The Wrong Side of Midnight (19 page)

He stepped out of the bathroom and shook his hand. "Have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Actually I came to discuss something with the two of you. I'm retiring, and Chloe is the only heir to Burlington Enterprises. She could sell her shares if she wanted, or I could take you, Matthew, and train you to fill my shoes. There's a great staff in place so you wouldn't have to worry about much. I know you must be thinking you'd have to travel, but
the project in Africa, even though it was a great thing, tore my family a part. You wouldn't have to go anyplace, really. There're plenty of people who could do the traveling for you. I'm done with it. I want to spend the rest of my days growing old with my wife and enjoying my daughter and grandchildren, if you two ever decide to grow your family. It'll be a lot of work, but I promise to train you well. You won't have to live at work the way I did."

"Wow, this is a lot to digest. I'll need some time to think about it and discuss it with Chloe."

"Take all the time you need, Matthew. With this company, you and your family, including your father, will never have to want for
anything. Sylvia's waiting for me to go to the movies, so I'll take off. Stop by the house tomorrow evening for dinner if you'd like." As he left, he smiled brightly.

"Matthew, this is a great opportunity for you. I think you should take him up on his offer."

"I have my father's roofing business to run. I can't let that fall apart; it's the only accomplishment in his life, other than me, that he's proud of."

"Then I think you should talk to your dad and get his input."

∞  ∞  ∞  ∞

The following morning, Matthew sat with his father at the kitchen table.

"Sell the business, son. It's been nothing but a thorn in your side since I got sick, and I really didn't do that great of a job setting the blasted thing up to begin with. There were things I wanted to do and felt I had plenty of time, but I didn't."

"I can't sell your business."

"Look, you're young, you just got married, and I'm hoping you'll have children soon. Having a seasonal job that keeps you working late hours, seven days a week, isn't what you need. You're not even able to make much money at it. We don't have the fancy equipment to speed things up, and hell, none of the guys
who ever work for us are going to make enough money to support their family year round. I don't expect you to end up stuck in a failing business. Sell it."

"If I take this opportunity to run Burlington Enterprises, I won't have time to do roofing. So what am I supposed to do?"

"Then
give
the dang thing away! Stop worrying yourself about me and the roofing company. You've wasted so many years trying to make ends meet, and look where it's gotten you. You missed the years to go to school, not that I could have afforded to send you in the first place, but I would have killed myself trying. This is a lifetime opportunity. If you don't take it, I’ll be really angry, and I
know how much you hate that."

"What if I give it to John?" He's worked hard for us ever since he was sixteen."

"That'd be just fine. John's like a son to me, and growing up, you two boys were inseparable. Does he have a truck he can get his hands on? He'll need one to haul supplies around."

"I think so…"

Matthew sat staring at Chloe while she picked up a slice of pizza and took a bite.

"Honey, aren't you hungry? This stuff's great."

"I never thought I'd ever ask you for something like this, but I need you to play Santa. I know you love
helping people, so I have an opportunity for you. My brother John needs some help."

"Oh my God, Matthew, of course!
Is he okay?"

"In order to take over your father's business, I need to make sure my father's roofing company won't fold. I'd like to give it to John, but he doesn't have a truck. He lacks the equipment to compete with most roofing businesses, but at least with a good pickup, he can haul the materials."

"Are you busy tomorrow?"

"I don't have to be."

"Then tomorrow I want you to get up and go to work. Ask John to handle things, then come here and pick me up. We'll make his day!"
Chloe was as happy as a clam.

"Do you have any clue how much I love you?"

Chloe stretched out her arms.
"This much?"

"More…
waaaay
more."

Chapter 18

Matthew and the rest of the crew finished carrying the heavy boxes of shingles up on the roof. He waited until everyone was settled and working before he approached John.

"Why're you staring at me? You missed me last night, didn't
ya
?" John laughed.

"Yeah, man, you're a real keeper. I should have married you instead."

"Are you
going
to tell me what's up, or just stand there staring at my beauty?"

"I have to take off for a couple of hours. Can you keep things going
for me until I get back?"

"You know it. Take your time."

Matthew climbed in his truck and headed back to Detroit to get Chloe. As he pulled into the parking lot, something occurred to him that he never paid much attention to before. There were no swing sets here like he'd seen by apartment complexes in the suburbs, no parks close by, and sometimes at night you can hear gunshots.
This is no place to raise a family.
He put the pickup in park and shut off the engine.

Chloe didn't even wait for Matthew to walk up to the apartment to get her. She came bounding down the stairs in such a great mood. The opportunity to help someone who truly deserved it had her practically
dancing. She'd been watching out the window by the office door for her husband to pull up, and when he did, she ran out of the building.

"I'm ready!" She said while climbing in the truck.

Matthew laughed and leaned over to kiss her. "You're the cutest thing I've ever seen." He was so grateful her mood had lifted and things were finally falling into place. She got up each morning in a great mood and excited to start her day, which hadn't always been the case.

Chloe instantly started asking him a million questions about the roofing company and John. She had to get Matthew to talk as much as possible before sharing what she thought were the answers to a better
life for the man she loved, his father, and his best friend. What he said and how he said them would help her know how to proceed.

"Why are you asking so many questions? I don't mind answering them, but you've been with John hundreds of times. You know pretty much everything about him
and
our roofing business." Matthew was starting to feel uneasy about the whole thing. Chloe loved to help people, so he didn't understand why she was acting so cautious, as if needing to see if he was worthy or not. "I hope you're not having second thoughts about helping the guy, because he desperately needs a new vehicle, Chloe. His car is in the same condition my old truck was in, and
there's no way he can cram roofing supplies in that small car of his."

"John's a smart man, isn't he?"

"Very."

"Don't get mad at me when I say this, promise? Because I've been thinking about something since you left for work this morning."

"Sure, babe, just say it." Matthew was bracing himself for their first marital argument.

"Your dad was right." Chloe paused to see if he'd become defensive or not, because Matthew came home after his talk with his father in a foul mood, and listed all the reasons why he should keep Sharp Roofing above water, no matter what it took. When he remained quiet, she continued. "I
think you have everyone's best interest at heart, but did you ever stop to think that John was doing that roofing work just to help you and your dad? Maybe he had his own dreams that he let fall by the wayside when he saw you couldn't reach yours. I think you should get rid of it. You can keep some mementos for your dad from the company, but a few things are happening here that aren't good for anyone. You're killing yourself to try and keep a company going, and
that's
hurting your father, and it isn't helping John. When your dad sees you come home from work after a long day, and having to pick up extra jobs everyplace just to put food on the table, it hurts him…shames him for
making you get stuck in your life."

"But, Chloe, it's his. It's all he has."

"Sometimes we have to let go of things. It's not the work that's important to you, it's the business, and giving it to John is the same as getting rid of it. Keep something from Sharp Roofing, like the sign and legal documents that have your dad's signature on them, but don't plan any more jobs. We'll give the crew a nice severance pay, and then John can move on without having to make the decision to leave. He'll feel like he's abandoning you and your father if he quits."

"Do you really think John's been working all these years in our business just for me and pops? I
mean, he's never complained."

"I think he wants more in life than living in a one bedroom apartment in the projects. I know I don't want to live in that neighborhood forever. If you stop the roofing business, we can spend time together getting a nice home built. As much as I love our apartment, it's not a safe place to raise a child, and when we move we're taking your dad with us. Maybe we can talk to Sherry about selling the building and moving to a safer place. I'd hate to leave her behind in a place that's getting more dangerous every day."

"You think she'd do that?"

"Have you asked her if she wants to do something different in life?"

"No, I never did. I've been talking to Sherry every morning and, on some days, more than that, and I never asked her what she wanted. I quit having dreams when I knew mine were no longer a reality."

"I guess I'm sensitive like that. People should know everything they can about the ones they care about. Talk to Sherry, Matthew, and then talk to John. But, you have to do the right thing for everyone and let go of roofing work."

"Baby, I never thought there was a way out for me. All these years I've watched my friends I graduated with go to college and become successful. I'm one of the few people who stayed in the projects. The guilt I felt about leaving my dad and his company
behind was killing me. When he got sick, the reality of what my life would amount to was set in stone. But the way you've explained things makes perfect sense. My dad can still be proud of what he made, and a big cloud of despair can be lifted from him. You're a genius and you're beautiful. How did I get so lucky?"

At twelve-thirty, Matthew spotted the guys taking a break for lunch. He'd just gotten off the phone with his father-in-law about starting the new job and was still reeling with excitement over some of the things they discussed. He began beeping the horn as soon as he got close to the worksite. The new truck he was
driving was the same as his own, only in black. John looked up and smiled when he saw his buddy's red pickup park out front, but the black truck laying on the horn was making him worried. Out of concern, he walked across the lawn to the street. He watched as Chloe stepped out from the red truck, and Matthew got out of the black one.

"Holy! You bought a second one? Nice!" John walked over and patted Matthew on the back.

"Here, catch." John caught the keys in the air.

"Hey, I'd love to take it for a ride, but I don't want to get it all dirty."

"Climb in a second."

John brushed himself off and
then climbed in the driver's seat while Matthew held the door open.

"
Me
and you don't beat around the bush, so I'm just going to ask you."

"Shoot. This is nice by the way."

"Have you been working in the business because you couldn't find another job, or was it just to help out me and my dad?"

"I can find work, Matt, that wasn't the truth what I said before. I saw you struggling to make ends meet, and I had to help you. I figured we'd make it or fall on our faces, but either way, we'd do it together."

"I'm dumping the business."

"I never said I could find a job that fast!"

"I've been given an opportunity
to take over Burlington Enterprises. I never dreamed that something like this would ever happen to me, and because you stuck by me during all my struggles, I want you by my side in all my successes. Earl is going to teach me everything I need to know, and I'd love to have a second in command to learn with me. I talked to Earl and the job's yours if you want it. Let's get a better life and get the hell out of Detroit, bro."

"Are you serious?"

"Very. We'll start in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, we're prepared to offer the crew nice severance checks right now and cancel any of our other jobs. We'll be done with it."

"I don't know what I'm going to
do for two weeks. The guys will be okay, but I only have about four hundred saved up, and rent's due soon. We probably won't get paid for a couple weeks after we start, so I might be knocking on your door for a bite to eat!" John burst out laughing but he couldn't have been more serious.

"Thanks, man." Matthew hugged him close and then he went to Chloe. She reached up and kissed him before handing him the small stack of checks. He whispered his news to her and watched as she smiled wide.

He tried to keep a serious face as he approached his best friend. "Thank you for your incredible devotion, your friendship, and for
helping me
keep
this business above water for my pops." Matthew handed him a check for a hundred thousand dollars. "And that's your truck, John. You're the best." Matthew hugged the man again, who was standing there in total shock. Before he could speak, Matthew went to the rest of the crew and handed them checks based on the years they served. All of the amounts were quite nice. The only request was that they stay and finish the job, and they all happily agreed.

After talking with John for a few minutes, they headed back to the apartments. Matthew reached over and picked up his wife's hand and kissed it. He couldn't believe how free he felt without having the heavy
burden of the roofing business on his shoulders. It was Chloe who helped him make the most difficult decision of his life; to let go of something he was doing out of honor. His guilt wouldn't allow him to admit that all his efforts were slowly draining the life out of him.

While they drove to the apartments, Chloe couldn't help but notice how relaxed Matthew seemed. Usually their conversations seemed to frequently include upcoming jobs, meeting the payroll, and how much equipment they needed but couldn't afford. He refused to allow Chloe to help.

As they approached the parking lot, Matthew laughed. "She's either going to slap us or hug us."

They sat down together, and Matthew did his best to convince her to leave Detroit and make a better life for herself. Chloe listed all the reasons why she should sell the building and move to a safer area where they'd all still be close. Sherry thanked them for their offer, but her job was running the apartments, and she loved the tenants like family.

"I can always come visit you, but my place is here. I was born and raised in Detroit, Matthew, and even though it gets rough at times, it's my home. There'll come a time when I want to retire these old bones, but I have lots of family in Virginia, and that's where I'd go."

"I feel bad about moving out, Sherry, when you've done nothing
but be kind to me."

"Chloe, I'll always love you and Matthew, but trust me when I say I'll be okay. I love it here."

After drinking a perfectly brewed cup of coffee with her, they headed upstairs to talk with Conner. When he heard all about letting the business end, the same relief that Matthew experienced was evident within his father.

"Thank God, son. You're doing the right thing, and I'm proud of you for being willing to walk in unknown territory. It can't be easy for you to take on a job like that at Burlington, but it's what's best for your family."

Convincing Conner to move out of a home he's been in for decades was a lot easier than what they
thought it'd be. He was more than thrilled to have something new in his life. Before now, he didn't care what happened to him. He sat around waiting for his time on earth to come to an end, but now he had a new chapter in life to look forward to.
Grandchildren.

Chloe, Sylvia, and Becky went shopping for land to build a house on while Earl, John, and Matthew were at work. Sylvia had really begun to bond with her daughter and continued to periodically apologize for all the years she ran away from someone who was so innocent and beautiful. She loved getting up in the mornings and having breakfast with
Chloe before starting their day. At first it was difficult to be called 'Mom' by her daughter, because that was a title that should have been earned through years of celebration and heartache, neither of which Sylvia got close enough to experience.

When the subject of grandchildren came up, Chloe could easily watch her mother's body grow tense. She'd begin to slightly stutter and change the subject.

"You don't have to be afraid of being a grandmother. This is your opportunity to bond with a baby you'll have a lifelong relationship with."

"It's not so much that I'm afraid of the same things I used to be
fearful of. I just have no idea how to care for an infant."