Chapter 7
The next morning came early. Earlier than it should have. He opened his eyes to find it was still dark. Why wasn't the sun up yet? Why did that damn phone keep ringing? Jonathan heard Max answer from the kitchen, then make his way to Jonathan's room and knock on the door.
"Yeah, Max?" he groggily answered.
"Sorry to bother you, Mr. H. Stanley Friesen is on the phone for you."
"What time is it, Max?"
"It's 3 am."
"Why is Stanley calling me at 3 in the morning?"
"He won't tell me."
Jonathan pushed back the covers and slid his feet into his slippers, mumbling as he made his way to the kitchen phone, "This had better be good…" Picking the receiver up from the counter where Max had laid it, Jonathan answered, "Stanley, you know it's 3 am here, right?"
"Yes, Sir, Mr. Hart. I'm very sorry, Sir. I didn't know who else to turn. I'm sorry to be bothering you on vacation. I can't see any way around this."
"Around what, Stanley?"
"The numbers, Sir."
"What numbers?"
"It looks like the Hart Art Restoration and Conservation division is missing 1.5 million dollars, Sir."
"Missing? How does one lose 1.5 million, Stanley?"
Stanley hesitated. Thoughts running through his mind created discord between his nerves and stomach. Having to tell Jonathan Hart anything was amiss with this company made him break out in a cold sweat. Taking a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping his brow, he answered, "It looks like embezzlement, Sir."
***
As Jennifer walked into the kitchen, both of her parents were sitting at the breakfast table. The smell of coffee and french toast were a welcome greeting. "It smells amazing in here." She looked from her mother, sitting at the table, to her father standing at the stove, then back to her mother. "Did I miss something? What's the occasion? I mean, Papa's French toast… That's a real treat!"
"My daughter's home, does there need to be another reason?" her father quipped.
"Stephen," Suzanne frowned at him.
He winced at the sound of her voice. "Oui, Suzanne. You are correct. Jennifer," Stephen stepped out from the stove and walked to his daughter. "Darling. Please forgive a stupid, stubborn old man. My behavior last night was unacceptable."
"Oh, Pa." She threw her arms around her father. "I love you. I understood your heart." She kissed his cheek. "You are forgiven."
"You are very gracious. Like your mother. I, on the other hand, struggle with giving grace." He moved her towards the table, "Jonathan deserves a chance, and I have not given him one. So, I am making you a promise to do much better." He winked at his wife, "Though I still don't like the idea of him taking my only daughter to California."
"California." Jennifer looked toward her mother and laughed, "How is that even possible?" Turning around towards her father, who had gone back to check his toast, "Sun, palm trees and beaches do sound like pretty amazing sights to see." And almost under her breath, "And he's an amazing sight, too."
"Oui, Chéri, he is." Suzanne smiled at her daughter as she stood from her chair. "Shall we take breakfast out on the terrace?"
"Oui, Momma, ce serait adorable."
As they stepped out, Jennifer could hear the Jag coming up the road. "Momma," she called back to Suzanne, who was still in the kitchen, "I think we need another place setting or two." The car stopped, and only one door shut. Maybe it would just be Jonathan this morning. She turned to greet him at the front door and was stopped by her mother, who handed her an extra place setting. Without arguing, she walked back and set the table.
Jonathan stepped outside before she finished putting the place setting on the table. "Good morning…" She looked up to see him. He wore his jeans and a white button-down that was only partially buttoned. His hair was a bit disheveled, and she wasn't entirely sure he had slept. "Darling? Is everything ok?"
"Jennifer, sweetheart," he searched for the words he needed to say. "I hate to cut this short."
"What?'
"Please, sit down…" He ushered her to a chair and proceeded to pace the terrace. "I have to get back to California… today." He could see the questions running through her mind, "I don't like it. However, I have had some unavoidable issues come up. If I could think of any way out of it, I would do it in a heartbeat. I've been up most of the night going over some things with one of my guys out there, and he's right, I need to get back and deal with this first hand."
"I'll just go with you." She stood, intending to pack her bag.
"Wait." He grabbed her hand and pulled her to a stop. She turned to face him. "I want you to stay here."
Stephen and Suzanne stepped out onto the terrace, "French Toast is hot," Stephen announced, not realizing the seriousness of the conversation that was taking place.
"Jonathan…" she started to protest, completely ignoring her father as he placed the plate on the table. Jonathan pulled her into his body and kissed her. Hard.
"I want to make a deal with you," he said breathlessly. "I want you to stay here, and let me go on without you."
"Why? What's in it for me?"
"You have a wedding to plan." He grinned at her, "And I don't want to be out there long without you."
"If you let me go pack, you wouldn't have to be out there without me at all," she retorted, a bit annoyed with his theatrics.
He looked at Suzanne as if he was asking for her support in the matter. He winked at her, "I am guessing your Mother would like to help shop for dresses and make all the arrangements."
Jennifer turned, looked at her mother, and smiled. "Oui, mother-daughter time. That does sound like fun." She turned back to Jonathan, "But that doesn't mean I like this idea."
"I don't like this idea either. However, that leaves me with just a couple of dilemmas."
"Oh? And what would those be?"
"First I can not leave without making something crystal clear, and it seems I have to do it on the fly, which does not make me happy. Mistakes happen when you fly off the cuff all the time."
"Jonathan. What are you talking about?"
"Well, the last time I did this, I was in such a hurry, I forgot a couple of critical pieces. I want to get them right this time." He grinned at her and took her hands in his. "Before I go, I need to make sure you know that you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are the sunlight in my morning. You are the starlight in my night. You are irreplaceable, and my life would be incomplete without you. Meeting you has brought a freshness and an adventure to my life I never knew existed. I need to make sure you know I am completely in love with you," He knelt on one knee and presented her with the ring, "Jennifer Edwards, will you marry me?"
"Jonathan," she whispered and appeared to be completely speechless. The ring was gorgeous. Breathtaking. Perfect. "Yes. Yes, I will marry you!" He slid the ring onto her finger, and she was impressed by him again. "It's a perfect fit. You are nothing short of amazing, Mr. Hart." He stood up, gathered her in his arms, and kissed her.
"Next, I want you to know; I had planned a date for today. My plans included giving these to you," Jonathan took a box from his back pocket. "I wanted to take you out to dinner, and have you wear them," he opened it to show her the emerald and diamond set.
"Jonathan…"
"I guess now we'll call them an engagement gift."
"And I didn't get you anything…" she grinned at him. He could get lost in that smile. And those eyes. "They are beautiful. Thank you, Darling."
"I'm so sorry I have to leave, Darling," he said as he moved to help her sit back down. "That brings me to my second dilemma…" He turned to Stephen, "I would love to have you go to California with me. I need some fresh eyes on some issues at Hart Industries."
Jennifer and Suzanne looked between Jonathan and Stephen. "I don't know how much help I can be, but I would love to go with you."
***
The two ladies drove with the three men and Freeway to the airport, to see the guys off, and bring the Jag back to the house.
As Max and Leonard loaded the plane, Jonathan grabbed Jennifer and held her tight. "We didn't have time to talk about dates or details. I wish we had more time this week. However, I promise to call you every night."
"I know. Soon, we will make this all happen as soon as possible." She paused for a minute, thinking, then asked, "How far in advance do you need to be able to schedule the time for a wedding? I don't want to plan a June wedding if you need longer than four weeks. I know that I need to give the Times a good four weeks notice when I won't be able to take any assignments. I can only imagine being the boss makes that lead time bigger."
He laughed, "Yeah, four weeks might throw the office off-kilter." Let's look at dates in August and September."
"Alright. Mom and I will go over our calendars and have some dates for you to look at when you call me tonight."
"That sounds perfect." He kissed her again. "I love you, Jennifer Edwards."
"I love you, Jonathan Hart."
"We are all ready to go, Mr. Hart," Leonard called to him.
Stephen gathered his wife in his arms, and she said, "Tu vas me manquer, mon amour."
"And I will also miss you."
"You are doing a good thing for our Jenny. Merci."
"Yes, this will be good for us. All of us." He kissed her. "Thank you for keeping me in line."
"J'aime ma chérie."
"I love you."
Jonathan turned to face the older gentleman, "Are you ready, Stephen?" He stepped over to Suzanne and hugged her, "I'll have him back soon."
"I believe so, Jonathan." Stephen turned to his daughter, "Jennifer, I will see you when we get back. I promise to keep Jonathan out of trouble."
"Pa!" she laughed at his insinuation. "Both of you hurry back." The two men boarded the plane where Max and Freeway were waiting on them. Leonard shut the doors and began to taxi the aircraft to the runway. When the voice in his ear gave the all-clear, they headed down the strip and were gone, leaving Jennifer and Suzanne watching until the plane was out of sight.
Jennifer sighed. "Well, Momma. I guess we have some things to do."
"Oui, chéri." She opened the passenger door to the Jag. "I know just the shop we need to start in."
"Great! Where are we headed?"