quietly chuckled. Jake sensed a tiny connection with Mr. Walter Severson falling into place. So far, he actually liked him, which was more than he could say for over half of his clients.
“I’ll talk with your lawyer to see if we can’t work out how to quietly handle the funding issues. How does that sound?” Jake figured the lawyer surely had a plan.
“That sounds good. I’ll let her know today to expect your call and to discuss specifics with you in confidence.”
Jake was relieved to get the lawyer’s contact information, since his career depended on this working out. He appreciatively shook Walter’s hand and then glanced to Walter’s right as the eagle landed in a giant pine tree.
* * *
CHAPTER 15
M ORGAN CLEARED THE supper table as Jake slowly rubbed his forehead, thinking of ways to increase their income. They had just discussed the upcoming pregnancy expenses. Morgan had already created a new family budget forecasting the next two years. It looked dismal. All she could really focus on, however, was turning their guest bedroom into a nursery.
“Why can’t you just ask for a raise?” she asked while loading the dishwasher. “I can’t remember the last time you got one.”
“It’s not that simple. I’m a commissioned broker. Their position is that I can improve my income by signing more clients.”
“Well?”
“Well, it’s not easy, Morgan,” Jake said defensively. “The economy is in the shitter, and nobody wants to get into the market or move any money. Plus, West Point’s lost a lot of jobs these last few years. It’s tough out there.”
“Our family is growing. Our expenses are growing. What are we going to do? What are
you
gonna do?”
“I don’t know. I’ll think of something.” Jake ran his hands through his hair.
“Jake, you always say that, and this time it’s not good enough. We both agreed that I should be a stay-at-home mom, but do I need to get a job?”
Jake sat motionless. He wanted what was best for his family. He clearly saw the benefits of Morgan staying home to take care of Katy and knew it would be the same with the new baby. It was worth the sacrifice.
“No.”
Morgan exhaled deeply and looked over Jake’s head.
“If we have to, we could sell the river camp.” Morgan knew this solution would not be well received.
Jake grunted. As a young man, Jake’s grandfather had built the camp house. It wasn’t much, but it had been in his family for years. It was an old-growth cypress A-frame on pylons overlooking the old river channel. Jake had grown up there fishing, tubing, boat riding, and just hanging out with friends and family. He had to find a way to keep it.
“I know.”
Morgan sat down at the table and looked straight at Jake. “Look, I know you don’t want to sell it…I get that. But we gotta keep all our options open. This baby is going to be expensive, and it won’t be long before Katy’s driving and then going off to college. But we don’t have to do it tomorrow.”
“Just give me a little while to work this out. I swear I’ll think of something.”
“Maybe I could start selling Arbonne. I hear some women in town are doing really well selling cosmetics and accessories.”
“You’ll
love
the pink Cadillac,” Jake said with a hint of sarcasm.
“They drive Mercedeses.”
“Really?”
Jake looked around at his home. He could hear Katy taking a shower upstairs. In a few years she’d be driving. Morgan hadthat expectant-mother glow, with a baby due in seven months or so. He was beginning to feel like he was failing as a provider. Morgan wanted more. His boss wanted more. Somewhere he had to find the more that everyone demanded. His thoughts turned to the cash that Walter Severson had stashed somewhere.
CHAPTER 16
M OON PIE HEARD the locks click in place on the front door as the last customer left. It had been a good day at the Gold Mine. He studied the newest shiny gold pieces while the two employees quickly straightened
“I’ll talk with your lawyer to see if we can’t work out how to quietly handle the funding issues. How does that sound?” Jake figured the lawyer surely had a plan.
“That sounds good. I’ll let her know today to expect your call and to discuss specifics with you in confidence.”
Jake was relieved to get the lawyer’s contact information, since his career depended on this working out. He appreciatively shook Walter’s hand and then glanced to Walter’s right as the eagle landed in a giant pine tree.
* * *
CHAPTER 15
M ORGAN CLEARED THE supper table as Jake slowly rubbed his forehead, thinking of ways to increase their income. They had just discussed the upcoming pregnancy expenses. Morgan had already created a new family budget forecasting the next two years. It looked dismal. All she could really focus on, however, was turning their guest bedroom into a nursery.
“Why can’t you just ask for a raise?” she asked while loading the dishwasher. “I can’t remember the last time you got one.”
“It’s not that simple. I’m a commissioned broker. Their position is that I can improve my income by signing more clients.”
“Well?”
“Well, it’s not easy, Morgan,” Jake said defensively. “The economy is in the shitter, and nobody wants to get into the market or move any money. Plus, West Point’s lost a lot of jobs these last few years. It’s tough out there.”
“Our family is growing. Our expenses are growing. What are we going to do? What are
you
gonna do?”
“I don’t know. I’ll think of something.” Jake ran his hands through his hair.
“Jake, you always say that, and this time it’s not good enough. We both agreed that I should be a stay-at-home mom, but do I need to get a job?”
Jake sat motionless. He wanted what was best for his family. He clearly saw the benefits of Morgan staying home to take care of Katy and knew it would be the same with the new baby. It was worth the sacrifice.
“No.”
Morgan exhaled deeply and looked over Jake’s head.
“If we have to, we could sell the river camp.” Morgan knew this solution would not be well received.
Jake grunted. As a young man, Jake’s grandfather had built the camp house. It wasn’t much, but it had been in his family for years. It was an old-growth cypress A-frame on pylons overlooking the old river channel. Jake had grown up there fishing, tubing, boat riding, and just hanging out with friends and family. He had to find a way to keep it.
“I know.”
Morgan sat down at the table and looked straight at Jake. “Look, I know you don’t want to sell it…I get that. But we gotta keep all our options open. This baby is going to be expensive, and it won’t be long before Katy’s driving and then going off to college. But we don’t have to do it tomorrow.”
“Just give me a little while to work this out. I swear I’ll think of something.”
“Maybe I could start selling Arbonne. I hear some women in town are doing really well selling cosmetics and accessories.”
“You’ll
love
the pink Cadillac,” Jake said with a hint of sarcasm.
“They drive Mercedeses.”
“Really?”
Jake looked around at his home. He could hear Katy taking a shower upstairs. In a few years she’d be driving. Morgan hadthat expectant-mother glow, with a baby due in seven months or so. He was beginning to feel like he was failing as a provider. Morgan wanted more. His boss wanted more. Somewhere he had to find the more that everyone demanded. His thoughts turned to the cash that Walter Severson had stashed somewhere.
CHAPTER 16
M OON PIE HEARD the locks click in place on the front door as the last customer left. It had been a good day at the Gold Mine. He studied the newest shiny gold pieces while the two employees quickly straightened
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