received some surprising and sad news earlier today.”
I wait, wondering if this is about Ricky and hoping it’s not. Saying a prayer that Ricky listened to my advice and didn’t make a rash decision. “What did you hear?”
He leans back, his nostrils flaring. “I heard from Mr. Dunn.”
Closing my eyes, I inhale and tug on my lower lip. Mr. Stevens is looking at me as my eyes open.
“You know that he decided against accepting the position we offered him?”
“I know that working for Parker and Stevens has been his dream. I also know that Ricky…Rich is a good man with a strong work ethic. Also, like many men” —I smile— “sorry, but it’s true, Rich thinks he needs to fix what’s broken. He believes he’s the only one capable, no matter the consequences.”
“What broke?”
“What did Rich say to you?” I ask.
“This isn’t a conversation we should be having.”
“Probably not,” I agree. “You’re the one who asked me to your office.”
Mr. Stevens nods. “He thanked us for the vote of confidence and said another opportunity has come up and he regretfully must decline our offer.”
Swallowing, I make the decision to be completely honest and transparent. “Mr. Stevens, as you know, besides getting his associate’s degree, Rich spent the first thirty-two years of his life working his family’s farm.”
Mr. Stevens nods.
“A few years ago, Jack Dunn, Rich’s father, decided to sell the farm. There have been a few developers grabbing land when they can. Instead of going that route, the Dunns sold it to their daughter and son-in-law, who happens to own a neighboring farm. Altogether, Rich’s friend, Justin, is now responsible for over a thousand acres of land. Rich and Justin have been best friends since they were toddlers.” Not wanting to drag out the story too long, I jump to the issue at hand. “Yesterday, Justin Sheers was injured in an accident on that farm. He was working on a rather heavy piece of machinery, and somehow it fell, crushing his femur. We were all at a hospital in Bloomington, where Justin was airlifted to, until late last night.”
“How is this friend?”
I blink away rogue tears I didn’t realize I was crying. “He’s going to be all right. His leg never lost circulation, something the doctor said was vital in avoiding amputation. If the machinery had fallen on his spine, he could be paralyzed or worse. All in all, it is the best possible outcome.”
“How many people does this friend employ to work his land?”
“He doesn’t employ anyone. It’s just him and his father.”
“Tell me, Marilyn, did Mr. Dunn take another position at a competing firm?”
“No, sir.”
“Do you believe that working here is what Mr. Dunn truly wanted? Mr. Perkins suggested something different.”
I sit taller. “Mr. Perkins is irrelevant. Working here is Rich’s dream come true. The position you spoke with him about, combining farming, something that means so much to him, with wealth management was more than he could have possibly hoped for.”
“And he turned down our offer…?”
“To work Justin’s land. Justin is going to require physical therapy and time. He won’t be able to do all that is necessary to keep his farm from being taken.”
“Mr. Dunn chose to save his friend’s land over taking his dream job.”
Mr. Stevens didn’t ask a question, but I nod. “Yes, sir. He mentioned it last night. Things were still raw, and emotions were high. We didn’t know yet if Justin would recover. You see, as I mentioned, Justin is married to Rich’s sister.”
Mr. Stevens lets out a whistle.
“I asked Rich not to make a rash decision.”
“We have called him a few times, and he hasn’t answered.”
I pat the bag at my side. “He left his phone in Indy when he rushed to the hospital. I am taking it to him tonight.”
Mr. Stevens stands and offers me his hand. “Thank you for being up front with me. If you see Mr. Dunn…”
I smile. “I plan to.”
“…please let him know we haven’t yet accepted his refusal, and I’d like to speak to him when he has the time.”
My smile grows. “Oh, thank you, Mr. Stevens. I didn’t realize your family farmed.” When he looks at me quizzically, I add, “Rich told me.”
“My grandfather loved and respected the land. I didn’t follow in his footsteps, and it’s worked out well. However, creating an agricultural wealth management plan has been a pipe dream of mine for some time. I’m not ready to give up that dream. Do you know anyone who has the same love and respect for land and knowledge in financial planning?”
“I do.”
Mr. Stevens grins. “Thank you. You better get on the road. I suspect there’s more than one person waiting for you in Riverbend.”
I reach for my bag and walk toward my coat. As I’m putting it on, I ask, “Have you ever been down to our small town?”
He presses his lips together. “One time. It was in the autumn. Elenore enjoys Brown County. I seem to remember a shop. Quint…something or the other. Elenore raved about the lotion she bought there for years.”
“Quintessential Treasures.”
“Yes,” he says. “Is the store still there?”
“It is. It’s owned by our friend Justin’s sister.”
“Small world.”
“Small town,” I reply.
I’m more excited to get to my hometown than I have been, possibly ever.