CHAPTER SIX
"What’s the surprise Uncle Andrew?” Janie asked for the tenth time that morning.
“If I told you it wouldn’t be a surprise.” Andrew stretched his arms over his head and adjusted his position on the recliner. It had been more than three days since his accident and already he was feeling much better. And to top it all off, it was an absolutely beautiful day.
The sun was shining, the flowers were starting to bloom and in the distance the voices of playing children could be heard over the crashing of the surf. This is the life; Andrew closed his eyes contentedly. Illinois would be knee deep in snow right now, or in the middle of Tornado warnings. The thought made him cringe.
For a man who never took a vacation he was having no trouble making the most of his time with his family. For the first time in his life he was not looking forward to going back to work. Although he was beginning to feel that familiar twinge that always told him he’d been in one place for too long.
Travel was so much in his blood now that he had a hard time staying still for any length of time anymore. When Kevin returned at the end of the week he’d head off to some exotic location for a real holiday, although the invitation from a friend of his to use his home just outside of Whistler was also sounding pretty good.
His thoughts drifted to a subject that was never far from his subconscious: Work. He knew his co-workers at the offices of International Construction Equipment Co. considered him the worst of all the workaholics. And it was probably true. But that fact was also the reason he had been offered the incredible promotion that waited for him when he returned to the States. The other of course was the fantastic results of the latest sales effort he had been instrumental in organizing.
He had been the first Vice President of Marketing to increase market share to such an extent. An increase in three divisions of 22% combined for the quarter was unprecedented, at least in recent history, and was a feat that had not been overlooked by his superiors. It had earned him an offer to be the next president of the small lawn and garden segment of the company when the present one retired in the next year, as well as this month long holiday. He had been adamant that he needed the time to decompress and really give the option all the thought it would need. Not that he had stopped working completely, or even could. Smart phones made it way too easy to keep in touch instantly, anywhere, and he was finding himself drawn back in to the day to day problems at the firm more and more as each day passed. He wasn't sure how he felt about it.
The presidency was a great opportunity, and it meant a move to the sunny warmth of Atlanta which he was all for, but for some reason he was hesitant to leap at it. Not that it wasn’t an incredible coup to be offered a presidency at 34 but…He enjoyed a challenge and the lawn and garden segment was well established, and doing extremely well in terms of market share already. Where was the challenge in running it?
He leaned back further in his chair and sighed. He used to be so sure of his career goals, had it all mapped out. Corner office by the age of 35, and now that this goal was within his grasp he wasn't as convinced that it was the right move for him after all. He needed a challenge, excitement, continual movement, and he was afraid the presidency he had been offered would smother him.
Andrew sighed again and stretched, enjoying the sun on his face. He had made the right choice in deciding to come here for at least part of his month long holiday. Angela’s call, just as he was debating the pros and cons of different locations, had determined his destination for at least half the duration and had offered him an opportunity to spend some real time with his only sister and her family. Something he had sadly neglected in the last few years.
A huge splash as Paula leapt into the heated swimming pool woke him from his reverie. He opened his eyes. Only in Vancouver could you be skiing on the weekend, and then hopping into a heated swimming pool a few days later. Granted it was too cold to lie around in a bathing suit, but the heat of the sun was relaxing and the temperature of the pool made the cold dash from the house almost worth it. Not that Andrew was planning on doing any swimming, himself. The kids on the other hand barely felt the cold. Or at lease Paula barely felt it. Janie was still bundled up in a fleece sweater.
Janie was still standing over his chair waiting for more information. Tenacious little devil. Andrew smiled. “I’m still not going to tell you so you may as well go swim or something. You’ll find out after lunch. Now shoo.” He made a shooing gesture with his hand.
“You’re a big meany, Uncle Andrew!” He knew Janie didn’t mean it. It was just her way of trying to make him feel guilty about not telling her anything.
“You think that’s mean?” Andrews’s eyes sparkled. “Well what do you think of this?” For a man with a broken rib he was surprisingly quick. Before Janie had a chance to react Andrew had risen from his lounger, grabbed her around the waist and hung her upside down above the deep end of the pool. “Now promise you won’t ask again.”
“No, Uncle Andrew! It’s too cold!” Janie protested, squirming while she fought gravity to keep her sundress from hanging down over her head and showing off her underwear to anyone close enough to look.
“Your sister is swimming.” Came his reasonable answer, Her slight weight wasn’t enough to even wind him as she struggled like a little eel. He lowered her closer to the water.
“So? She’s young and stupid.” Her voice was an octave higher than normal.
Paula’s yelp of protest went ignored.
“I don’t have a bathing suit on and I just did my hair!” Janie was struggling in earnest now. “I’m sorry; I promise I won’t ask again!” She wailed in surrender.
Andrew swung her back over dry land and gently placed her on the flagstone patio.
Janie smoothed her sundress, pulled her sweater back down over her hips and tried to look mature and unruffled.
Angela chose that moment to open the sliding patio doors leading from the basement rec. room. “Are you teasing my daughters Andrew?” She laughed at him.
“Mommy, Mommy, he was going to throw me in!” Janie ran to her mother’s side. “Just because I want to know what his surprise is for us this afternoon.” All pretence of maturity had vanished; she became the wronged little girl, clinging to her mother for support.
“Well, honey, it wouldn’t be a surprise then would it?” Angela answered evenly.
“You too, Mom?” Her look was incredulous. “Grownups!” She stalked into the house in outrage.
“Lunch is ready so don’t go far.” Angela cautioned. Turning back toward the pool, she called to her other daughter. “Paula, get out and get dry sweetie, lunch is ready.
“You too Mean Uncle Andrew.” She laughed at him. “What have you got planned?” Her curiosity got the better of her.
“Now, if I told you it wouldn’t be a secret, would it?” He gave her a Cheshire cat grin.
Angela just smiled and rolled her eyes.
Her expression turned to one of concern. “I hope you’re not doing too much; just three days ago you were flat on your back with a sprained knee and a broken rib.”
“I’m fine Ange, don’t worry. And the surprise isn’t something that will make me any worse.”
Giving his sister a reassuring pat on the shoulder, he picked up the newspaper he had been reading and, limping only slightly, walked towards the house. He glanced down at the face of the woman smiling up at him from the entertainment section and a small grin dimpled his cheek. He hadn’t really been looking; she’d just fallen into his lap. Even he wasn’t enough of a cynic to just ignore something handed to him on a silver platter.