A/N – last night in Texas before the long trip north to home.
Chapter 28
Amy checked her phone when it beeped, "Bert and Meg are coming for a visit Ty."
Ty checked the clock and saw that it was 7:25.
"Any reason ?"
"We're all pretty good friends, family actually and I think Meg wants to see us together and I think Bert knows you're probably freaking out."
"I'm not freaking out."
"Fine, go comb your hair though" she said laughing "as if somehow I would forget biochemistry exams and that hair."
"Ok, Ok, Maybe a little freaking out, I don't see how we can help one of these Amy." He answered.
"Bert might not either Ty, we don't get the easy ones."
"Can I do something to help get ready ?"
"Hair and then put up a pot of coffee and see if we have something to serve. I'll fluff pillows."
Amy did more than that, Ty was shocked when she started up the vacuum.
He watched her as he put homemade cookies from a tin onto a plate and fruit into a bowl.
"Why are you staring at me Ty ?" She asked while pushing a chair back into place.
"You're vacuuming."
"Have you seen housekeepers ? I cleaned our bathroom while you slept Friday morning, I wipe down the kitchen every morning after I have coffee. There's a washer dryer across from the gym and we can stand to strip the bed in the morning. There's a load of towels and your socks, T-shirts and underwear in the dryer. We also need to talk about Georgie and Wyatt. Are you Ok with them in the next bedroom ?"
"And the house ?"
"Really ? Betty and the kids and when I'm there, me too. I'm not interested in entitled children Ty. They're far from stupid and understand that we have money. Taking care of yourself and your things, working for them, is an important lesson to learn. Betty cooks, the girls and Jax help. They care for their horses and have chores. There are people who deal with the tree house and several loft apartments when we need them. Georgie ?"
"I'm fine with them next door. Uh ?"
"Solid core soundproofing if that's your next question." Amy added laughing.
He laughed as well, "no, but it's nice to know. Do we have to change ?"
She was laughing too, "no, house clothes are fine, they really are family Ty, home we change when we want or we're dirty."
"I guess I'll need the whole story about everybody eventually."
"Here's the order, Bryce, Charlie, Bert, Trevor. The last three knew each other, college buddies. The kids came around the time Charlie did. He paid for the first two surgeries and yes he has been repaid. We don't owe people money. We have mortgages and loans for tax and business reasons. They have all been very generous with the Foundation and I wouldn't have argued at all being partners with all or any of them had they asked or agreed to my offers over the years."
The Koenigs arrived at around 8:30 and Amy greeted each with a hug and kiss. Bert shook Ty's hand and Meg gave him a big hug and a kiss.
"Get used to it, I took over Lou's job." Meg said and Ty smiled hugely at her.
"Ty, how are you feeling ?"
"Pretty lost Bert but ready to dive in."
"Let's sit down and talk, grab those files."
"Bert you really don't."
"I do Ty, I need you to sleep tonight and not obsess that you need to prove something or we'll give you the boot. That horse can't be helped, the others can, and we need to focus on those."
"That horse, Tremont."
"8 hours Ty, he stared at that file for 8 hours, if there was a way, any way, Bert would have seen it." Meg said it gently, "he needed you to see it too, even Pegasus is human Ty, there are only so many miracles we're blessed with."
"We'll head out on the patio Bert, you two can take the living room." Amy said grabbing a cup of coffee and then pouring one for Meg. She kissed Ty on the cheek "have fun my love" she whispered and followed Meg towards the patio.
"Oh, Lisa's joining us, apparently Jack's found the fly tying room and is down there with the kids and Betty, she was sitting on the porch."
Amy called out "Ty listen for the door, Meg said Lisa's coming over."
Ty smiled and nodded as he and Bert settled in the chairs by the living room fireplace while Amy and Meg did the same outside on the patio.
"Pretty homey around here these days. Ever moving back ?"
"Betty say something ?"
Meg nodded with a smile "Any idea what you plan on doing ?"
"For now, here for the couple weeks, we'll deal with it for the next trip."
"Amy, if you're a couple then."
"Meg, not now" Amy cut her off. "I need him to leave here without anything to obsess about."
Amy watched Ty greet Lisa with a hug and point to the patio and the coffee then return to Bert. Lisa grabbed coffee.
"He seems steady."
"The outward calm of a duck on the water Meg" Lisa said after the patio door was closed behind her.
"Excuse me ?" Meg asked.
"Calm on top, paddling as hard as he can underneath. I brought muffins by the way."
Amy shot up through the patio door and grabbed the plate from the counter.
"Hungry Amy ?" Meg asked her laughing.
"Actually I am, should we call Trish ?"
"Go ahead, this is our last night for awhile." Meg answered pulling the top off a muffin.
"Why for awhile ?" Lisa asked sipping her coffee.
"Yeah, these next couple weeks are going to be hectic, lot of horses moving, lot of horses to get vetted, bridled, saddled and sorted." Meg explained "it's exhausting."
"She's stopping at Purity on the way." Amy said putting her phone down.
"Remind her to get Bert's Rum Raisin."
"First thing I said Meg."
"Thanks Amy."
Trish got in 15 minutes later, in her pickup, and stopped to kiss and hug Bert and Ty and hand Bert his ice cream.
Amy went out, grabbed bowls and spoons and met Trish with a hug at the patio door.
"He doesn't eat ice cream ?"
"No he doesn't Trish, it's disgusting." Amy said.
"He's not one for sweets at all, muffin every now and then." Lisa added scooping ice cream into a bowl. "me on the other hand…."
Amy turned around and looked at him sitting with Bert and listening, the intensity on his face made her smile.
"Leave him to Bert Amy, this part is out of your hands, Bert will put him at ease."
"I know my part Meg, I can still worry."
"Lisa, Grandpa's Ok with Georgie and Wyatt living together ?"
"Grudgingly."
"They can stay here in the guest house without an issue with him or Lou ?"
"It's your home Amy, he won't say a thing and Lou's fine. Your Dad on the other hand."
"Seriously, that pot seems to love calling every other pot black."
"And that hasn't changed." Lisa added.
"I'm glad Grandpa's fine with Mad. I love you here Lisa but I need you in Hudson when Ty goes back."
"Jack said the same thing about Ty and he seems fine with Maddie. John said he'll watch him on the road looking at properties. I still can't believe that was his suggestion, does he get how much his getaway will run ?"
"Charlie mentioned it in passing, he's set aside a preliminary 2 million, it's Ty, it'll sink in eventually."
"And what about your dad ?"
"I'm not ready for him yet. Lou and Georgie first."
"He knows we're here and Lou won't keep it from him, what's the issue Amy ?"
"The issue Lisa, is that I have never been able to piece his part in the Europe saga together. What was he trying to do ? And then he ran, I needed him and he disappeared, knowing what had happened, he saw and was a part of it, and I'm not setting aside my blame or weakness in it all, but I needed him, he was my father and for the second time in my life, he abandoned me."
"Sweetheart, back then, why didn't you ?"
"I've answered some of Ty's questions about it and I am willing to sit to the family's scrutiny about everything once, the leaving and everything since. Every question until it's done, this Saturday night, right here, everybody but Dad. Trish you'll take the kids please ?"
"Sure, movie night at the garage, we'll set up the big screen and put out the flag."
Amy laughed, movie night was a fun time. "Fine, Ty would love that though, next time."
"I'll be here with Bert."
"It's not necessary Meg."
"It is Amy, it freaks you out and I will check with Ty to make sure you are sleeping and from more than exhaustion."
"It's her or me Amy, one of us will be here and anytime you're ready, John and I will second."
"Enough Trish, both of you, None of this will be settled tonight and I want to go see the kids and say goodnight."
"I'll walk with you" Lisa said standing.
"You need to figure this shit out too Amy, you can't live out here forever."
"Thanks Trish, you'll let me know what to do about this when I get back. I'm sorry" she said it with real contrition as if she'd yelled at her sisters, "I know it's after Saratoga and we've said the important stuff to each other but at least give me the night to regroup."
As they left the house Lisa wrapped her arm around Amy's waist. "Take a breath Amy."
She stopped and let out a shuddering breath. "you really don't want to do this do you ?"
"It has to be done, people need to hear it Lisa, I just thought I had more time, which is funny actually considering but it's now."
"Who'll take it the worst."
"Your husband."
"Jack ?"
"I didn't see an end Lisa, it was beyond uncomfortable with me wearing his ring and being, what's a good word, ignored, part of the town gossip mill, I actually stopped going to Maggie's. He had Hudson and I needed Heartland, I saw the only option as Grandpa having to choose, Ty or me, I couldn't let him do that. I couldn't hurt him like that. I was weak and this is the price I paid."
"Weak ?"
"I should have stopped it, confronted Ahmed, told him he had no right and demanded an apology. I should have stood my ground. Instead I let myself get railroaded into a ride with him, railroaded by my dad and then I let Ty railroad that dinner into his confrontation and my father damn him, what was he thinking, Lou, Georgie and then they turned their backs on me and I, I felt ashamed for doing what I thought best. I became this pitiable creature."
"You do have this bad don't you, seems Trish and Meg have been there for you, it's nice to know."
"We have been through so much together in the last 6 or 7 years. The personal and health issues, barreling ahead with Pegasus. 40 centers in 5 years, we're only just breathing now."
"Where did the money to start this come from Amy, you said you spent almost everything on this property ?" They had started walking again.
"Charlie and Trudy, loans, donations, I told Ty and you can tell Grandpa but I'd rather it not spread. The Rogers paid for the first surgeries. Co-signed operating loans, mortgages, found money, donors and clients."
"Charlie ?"
"You should get this, the significance was lost on Ty, Robert Charles Rogers IV, Ex Chairman and CEO of Rogers Equity and Venture Capital Corporation."
"Seriously, wow, I should have recognized him, I still remember him walking out of that Congressional meeting after dressing them down, that was big news even in Alberta."
"He came home to Ithaca as promised, to his wife and youngest son and we met. They introduced me to Trev and Bert. They listened to me."
"I met his son, Down's Syndrome, nice young man."
Robert Charles Rogers IV, was 53 years old. He began his career with a small well situated and growing firm on Wall Street and then after a good run as an analyst started his own company. He started young, in his late 20's and he was good, very good. His specialty was in interpreting tax law and using it. Over the next 10 or so years, he guided his clients through series upon series of investments, shelters and gains using the existing tax laws to maximize returns and minimize loss until one day, a long time Senator from New York sought to win votes by standing on the senate floor and calling him and his clients out for "not paying their fair share."
Charlie responded the next morning with a full page ad in bold type and in 12 major newspapers, "I'm right here Senator, Come get me."
The people were justifiably outraged at the challenge and Charlie went to war with the IRS, SEC and the US Justice department. It lasted 8 years.
It was a cold, blustery and rainy day in Washington when Charlie walked in to the US Senate Finance Committee hearing on "Charlie and his gang" as they were referred to in the media. He came alone and sat by himself in front of a microphone surrounded by the empty chairs he refused to fill. He didn't need them and the statement made by his facing the panel alone made for quite the scene being broadcast. The long standing senior Senator from New York went on and on leading to his first question which ended simply "So Mr. Rogers, can you answer how you can pay less in payroll taxes than my secretary ?"
"Of course Senator, that's easy, it's because I don't get a salary. No salary, no payroll taxes. Of course that's not really your question is it, that's just bluster for the masses. Your real question is how can I and my clients make millions, hell, billions and pay so little, we both know the answer, but you won't ask that question because you're scared of the truth and you know that telling the people the truth shows them the depth of your incompetence as a legislator."
"I beg your pardon." The senator snapped back.
"That's a first, You don't have to beg, I pardon you, do better next time though." The crowd laughed "Want to ask the question ?"
"Fine, how is it that you pay so little Mr. Rogers."
"I follow the law to the letter Senator, laws passed by this body and it's predecessors, many of them by you. I have been accused of breaking the law and have been found innocent time and again, no penalties, no indictments and last I checked all my SEC licenses are still intact. I cut no deals, accepted no pleas bargains and you've got nothing Senator but this subpoena, so that you can ignore the past 8 years and accuse me again in public. I spent 200 million dollars of my own money defending myself from your wasteful search, the government's butcher bill almost topped a billion didn't it Senator ? All to find out that you write bad laws and then blame the honest people who follow them to the letter for your stupid mistakes. You're profoundly unqualified to the task and just don't get it. By the way, I don't just make money for the rich, there are millions of people invested in my company, labor union funds, retirement funds and simple everyday folks. Well, I've said my piece, this letter is my resignation, I'm tired and I'm going home." And with that Charlie stood up, lay the letter on the desk and walked out.
"You're in breach of your subpoena" the Senator shouted.
Charlie turned and with cameras snapping and news agencies broadcasting live, called back "I'll be in Ithaca Senator, Come get me."
Amy continued up the porch and into the house. "When we started I put up flyers and visited with several help groups and offered a chance to try some horse therapy. Charlie and Trudy came by to see if we could help Chuck by connecting with a horse and the rest is history. Chuck blossomed, Bryce took him on. We became quick friends, Chuck did well with the kids, we spent a lot of time together talking. Trudy, Charlie's wife took ill and we were there to help whenever we could. Meg and Trudy were friends through Bert and Charlie and we just bonded. Trudy's cancer, Chuck's Down syndrome, the girls rehab, JT and this problems. Trish was JT's nurse up here in Ithaca for the first surgeries. Then John's accident where they discovered just how sick his body was. Him and JT and the girls connected. We are just one big family brought together by need and hugs."
"Seems it works."
"I could never have done any of this without their support, I still can't. Bert's been on me for a while now to find a successor and he's been on board with Ty since I first mentioned him and he looked into Ty's background and spoke with Scott. Thanks for screwing up the timeline by the way, the other options would have been way more weird. This is more to my liking."
"What was the other option ?"
"Several scenarios, one plan was to head hunt him once the surgery building was complete. Bert and Charlie would have gone up to offer him a year under Bert's tutelage at Pegasus. We would have said that he was nominated by Scott who would have insisted he take the position."
"Who wouldn't in Ty's position ?"
"I would have met him after he toured the facility and well, we would have seen from there. Somewhat dishonest."
"There was a second which would have me going up with Bert and then just be there, and a third and fourth option, none better and equally shocking."
"And now ?"
"He came to me Lisa, because he loves me, he never stopped."
"Trish wants you to confront Ahmed, like Brin."
Amy nodded and sighed and headed down the stairs to the expansive basement. They found JT reading to Betty and the girls showing Jack their tying set ups.
Lisa smiled as all three got up to hug and kiss both her and Amy when they got downstairs.
"We just came for goodnight kisses." Amy said.
"JT's all ready, early start planned. Ty with Bert ?"
"He is Betty, he'll be fine, what time Jackson ?"
"uhmmmm. 6 ?"
Amy scrunched her face up a bit.
"7 ?"
"I'll have him ready."
"Come on Grand Mere, you can see my room."
"I'd love to Jack, lead the way."
"Say good night to Dr. Borden for me."
"I will sweetheart, good night."
"Night mom."
"Not too late girls, we need to conserve our energy for what's coming."
"Almost ready Mom, just want to get GG set up."
"Ok, see you all in the morning. I have 6 adoptions tomorrow by the way."
"I love those." Charlotte said with a big smile.
"Check the schedule then, night girls, Grandpa."
She met Lisa coming down the stairs from Jackson's room and walked out onto the porch.
"His room is gorgeous and that view. It's a wonder he just doesn't live up there and never see the light of day or at least in that family room in the basement."
"They're in a lot more in the winter, none of them miss the inside when it warms up, horses, fishing, the preserve, they love being active. The plan for next year is an indoor arena and rehab center with 72 stalls for other than thoroughbreds, probably mostly jumpers, a water facility and stables for outside competitions, maybe a schooling show."
"Sounds nice but your three don't seem the winter shy bunch, no fat kids on a ranch either way."
"That's for sure."
Bert called it quits at 11:00 "You're fishing in the morning with Jax, that's important, get some rest and don't stress, you've done well Ty and that's coming from me."
"Thanks Bert, I'll try to live up to your expectations."
"You already have Ty, live up to that boy's expectations."
"Let us know if you need help this week Amy, we'll pick the kids up at 10:00 tomorrow. Have fun fishing Ty."
"Night Trish" they said and then the same to Bert, Meg and Lisa.
After straightening up they settled in bed, Amy laying as always, her head on his chest snuggled close."
"Kind of quiet Ty."
"It's almost scary how he thinks, he keeps saying things like I can see it now, can he actually see a surgery in his head ?"
"I stopped trying to peek into Bert's head a long time ago Ty."
"I can imagine but he did calm me down and he is an amazing teacher."
"So, not ready to back out yet because these moments are tempered by reality around here. Taking in 36 rescues isn't easy."
"I can't wait Ames, being here has been amazing but I don't think it gave me any idea of what people say is coming. Bert said the last Bangerang came with 4 colic surgeries in the first 72 hours."
"And the rescues we plan for can change drastically, we take the worst available. We'll leave those who are on their way to recovery for others that are truly suffering. Sandy and Bert make the final calls. Once that's done while those chutes are going up we'll pull the red files, the worst we know of and get ready for them."
"Let's sleep Ty, JT will be at the door at 7:00 sharp."
"I love you Amy."
"I love you too Ty."