Another Man's Treasure (16 page)

“I love you too Jude, so much.  You make me feel safe and on the edge all at the same time.  I love how you make me laugh even when I don’t want to.  You make me feel beautiful and desired. Can you stay until I fall asleep?” 

“Sure baby, of course.”

Miranda moved off Jude and snuggled close with her head on his chest.  Jude hummed a tune as Miranda drifted off, cuddled up to this gorgeous man who loved her.  Jude held her with his arms wrapped around her tightly.  This feisty, redheaded vixen loved him.  The feeling was so mutual, it almost hurt, but it was a hurt he would endure gladly. 

When Jude was sure Miranda was asleep, he gently slipped his arm out from under her and she rolled over away from him.  He covered her up, gently kissed her cheek and left quiv>anWhen Jude ietly.  Before he left, Jude wrote a note and placed it near the coffee maker. 

             
Good Morning Beautiful…I took the tapes and will lock them up in a safe               place.  I don’t want you watching them alone.  I love you Baby…See you               tonight. ~Jude

                                                        ****************

Promptly at 11:00am, Jude walked into the board room. Craig Johansson sat at the head of the table. The rest of the acquisition team was missing.

“Jude, come in, come in. Take a seat.” 

Jude shook Craig’s hand firmly. “Craig, I am a bit confused.  Where is the acquisition team?”

“There is no team, Jude.  It was all a ruse, or to say, my idea of a joke.  By the look on your face, maybe not a good one, but hear me out before you blow a gasket.  Take a seat
, my boy.”  Craig motioned to a chair and Jude sat reluctantly.

“A ruse, Craig?  What the fuck is going on?”  Jude tried to control his temper, but it just wasn’t a good thing for anyone to lie to him or fuck with him, even if it was the corporate boss.

“Now settle down, Jude, and just listen.  The proposal I gave you is legit. I just tweaked it a little after I spoke to the board.  The firm is expanding, just not as far as the West Coast.  We offered a buy-out to a firm in Florida with a client base over $10,000,000.00.”

“Jesus, Craig, $10mil? Holy shit, that’s great! This affects me how?”

“Easy…we want to relocate you to Florida as President of the branch office.  Corporate will buy your house at fair market value, and will move you, all expenses paid.  Along with the promotion you will get a vehicle, expense account - the works.”

“Whoa…wait…sell my house? No, not an option.  That house has been
in the Delaney family over 200 years.  There is no way I will ever sell my Grandpa’s house.  If I turn this down, I still have my job, correct?” 

Craig laughed and slapped Jude on the shoulder.

“Jude, I knew your Granddad for many years. I even did a little business with him.  He was a good, honest man that held family above all else - a man with integrity. I can see he raised you right!  I told the board you would turn this offer down flat.”

“Where does this leave me, Craig?
Bottizeurn thisom line, no bullshit.”

“It leaves you with the counteroffer I proposed to the board.  You stay in Willow as a full partner.  But, no corporate vehicle - you live 15 minutes away, for christsakes!”  Craig smiled when Jude’s jaw fell open.

“Are you serious? No corporate car? Then you buy my gas!  Seriously, Craig, thank you for this opportunity and your confidence in me.”

Craig slapped the table and roared with laughter.  He stood up and shook Jude’s hand heartily. 

“Jude, welcome aboard son.  Your Grandpa would be proud.  Now get back to work, or you’re fired.” 

Craig left the board room and hesitated for a second or two outside the door. He heard Jude’s resounding ‘whoop’ and walked to his office with a smile.  Jude was an asset to the company and he just sealed the deal.

                                       ****************

Miranda sipped her coffee and smiled at the note Jude had left on the coffee maker.  She called Mrs. Hedley, who insisted Miranda come for lunch around 1pm.

“Frannie will be here too, dear. She is working only half a day today.  The two of you can catch up on old times and I will cook for you both.”

“You don’t have to do that
, Mrs. Hedley. I would be glad to take you both to lunch, my treat.”

“Nonsense!  It will be my pleasure and I won’t take no for an answer.  I already called Frannie and made the arrangements.  All you have to do is show up and giggle.” 

Miranda knew Mrs. Hedley was right. “You got it, Mama H! Can I bring anything but giggles?”

“Funny girl…just bring me your smile and leave the rest up to me.  Bye bye
, dear.”  Mrs. Hedley hung up and left Miranda with dead air on the line as she shook her head.

“Oh Mrs. H…you always get the last word.”  Miranda hung up and decided to check her email and unpack a bit before lunch and giggles.

************

Francine Hedley and Miranda were lifelong friends.  They met in grade school and had bonded immediately.  They were completely opposite in looks but exactly the
same in every other way.  They had been inseparable. The Jones’ and Hedley’s often joked about living together to save on the girls’ running shoes.  After Miranda lost her parents, the Hedley’s became like adopted parents.  It was at the Hedley’s where Miranda first met Jude.  Little did Miranda know, but that was the day Jude tohe dley’ld his Grandma he had met the girl he would marry.

                                                                      **********

Miranda and Frannie lay in the backyard in their bikinis soaking up some sun and giggling over school day events. A knock at the front door made Frannie sit up and yell to her mother.

“Mum, you want us to get that?”

“No, Francine, I am right here. I’ll get it.”

Mrs. Hedley answered the front door to
find the Delaney boy holding a bag full of dishes.

“Mrs. Hedley, Grandma sent me over to return these to you
and thank you for your help the other night.” Jude flashed a smile. What a charming boy, she thought to herself.

“Jude, come in sweetheart
.  Can I get you something to eat?”

“No thank you
, Ma’am.  Grandma has supper in the oven.  I thought I would return these to you first.”

“Well, you come into the kitchen with me and I will send you
home with a blueberry pie for your dessert. You know I won’t take no for an answer, so don’t argue.”

“
Yes Mrs. Hedley, I know and thank you.  Don’t tell Grandma, but you make better pie crust than she does.”  Jude winked.

“Jude Delaney!  If you want chocolate chip cookies for the
run home, just say so.  You don’t have to butter me up.” 

Jude started to laugh as M
rs. Hedley shook her finger at him.

“Can’t fool you, Mrs. H.  Maybe just a couple to keep my
energy up, hmmm?”

“Oh you wicked boy!
  Come on; let’s not keep your Grandma waiting.”

Jude followed her into the kitchen and waited politely by the back door.  He glanced outside and couldn’t believe his eyes.  There was Frannie and the red headed girl she was so chummy with - in bikinis.  S
he was completely mesmerizing, with a beautiful figure and that red hair. Dear God, he was dumbstruck.

“Sweet Jesus…” Jude mumbled under his breath.

“Jude, did you say something?”

“Ummm, no Mrs. Hedley, just talkin’ to myself.”  Jude shook
his head and turned back to her.

“Well, here is the pie and some cookies for the run home.  Now, scoot before I change my mind about those cookies!”

Jude leaned over and gave Mrs. Hedley a quick kiss on the cheek and winked at her.  She couldn’t help but smile at Jude.  June Delaney did a good job raising the boy, even with his rough beginning.

“Stop that Jude, you’ll make me blush!” she exclaimed. 

Jude stopped at the front door turned quickly and smiled at Mrs. Hedley.

“I know! Bye
, Mrs. H.”

Jude started towards home with a single thought. He was going to ask Grandma about the beautiful redhead.

Miranda noticed Jude at the backdoor staring at her.  She elbowed Frannie.

“Francine, who is THAT?” 

Frannie looked up, waved quickly, and put her head back down.

“That’s Jude Delaney.  He lives with his Grandma and Grandpa over at the farm near Joshua’s Pond.”  Francine raised her eyebrow and grinned at Miranda. “He’s pretty cute, huh?”

“Oh yeah, he’s cute all right.”  Miranda wiggled her eyebrows at Frannie and they both broke out in giggles.              Mrs. Hedley stood at the kitchen sink and shook her head .The giggling was about to start and it was like music to her ears.

************

The memory brought a smile to Miranda’s face.  Who would have thought that a school crush would turn into the love of her life? 
Classic movie of the week!
The thought made her laugh.  The phone ringing brought Miranda back to the present. It was Jude and he sounded flustered.

“Hello, Jude
, how is your day going?”

“Miranda, baby, you won’t believe it!  What time are you going to the
Hedley’s?”

“About 1:00, why?”

“No probs, baby. I have to work a bit late. Do you want to meet me at the house about 7:00?  I have some news I want to share. 7:00, don’t be late, wear something sexy.”  Jude hung up the phone before Miranda could get a word in edgewise.