[A/N. I've finally been able to sit down here and write some more, but I
can't sit down for long periods of time and write, so even though I am
uploading this chapter I probably won't be uploading as often as usual for
the next few weeks. I have psyio and rehab, plus I've got Uni exams coming
up very soon (for one of them they're changing what I've got to do to help
me which is really, really cool). I'm still not walking properly and am
still on painkillers. As a matter of fact as I write this now I'm still
feeling light headed from my last lot of painkillers so if there is some
stupid, obvious mistake in here blame the medication!]
FIFTEEN:
Cary was grinning like a Cheshire cat and clearly there was no way he could keep his secret a moment longer without exploding. "Well it's like this- you know the boat I built for Mr. Hamilton?"
"Could I forget?" I joked. "Yes, I know the boat."
"Well a few people have been very impressed with my boat building skills. So impressed that they want to back me." Cary explained.
"Back you?" I was confused. I knew what he meant in the technical sense of the word, but Cary was one of those extremely stubborn, extremely proud people, and with my inheritance coming in a few years we didn't really need the help, although I knew Cary would have liked the money a bit earlier.
"I knew you'd think like that." Cary said with a smile. "I'll still be my own boss, but they think that perhaps it would be good for the area if we were to say open a factory and then bring workers and their families here, good for the economy and all."
"Is the economy bad?" I asked, still a little confused.
Cary shrugged. "Not that I know of. So this is what they're thinking- we get a piece of land and build a factory, and then we recruit people to come and work under me. A few prominent people in the town, including Mr. Hamilton, have offered to put money towards the venture in the form of shares, but I'm going to be the majority shareholder- fifty-five per cent, so that way no decision can be made without my approval. And think of it Melody- we could make a lot more money, build a lot more boats."
"I am thinking about it.." I said slowly. "But what I'm thinking is how exactly are we meant to afford fifty five per cent of a piece of land, a building, and even workers' wages until I get my inheritance when I turn 25 in a few years."
"That's why they're going to back me. When we get the money we repay them, and we're not exactly poor now- our house is worth enough to mortgage-"
"Mortgage our house?" I exclaimed. "Cary I don't know about this. What if something goes wrong and we lose everything?"
"We can't lose everything- we'll have more than enough to cover it. You know perfectly well that the inheritance you're getting is more than enough." Cary argued. "And why do you always assume things aren't going to work out? Do you think I can't do it- be a boss and all?"
"That's not what I meant-" I began but he interrupted, as he pulled into the driveway a little faster than usual making me hold onto the door handle.
"If the businessmen of this town can support me, and trust in me, why can't my own wife?" Cary demanded.
"I didn't say anything like that." I said a little angrily now. "It's just come as a shock, that's all."
We got out of the car and I got Lara while Cary got my bags.
"A shock." He repeated as we went up the stairs to the wraparound porch and front door. "I had hoped it would come as a good one. I thought you would have been proud."
"I am." I said as we went in. "I just have some reservations."
"They'd already found the perfect piece of land." Cary said slowly. "Only a fifteen minute drive so I could even supervise the building and even come home for lunch."
I sighed and went into the lounge room and looked out one of the windows at the ocean nearby. "I just..I'm worried we could lose this place Cary." I admitted.
"We won't." Cary said firmly. "How about before you decide either way you speak to Nelson and to our accountant and then you'll see how safe this venture is?"
"I suppose I could speak to Nelson tomorrow- I've got to ask him about looking after Lara on Saturday anyway." I said with a sigh.
"Trust me though Melody," Cary said, picking up my bags to take them upstairs. "He's going to tell you this is a perfectly safe, and prosperous venture."
I didn't reply. I knew Cary was hurt at my reaction but the whole thing had come as a surprise, and my concern stemmed more from the fact that Cary wasn't a businessman, he was a craftsman. His dream had always been to make boats, and if it meant he could make more boats who was I to crush his dreams? If my grandfather said it was a good idea then I'd agree. Cary came back down.
"Your bags are up in our room. I was thinking I'd go into town to get a pizza- save you cooking." He said.
"That would be good." I said with a sigh. "I certainly don't feel like cooking. Listen, I'll speak to my Grandfather but I think it might be a formality, if you're confident, if this is your dream, then who am I to stand in the way of it?"
"Really?" Cary asked, his eyes lighting up and he hurried over to hug me. "Melody, I swear you won't regret this."
"I better not Cary Logan or you'll be in big trouble." I teased, but he laughed.
"I'll go get the pizzas." He said, and I heard him humming as he went out to the car and smiled. And then my smile faded- was it possible that it was guilt more than anything which made me agree to this proposition? I shook my head, no, it wasn't anything like that- I wanted Cary to be happy! I wanted US to be happy.
*****
"It's actually a brilliant idea." My grandfather told me the next afternoon. "I've been speaking to some of the people who are going in on it, and they're all convinced even with small shares it's going to pay off. Do you know that it's not only here in Provincetown, but on the whole of the Cape itself that there is no factory mass producing boats?"
I was surprised. "You're kidding. I just assumed.."
"We all always have. I think it was Hamilton who first looked into the idea, and then he spoke to Harris and with him being a banker he knew a good deal when he saw it. Honestly Melody you've got nothing to worry about. You don't know how much your inheritance is do you?" My grandfather asked, playing happily with Lara.
I shook my head.
"Let's say it's enough to build three factories."
"Woah." I said, and he laughed.
"See, there's no cause for concern at all Melody." He said.
I sighed with relief. "I'm glad, I couldn't have crushed Cary's dream, but it would have been hard putting all my faith into something if I didn't know it was safe." I said.
My grandfather nodded. "I wonder though.." He muttered.
"Wonder what?" I asked, leaning forward.
"I was wondering whether I'd be around when you got your inheritance. It's still four and a half years down the track." He said.
"Well of course you're going to be around. Where else would you be?" I asked. "Don't tell me Florida."
"Good lord no, I was born on the Cape, and I'll die on the Cape." My grandfather exclaimed, and it was then I got the meaning.
"Don't be silly." I said casually. "You'll be here."
*****
On the way home I stopped at Kenneth and Holly's and we sat around talking about it.
"He's said a few things like that lately." Kenneth said slowly. "I know he's getting on, but he's still senile, still fit.."
"I read somewhere that people always know when their time is coming." Holly said slowly. "Maybe I should consult my crystal ball or my cards-"
"I don't want any hocus pocus telling me my father's old and sick." Kenneth snapped. "I'm going out to my workshop. Excuse me." And he pushed his chair back from the table and stormed out.
"He's feeling guilty." Holly said to me.
"Guilty?" I repeated.
"That he didn't speak to his father for so long." Holly said. "Thank god they're talking now. It would have been a disappointment for young Nelson not to have a grandfather."
"Yeah," I agreed. "I remember when I was convinced I was going to make them talk again-especially after finding out Kenneth was my uncle and Nelson my grandfather. Anyway, I better get going and give Cary the good news- he'll be on pins and needles, I just thought it was best to let you know what Nelson had been saying."
"Thanks."
*****
Cary's reaction shocked me. He picked me up and swung me around before kissing me deeply and passionately. "I love you so much Melody Logan." He declared.
"I love you too." I said, wrapping my arms around his strong back.
"What do you say we go away for a few days to celebrate? Sort of like a second honeymoon?" Cary asked me.
"I think that would be fun." I said.
"How about Saturday?" Cary asked, and I laughed.
"We've got to go to the wedding Cary no matter how much we don't approve of, or don't like, the Jackson's- especially if you're entering this venture. I wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Jackson gets his share. And you're going to need the town's lawyer aren't you?" I replied.
"Good point. I don't like it, but good point." Cary conceded. "Well maybe the weekend after then?"
"Yeah and Lara's never been away on holidays, she'll love it." I said, beginning to get excited.
"Melody, firstly Lara's too young to enjoy a holiday-she's not even crawling yet, and secondly, the purpose of a honeymoon is to be alone with you, my wife." Cary instructed me. "Lara could stay with Ma and May- they'd love it."
"I suppose.." I said slowly. I didn't know why, but for some reason there was something in the back of my mind which made me not want to leave Lara behind. Then I smiled, thinking how stupid I would be to take a baby on a second honeymoon. "You're right- of course. It would make their day to look after Lara. And she'd have a great time too."
"As would we." Cary said.
"Okay, we can leave Lara there." I agreed, ignoring the voice in the back of my mind which was illogically telling me not to agree, to take her with me. I thought perhaps my reluctance was simply because I'd been to New York and left her back here with Cary and I didn't like the idea of leaving her again. But even so, I didn't feel completely comfortable with the plan, but I was determined not to let Cary know. He wanted this holiday to celebrate, and he deserved it.
FIFTEEN:
Cary was grinning like a Cheshire cat and clearly there was no way he could keep his secret a moment longer without exploding. "Well it's like this- you know the boat I built for Mr. Hamilton?"
"Could I forget?" I joked. "Yes, I know the boat."
"Well a few people have been very impressed with my boat building skills. So impressed that they want to back me." Cary explained.
"Back you?" I was confused. I knew what he meant in the technical sense of the word, but Cary was one of those extremely stubborn, extremely proud people, and with my inheritance coming in a few years we didn't really need the help, although I knew Cary would have liked the money a bit earlier.
"I knew you'd think like that." Cary said with a smile. "I'll still be my own boss, but they think that perhaps it would be good for the area if we were to say open a factory and then bring workers and their families here, good for the economy and all."
"Is the economy bad?" I asked, still a little confused.
Cary shrugged. "Not that I know of. So this is what they're thinking- we get a piece of land and build a factory, and then we recruit people to come and work under me. A few prominent people in the town, including Mr. Hamilton, have offered to put money towards the venture in the form of shares, but I'm going to be the majority shareholder- fifty-five per cent, so that way no decision can be made without my approval. And think of it Melody- we could make a lot more money, build a lot more boats."
"I am thinking about it.." I said slowly. "But what I'm thinking is how exactly are we meant to afford fifty five per cent of a piece of land, a building, and even workers' wages until I get my inheritance when I turn 25 in a few years."
"That's why they're going to back me. When we get the money we repay them, and we're not exactly poor now- our house is worth enough to mortgage-"
"Mortgage our house?" I exclaimed. "Cary I don't know about this. What if something goes wrong and we lose everything?"
"We can't lose everything- we'll have more than enough to cover it. You know perfectly well that the inheritance you're getting is more than enough." Cary argued. "And why do you always assume things aren't going to work out? Do you think I can't do it- be a boss and all?"
"That's not what I meant-" I began but he interrupted, as he pulled into the driveway a little faster than usual making me hold onto the door handle.
"If the businessmen of this town can support me, and trust in me, why can't my own wife?" Cary demanded.
"I didn't say anything like that." I said a little angrily now. "It's just come as a shock, that's all."
We got out of the car and I got Lara while Cary got my bags.
"A shock." He repeated as we went up the stairs to the wraparound porch and front door. "I had hoped it would come as a good one. I thought you would have been proud."
"I am." I said as we went in. "I just have some reservations."
"They'd already found the perfect piece of land." Cary said slowly. "Only a fifteen minute drive so I could even supervise the building and even come home for lunch."
I sighed and went into the lounge room and looked out one of the windows at the ocean nearby. "I just..I'm worried we could lose this place Cary." I admitted.
"We won't." Cary said firmly. "How about before you decide either way you speak to Nelson and to our accountant and then you'll see how safe this venture is?"
"I suppose I could speak to Nelson tomorrow- I've got to ask him about looking after Lara on Saturday anyway." I said with a sigh.
"Trust me though Melody," Cary said, picking up my bags to take them upstairs. "He's going to tell you this is a perfectly safe, and prosperous venture."
I didn't reply. I knew Cary was hurt at my reaction but the whole thing had come as a surprise, and my concern stemmed more from the fact that Cary wasn't a businessman, he was a craftsman. His dream had always been to make boats, and if it meant he could make more boats who was I to crush his dreams? If my grandfather said it was a good idea then I'd agree. Cary came back down.
"Your bags are up in our room. I was thinking I'd go into town to get a pizza- save you cooking." He said.
"That would be good." I said with a sigh. "I certainly don't feel like cooking. Listen, I'll speak to my Grandfather but I think it might be a formality, if you're confident, if this is your dream, then who am I to stand in the way of it?"
"Really?" Cary asked, his eyes lighting up and he hurried over to hug me. "Melody, I swear you won't regret this."
"I better not Cary Logan or you'll be in big trouble." I teased, but he laughed.
"I'll go get the pizzas." He said, and I heard him humming as he went out to the car and smiled. And then my smile faded- was it possible that it was guilt more than anything which made me agree to this proposition? I shook my head, no, it wasn't anything like that- I wanted Cary to be happy! I wanted US to be happy.
*****
"It's actually a brilliant idea." My grandfather told me the next afternoon. "I've been speaking to some of the people who are going in on it, and they're all convinced even with small shares it's going to pay off. Do you know that it's not only here in Provincetown, but on the whole of the Cape itself that there is no factory mass producing boats?"
I was surprised. "You're kidding. I just assumed.."
"We all always have. I think it was Hamilton who first looked into the idea, and then he spoke to Harris and with him being a banker he knew a good deal when he saw it. Honestly Melody you've got nothing to worry about. You don't know how much your inheritance is do you?" My grandfather asked, playing happily with Lara.
I shook my head.
"Let's say it's enough to build three factories."
"Woah." I said, and he laughed.
"See, there's no cause for concern at all Melody." He said.
I sighed with relief. "I'm glad, I couldn't have crushed Cary's dream, but it would have been hard putting all my faith into something if I didn't know it was safe." I said.
My grandfather nodded. "I wonder though.." He muttered.
"Wonder what?" I asked, leaning forward.
"I was wondering whether I'd be around when you got your inheritance. It's still four and a half years down the track." He said.
"Well of course you're going to be around. Where else would you be?" I asked. "Don't tell me Florida."
"Good lord no, I was born on the Cape, and I'll die on the Cape." My grandfather exclaimed, and it was then I got the meaning.
"Don't be silly." I said casually. "You'll be here."
*****
On the way home I stopped at Kenneth and Holly's and we sat around talking about it.
"He's said a few things like that lately." Kenneth said slowly. "I know he's getting on, but he's still senile, still fit.."
"I read somewhere that people always know when their time is coming." Holly said slowly. "Maybe I should consult my crystal ball or my cards-"
"I don't want any hocus pocus telling me my father's old and sick." Kenneth snapped. "I'm going out to my workshop. Excuse me." And he pushed his chair back from the table and stormed out.
"He's feeling guilty." Holly said to me.
"Guilty?" I repeated.
"That he didn't speak to his father for so long." Holly said. "Thank god they're talking now. It would have been a disappointment for young Nelson not to have a grandfather."
"Yeah," I agreed. "I remember when I was convinced I was going to make them talk again-especially after finding out Kenneth was my uncle and Nelson my grandfather. Anyway, I better get going and give Cary the good news- he'll be on pins and needles, I just thought it was best to let you know what Nelson had been saying."
"Thanks."
*****
Cary's reaction shocked me. He picked me up and swung me around before kissing me deeply and passionately. "I love you so much Melody Logan." He declared.
"I love you too." I said, wrapping my arms around his strong back.
"What do you say we go away for a few days to celebrate? Sort of like a second honeymoon?" Cary asked me.
"I think that would be fun." I said.
"How about Saturday?" Cary asked, and I laughed.
"We've got to go to the wedding Cary no matter how much we don't approve of, or don't like, the Jackson's- especially if you're entering this venture. I wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Jackson gets his share. And you're going to need the town's lawyer aren't you?" I replied.
"Good point. I don't like it, but good point." Cary conceded. "Well maybe the weekend after then?"
"Yeah and Lara's never been away on holidays, she'll love it." I said, beginning to get excited.
"Melody, firstly Lara's too young to enjoy a holiday-she's not even crawling yet, and secondly, the purpose of a honeymoon is to be alone with you, my wife." Cary instructed me. "Lara could stay with Ma and May- they'd love it."
"I suppose.." I said slowly. I didn't know why, but for some reason there was something in the back of my mind which made me not want to leave Lara behind. Then I smiled, thinking how stupid I would be to take a baby on a second honeymoon. "You're right- of course. It would make their day to look after Lara. And she'd have a great time too."
"As would we." Cary said.
"Okay, we can leave Lara there." I agreed, ignoring the voice in the back of my mind which was illogically telling me not to agree, to take her with me. I thought perhaps my reluctance was simply because I'd been to New York and left her back here with Cary and I didn't like the idea of leaving her again. But even so, I didn't feel completely comfortable with the plan, but I was determined not to let Cary know. He wanted this holiday to celebrate, and he deserved it.
