Family Deceit

Jillian sat across from Alex Hale’s desk in his windowless, shoebox office. He was remarkably youthful for a man who had just turned fifty. He had started a business doing taxes and consulting two years earlier, and although the clientele wasn’t large in numbers, he was still successful. Their meetings related to Jillian’s rapidly growing private-pay, homecare business, and this visit was to complete the year-end corporate taxes.

“Now that we’ve gotten the taxes out of the way for this quarter, I’ve thought of some ideas for your business that you might be interested in,” Alex told her.

“Oh...what are they?”  

“Well, could we make an evening of it and have dinner together, say tomorrow night?”

“Sure, that’d be nice.” Jillian said, surprised that Alex had asked her out. “What time?”

“How ‘bout seven-thirty?”

“Sounds good to me. Thanks.”

Driving home, Jillian wondered if she’d done the wise thing in accepting Alex’s invitation. She hadn’t been on a date in over five years and began to worry if she would be a boring conversationalist. Another potential problem was forming in her mind. What she should wear. Alex hadn’t said where they were going. Maybe Molly could help her out. Molly was Jillian’s fifteen year-old daughter. Jillian and her former husband Ralph suffered a wait of nearly twenty years after the birth of their first child Jacob to be blessed with another child. Molly was born two and a half months premature, but she showed no signs of lagging behind. She appeared delicate as she grew into adolescence, but it was her pale, almost translucent skin that made her appear that way now. She was slender but graceful and just slightly shorter than her mother. Her fine hair varied in color, from a shiny ashen brown to blonde, depending on the light. Her features were small and her eyes were as green as the Caribbean. Her clothes were always neat, and she usually dressed in a high-necked blouse and Capri pants.

“Molly!” Jillian called as she opened the front door. “Guess what?  Alex asked me out to dinner tomorrow night. He says he has some ideas for my business.”

“Where’s he taking you?”  Molly asked.

     “What?  Honey, please turn down that radio and come talk to me. I need your help,” Jillian shouted.

She walked into the family room, which had been her first office at one time. With its big brick fireplace and wall-to-wall hearth, it had once again become the family gathering place. It’s been so comfortable here, Jillian reflected, and I’ve been peaceful, knowing I was building our future without being in partnership with Beth. It was a struggle for Jillian, but it was paying off. Molly came into the room just as Jillian sat on the couch.

“Where’s Alex taking you, Mom?”

“I forgot to ask him,” Jillian said, laughing. “I do need your help though. Should I wear my yellow dress and the drop pearl necklace you gave me last Christmas or the black skirt with a white blouse?” 

“The yellow dress. I think you look nice in it. You can borrow the gold bracelet Aaron gave me if you want.”

“You mean it? You don’t mind me wearing something Aaron gave you?”

“Of course not and neither would he,” Molly answered. Aaron was Molly’s boyfriend. He was a handsome young man with light brown hair, blue eyes, and a slim build. His smile was radiant, and he smiled often. Also very important to her was that Aaron got along so well with Molly’s older brother Jacob.

“You know it’s been so long since your dad and I were together. I hardly know how to act with a man. I hope I won’t be boring,” Jillian said.

“Oh, Mother, you’ll be just fine! Besides, didn’t you say Alex wanted to talk to you about some ideas he has for the business?” Molly asked. “You’ll have plenty to talk about.