Page 44 of Sawyer
“Yes…” My head tilts, wondering where he’s going with this.
“Well, I started Walker and Co.when I was in my mid-twenties, not long after I finished law school.”
“You started Walker and Co.?”I clarify, because none of it makes sense.But as I look at him, his appearance seems somewhat familiar, knowing I’ve probably seen his photo somewhere along the line, perhaps when I was researching internships in college.
“I did.Built it up over a decade or so, before I came to Whispers.”He grins at the memory.
“What made you come to Whispers?You were at the top of your game.Your law firm was worth millions.Still is,” I ask, bewildered.
“Love,” he says, and my questioning thoughts pause.
“Love?”
“Met my girl Bernie here when I was passing through one day.My jet had to land to refuel, some issue we had when flying from the West Coast back to the East.Ended up staying a night, met Bernie at the diner.Had dinner and never left.We just celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary last month.”
I’m a little baffled.“But Walker and Co.was one of the bigger players.You would’ve been a multimillionaire.”
“Still am.Sold at the height.I got my millions, invested them well, and moved here to the love of my life.I’ve worked in this office ever since.”He huffs another laugh as he looks around, taking in the walls, like he’s saying a silent goodbye.
I shake my head, trying to process this.“But… that doesn’t make any sense…”
“Well, work back then isn’t what it is now.You kids run meetings online, any time of the day or night.Back in my day, it was all face-to-face, in an office.I had to make a choice.Work or Bernie.”
“But you built an empire.Then you just left it all and came to Whispers?”
“Yeah.You know what they say, love makes you do crazy things.”
“Didn’t you miss it?The hustle, the thrill of the chase, the deals, the negotiation?”I grew my career on big deals, on million-dollar contracts.I’ve negotiated some large transactions, helped many of my clients with significant business growth, Tanner and Connor one such example.
“None of it really means much.More about your own ego than anything else.Besides, my Bernie has given me lots to negotiate, lots of thrills, and lots of good times over the years.I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Nodding, I find myself smiling, one person on my mind as I ask, “How did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That Bernie was worth it.”I swallow, knowing he knows.Hell, the whole town practically knows about Annabelle and me if the look Rochelle was giving me in the diner earlier today was anything to go by.
“I knew the minute I laid eyes on her.”
I feel a jolt of realization zap me to my core.I can still remember exactly what Annabelle was wearing the first time I saw her, including her scowl when I cursed in front of the kids.
“But how were you satisfied from a work perspective?”What he’s talking about is somewhat admirable, but my work fuels me.It’s been my driving force for years.The one constant, the one thing I can control and build, making me a billionaire in my own right.
“Whispers may be a small, sleepy town, but even in your sleep, you still have nightmares.Don’t underestimate the problems that will arise for you here.Sure, they may not be every week, or maybe they will be, but you’ll have a good workload, one that keeps you busy and pushes you to your limits at times.But you’ll also have a good work/life balance and get to go home to a warm hug, a hot, home-cooked meal, and the love of a good woman.That’s something I never found in the city, and I don’t imagine it’s any easier to find there now.”It feels like he’s a parent, inadvertently offering me advice.
I’m familiar with some criminal cases here in Whispers over the years.Hell, just the issues my friends have had with their partners is enough to keep me busy for months.I look at my calendar, knowing I have a few locals booked in for meetings over the course of the next few weeks.At the time, I assumed it would be simple paper shuffling, a few signatures, and a low level of work required, but I’m starting to see that it may be more than that.
“Alright, well, I need to go.Will I see you at the game tomorrow?”He stands like he didn’t just drop a bomb on me, and I walk toward him, putting out my hand to shake his.
“I think so.”Weekends in Whispers are something I was adamant I wouldn't do, yet now I don’t want to miss the game or miss spending more time with Annabelle and the kids.
“Good.It’s nice to have a new face to support the teams.Good luck here, Sawyer,” he says as we shake.
I grin.“Enjoy retirement, Jerry.”
“I plan to.”He grabs his bag and walks out, this law office and its clients now all mine.
As I watch him go, I look out across the street.People are walking around, women stopping to chat, a couple of older guys carrying some furniture into a building, and I see Jerry heading straight across to the diner, which seems to be the place to be during the day.
