Page 33 of Lilly

"In about ten minutes. I'm not far from your house."

"Pearce, you know better than to arrive on such short notice."

"I'm your son. I shouldn't have to give notice." I say it jokingly.

Since my father died, my mother and I have a more relaxed relationship. We can actually joke with each other, which would've never happened when my father was alive.

"Very well," she says. "I'll have the maid put on some tea."

"I'd prefer coffee if that's okay."

"Certainly. I'll see you shortly."

In the past, I would have never asked for coffee instead of tea. My mother would've been offended by the request and scolded me for it. But now, she's more open to such things and even agreeable. She's still very formal and she still feels the need to scold me now and then, but for the most part, we get along quite well, or at least better than we did when my father was alive.

"Hello, Mother," I say as she greets me at the door. That's another thing that's changed. She used to always have the maid meet me at the door.

"Hello, Pearce."

"It's good to see you." I step inside and give her a brief hug. She's still not comfortable with hugs, unless they're from children. She's been out to visit us in California several times now and Garret's children are always hugging her. That's just the way they are. All four of them are very affectionate. Every time she visits, they run up to her all at once and hug her. And when she sits down, the twins climb onto her lap. The children have no idea what a big deal it is for my mother to allow such things. When I was a child, there were no hugs, and I would've been scolded for climbing on her lap. But with my father no longer influencing her, my mother is softening up and now she actually welcomes the children's affection.

It's good for my mother to be around the children and the rest of the family but she only visits us once a year. I can't convince her to come more often than that. I've asked her to move to California but she won't do it. She's always lived on the East Coast and has no desire to ever move. It's where she's most comfortable. But I wish she'd at least move out of this house. It's far too large for one person and it holds memories of my father, many of which I know she'd like to forget.

"The coffee's almost ready. Shall we go in the sitting room?"

I follow her to the small room that's just off the living room. The two rooms are very similar, with high-backed upholstered chairs in a light cream color. The only difference is the living room has a couch. The room we're in now is called the sitting room simply because this house has so many rooms that if you didn't give them names you wouldn't know where to go when being directed to one of them.

"So," my mother says, "you said you're out here for business. Are you preparing to give another speech?" She crosses her legs and smooths her hand over her navy blue skirt.

"Actually, I'm not here on business, at least not that type of business."

There's no need to lie to my mother about this. In fact, on the way over here, I was thinking she might be able to help me figure out what's going on. She knows this world better than I do. She grew up in it. Her father was a member, as was her brother. And she lived with my father for all those years. I'm sure he didn't tell her what went on there, but my mother is a very observant woman. She didn't need him to tell her. She could figure it out herself.

The maid comes in with a large silver tray and sets it down on the table.

"Coffee, Sir?" she asks.

"Yes. Thank you."

My mother and I remain silent as the maid pours the coffee. She's worked here for years and knows I don't take cream and sugar so doesn't bother asking. She hands me the cup, then pours my mother some tea.

When she's done, she leaves and my mother says, "Why would you attend a meeting?"

My mother knows the real reason I'm here in town without me even having to tell her. I can already see the concern on her face. Never in a million years would she ever admit it, but I know she didn't ever want me to be part of this. And I know she was secretly relieved when Garret wasn't forced to join.

"William is sick," I say, then take a sip of my coffee.

"Yes, I heard. How is he doing?"

"He's better now but he's been told he has to take some time off."

"I see. But he'll remain as CEO of the company?"

"Yes. His time off is being taken from—"

"I understand," she says, not wanting me to say their name. She doesn't like it spoken aloud in the house. "You're not taking his place, are you?" Her face becomes even more concerned, her teacup rattling just slightly as it rests on the saucer she holds on her lap.

"No," I say hoping to settle her nerves. "That's not allowed. As long as William still holds the position, it will remain his and not be filled, even on a temporary basis."

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