Chapter 17

Josh was right, Bob Wells and his lawyers canceled and rescheduled their appointment three more times. Finally Chris had stepped in and told them with the coming holiday, if they didn't want to settle then he would make sure Mr. Wells spent Thanksgiving in jail. So the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, we gathered into the conference room. We waited about twenty minutes before they finally walked in, we shook their hands even though we were all annoyed. Bob wells wasn't anything like I thought he would be, he was an older gentlemen with striking green eyes and greying dark hair. He was clearly getting botox amongst other injections I was guessing, by his wrinkle less skin and big lips. He was very tan, maybe a fake bake, his eye brows perfectly manicured. He was in a three piece blue power suit, clearly not hiding the fact that he has money. His lawyer on the other hand Markus Gallen, was a chubby mess of a man, a great lawyer, but a mess of a person. His appearance was completely disheveled per his usual, we have faced him a few times in court. "Mr. Brooks, I've looked over your clients requests, and I don't think we can settle," Markus spoke first. "Then why are we here?" Chris asked. "My client doesn't want to spend Thanksgiving in jail," Markus replied. "All our clients are asking for is the money back and Mr. Wells saying he took it. They just want their reputation back," Josh stated. "Then why do they need the money?" Mr. Wells spoke up. Josh blinked a few times before leaning forward folding his hands on the table, "Running a hospital takes money, patient care takes money, having reliable equipment so the best doctors and nurses can do their jobs takes money, you took that money Mr. Wells," Josh explained very calmly. "We didn't come here for accusations," Markus interjected. "Then you tell us, what's your client willing to settle on?" Chris asked. "We'd be will in agree to partial payment, to help the hospital out of the goodness of his heart. No admission of guilt cause there isn't any," Markus replied. "No," Josh stated. "Mr. Brooks, we could drag this out and any money they possibly receive will end up in your pocket," Markus explained. "We want the admission, it's vital to getting the hospitals reputation back," Josh explained. Markus and Bob whispered to each other, "We might be open to an admission, in exchange for a lower payment," Markus countered. "How much lower?" Chris asked cooly. "Five hundred thousand," Markus said. "No," Josh replied shaking his head. "You're already getting the admission," Bob seethed. "Mr. Wells, that's maybe a quarter of the money you took. If we take you to court and the judge sides with us, you will pay more than what we request and you'll go to prison," Josh laid it all out there. Bob Wells didn't even flinch, "I suppose I could sell off some assets," he whispered. "One point five million," Markus said a little nervous. "Two," Chris countered. Bob Wells was very fluster, fidgeting in his chair. "Have the offer sent to my office," Markus stated angry. "Why wait, I have it right here," Josh said as I passed the paper to him. Markus and Bob looked at each other, "Just wanted to expedite this, so everyone has a great holiday," Josh told them smugly.

I headed back to my office to finish up a few things before heading home. The next day I was heading to Ohio to spend Thanksgiving with my parents, my sister and her fiancee. I was actually excited to see my family, after all the craziness within the last year I was happy to head home to normalcy. I went home and packed a bag, I would be coming home Saturday. When my flight arrived in Ohio my mom was there to pick me up. I had forgotten how much a mother's hug really puts you back together. I felt like a little girl again, mom was there to chase away the monsters and kiss away the booboos again. I felt like I could breath easier, which I hadn't felt sense the spa. "I've missed you so much, Whit," she said giving me a squeeze before releasing me. "I've missed you to," I replied. I didn't check a bag, so we headed to the car. I finally broke and told her on the ride home about Caleb's girlfriend, I had explained a little about the law suit, but not everything. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?" She asked. "I felt ashamed, I didn't know he was carrying on an affair for three years," I told her. "You have nothing to be ashamed of," she assured. "It hurts, his kid with her is a live and celebrating birthdays and mine isn't," I confessed. "Oh honey," she said reaching over and squeezing my hand. I stared out the window as we rolled down the street to my parents house. It was an American farmhouse style, my dad had done a lot of restoring since buying it from my grandparents. They tried not to completely update it to modern look, but improve the existing. It always felt comforting and warm. "We're home," my mom called. My dad was sitting in the living room with my sister and her fiancee, I came around the corner and we all hugged. Willow introduced me to her fiancee, Peter Banion, he was an architect. "Have you set an official date?" I asked as we sat. "I'm thinking September something," she answered. "You don't want a spring wedding?" My mom asked. "No, I think spring is really over done," Willow replied. "A winter wedding would be pretty too," I offered. "Maybe for your next wedding," my sister shot back. I laughed, "Dating someone?" My father asked nervous he had missed out on something. "No dad I'm not," I assured him. The phone rang and my mom went to get it, "How's work?" My dad asked. "Great, we just settled a case in favor of our client," I told him proud. "Good," he praised. "I've gotta go back to the store, Jeanie just called, she can't make the green bean casserole," my mom explained. My aunt Jeanie was always doing that, every holiday she would offer to make something and then call last minute and say she couldn't make it. "We'll go," Willow offered. "Ok, let me get you a list," my mom told them. "I'm gonna take my bag to my room," I said and headed up the stairs.

My room hadn't changed since I had left for college. Posters and pictures of me and my sister and our friends were all over the walls. My desk was cleaner than it use to be, but that was because when I left I took most of it with me. I smiled at all the memories this room held, the secrets these wall heard, the sleepovers I had. Getting ready for prom in this room was probably my favorite memory, my mom helping me and my sister, doing our hair and make up, getting us in our dresses. I realized living in Chicago, Caleb never wanted to come to Ohio. He didn't like doing stuff with my family, unless they were willing to come to Chicago. I alway bought their ticket but he would never come back to Ohio. All the holidays I had missed with my extended family, because he didn't like small towns. It was another realization of my marriage slapping me. I had forfeited the last five years of holidays with my family, we came back one time when Greer was little, just to show her off, but that was it. I was determined not to miss anymore. I went downstairs and asked my mom if there was anything I could do to help with the dinner for tomorrow. She was making rolls from scratch and asked if I could get the pumpkin pie started. She had pureed her own pumpkin as she usually did, so I pulled it from the fridge and put it in the mixer. I worked around her putting in all the other ingredients, as we chatted and laughed about past holidays, while I was growing up. Willow and Peter showed back up and she started putting the casserole together so in the morning she could pop it in the oven. "Uncle Bill is bringing the turkey and Uncle Frank is bringing the ham," my mom said. "Is that going to be enough?" I asked. "No probably not, we have a turkey to cook and I think Aunt Kelsey is doing another ham," she answered. The guys in the family always thought they had enough, that's when the women of the family stepped in and added extra. We ate dinner and played a couple rounds of Uno attack, because it was so funny when it spit cards out at my dad. We finally headed up to bed, I put on my pajamas and starred out the window at the dusting of snow. It wasn't much and it probably wouldn't stick around, but it was nice to sit and look at. Very peaceful and calming, before bed. I began to wonder if there was snow in Seattle right now. Was Jack even in Seattle? I needed to go to sleep before my mind got to deep in the rabbit hole.

The next day, you could feel all the excitement in the air. My mom was up at four in the morning to get the turkey started, per her usual. When we decided to get up she had a full breakfast waiting for us, I felt like this trip was wrapping me in a hug, that I didn't know I needed. I sat there wrapped in a blanket still in my pajamas, hair in a bun that was half falling off my head, eating my eggs and bacon, appreciating the comfort of home and wondering if maybe moving home was a good idea. "I'm gonna take a shower," my sister stated. "Not if I get there first," I said and ran up the stairs. "Real mature, Whitney," she called. I kept my shower short knowing everyone else behind me still had to go, I put on a dark green off the shoulder sweater, black fitted pants and curled my hair. I went back down to help my mom get the house put back in order, before our relatives started showing up. My dad and Peter were pulling out the extra card tables and chairs from the barn/my dad's shop. People started showing up at two, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins galore. The house was a buzz with reminiscing and telling of what's been going on in everyones life now. My cousin Sadie had a new baby, I got to rock her to sleep for a nap. It was nice to hold a baby again, just to cuddle, pat their back as they lull off to sleep. Everyone was asking Willow about her up coming wedding, the men were talking about how my uncle deep fried his turkey this year. I sat there rocking baby Hannah, I felt sad, that I didn't fight for Greer to have this. She didn't get to enjoy running through the house with all her little cousins, she didn't get passed around, except that one time. I started to wonder maybe I had pushed being with my family harder, Caleb wouldn't have cheated on me. Maybe if he had been surrounded like this, with love, he wouldn't have felt the need to seek it else where. "Do you need a break?" My cousin Lela asked. "If you must," I joked carefully passing Hannah to her. "I'm glad you came this year," she said sitting in the rocking chair. "Me too," I smiled. "We've missed you," she told me reaching her free hand to me. I grabbed it and squeezed, "I didn't realize it till yesterday , but I did too," I told her trying to keep the tears back.