Pauline waked up the next morning alone when the alarm clock buzzed. She didn't sleep much that night not because of the early morning feeding but because of the fight she had with Jesse. It was hard for her to process why on Earth he lied to her again. She tried to be in his shoes for a moment to see what she would have done, but she always came up with the same answer over and over. She would have told him. They have been sharing their livies for quite some time now and that was what they vowed when they got married, to be there for each other now matter what.
With a small sigh she got got up from the bed and went to the bathroom. Once she was all washed up she walked into the nursey room next door to wake up PJ and Kevin but they were not there. Her heart skipped a beat and soon enough she was walking down the stairs only to find Jesse and them sitting on the floor playing. She couldn't help herself not to smile, after all they looked marvelous together even if it was 7 am.
Jesse felt her in the room and turned to where she was standing. "I did the feeding and changed their diapers. I made you coffee." he said and stood up from the floor. "Good morning Paul." he added when he was standing right next to her and he beand over for a kiss but she turned her face the other way as she said "You didn't have to do that." she knelt down and kissed her sons forheads. "I don't think that. I know how tired you are and i wanted to help you." Jesse added and followed Pauline to the kitchen.
When they were on the kitchen she saw the coffee he made for her and a note he wrote 'I'm sorry'. "You think that's good enough for me to forgive you Jess?" she slapped back without touching the glass of coffee. "No! Of course not! I'm just trying to do the right thing here, if you let me!" he answered. Pauline was not looking at him, she didn't have the power. She started empying the dishwasher and taking the silverware to their place. "I have a meeting with Dad in a couple of hours for the idea i told you about yesterday. You wanna come with me? I could use the extra support. You how my Dad is with new ideas." he asked her while she was looking at her putting the plates on the cupboard.
"I can't. I will meet with my Dad in the office." she simply answered while doing her job. "Oh i see. You thought about what he asked?" he asked her and walked right next to her to help her but she turned the other way again. Jesse sighed when he realized she was still mad at him. "Yes, i did. I will do it. We need the money and i need the distraction." she told him and left the kitchen. "Distraction from what?" he asked back puzzled and followed her. "From you!" she replied and looked at him this time. "You thought that feeding them and making me coffee will somehow fix things?"
"Paul, i told you i am really sorry i didn't want to ruin this day for you." Jesse said and looked back at her. "And you decide to ruin the following ones. Great thinking, Jess." she slapped back him. "I crossed the line, i know. But i am really really sorry, i don't know what else to say." "I don't know either Jess." Pauline started. "I want to do what is best for us and the boys. I'm trying to create a better future for all of us. You know growing up i had everything and i want the same thing for PJ and Kevin. If this idea of mine actually works we will not have to worry anymore." Jesse said before she could finish her setence. He took her hands in his and kissed them and then looked at her again.
"Please, have a little faith in me. I really need that right now. I know its risky but like Richie said 'Who dares, wins' and i'm willing to do that. But please i can not do this without you Paul! I'm trying to be a better person, a better husband and a better father but these mean nothing if you are not next to me, to make my day with your smile, to make me laugh and hold me when things get too tough but baby we're still worth the fight and i have to give it a try." he was in tears now as he said those things that came out of his heart and she was in tears too.
She kept looking at him and she couldn't speak a word. Whatever she came up with sounding so silly in her mind compared to what she just heard and that made her sick to her stomach. She loved him deeply and without limits. "Okay..." she answered when she found her voice. His face lighted up like a candle in the darkness. "Really?" "Really, but please next time talk to me. We've been through a lot and we don't have to make things harder for us, okay?" she said and whiped off that single tear from her cheek. "Yes, of course!" he answered with a smile. "I love you even when you drive me insane!" she told him and laughed. "I love you too even when you are mad at me!" he kissed her deeply this time not being afraid of what was coming next. All that mattered to him was this moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesse was outside of his old house waiting for someone to answer the door. His hands were getting sweaty and that folder he was holding didn't help at all. He stayed up all night trying to make a business plan for the idea he had and he was proud of that. He only hoped his father will feel the same way. He knew he was a disappointment recently to everyone and he wanted to change that. The door finally opened by his mother.
"Jesse! Come inside!" Dorothea said after giving him a quick hug. He walked inside and closed the door behind him. "Look at you! I don't believe it's been a week! How are Pauline and the boys? You should have brought them with you, i already miss them!" she continued as they made their way to the living room. "They are good, you know, like you left them! You are welcome to visit any time." Jesse answered. "Yeah, i know but i've so much work to do with the Kitchen and the Foundation. But i think we should pay you guys a visit some time soon." she said and shut on the couch. "What's that?" she asked him back when she saw the folder Jesse was holding. "Your Dad told me, if you need anything you can always ask me. Your Dad doesn't need to know everything."
"Thanks Mum, but we're alright. That's its been something i've working on and with some luck it will come true." Jesse said and smiled. "Well, i'm sure it will." his mother answered and touched his knee. "Look, i have to leave now. Your Dad its in the office. Tell him i won't be long." she added as she stood up and his kissed his cheek. "Will do Mum!" he said and smiled.
Jesse saw his mother leaving and he knew this was the time. Taking a deep breath and with the folder in his hand he walked through the living room to his father's office. As he was getting closer he heard his Dad talking with someone, probably on the phone. He knocked the door twice and then Jon opened it. He gave him a small smile while he was still talking on the phone. Jesse walked in and closed the door. It's been a while since he was in his office. Being a kid he was not allowed to be there all the time, only if it was an emergancy and he never knew the reason, but being young and curious he always found ways to take a look inside. He looked around and nothing had changed over the years. Lots of awards on the bookcase and on the wall.
"Sorry about that Jess." Jon said and sat down on the chair behind the laptop. Jesse sat on the oposite side and put the folder he was holding on the wooden desk. "No worries." he replied in a second. "You said you wanted to talk to me about something." Jon said as he reached for the pack of cigarettes that was next to the laptop. He lighted up one. Jesse shallowed as he felt his mouth going dry. "Yes. I have business idea and i'm wondering if you want to help me." Jesse started. Jon was looking at him as he blew out the smoke. "Go on." he simply said.
"Well, i don't know how it hit me. But since i didn't go to work i have a lot time to think about what i want to do with my life. Now more than ever actually, being a father changed me a lot like you told. So..." Jesse paused and opened the folder he had brought with him and took some parer sheets from inside. "I want to start a wine business and since you love wine more than everyone, i was hoping you could help me. Here i made a business plan for you to see. Google helped me a lot." he added and gave Jon the whole folder.
Jon was looking at him puzzled and left the cigarette on the ashtray right next to him. He started looking at each page when Jesse added. "It's not very professional but i think you get the point." Jon looked at him. "You are right i really love wine." Jon said and looked at him over the sheet he was holding. "You really wanna do this? I mean are you ready for this? Owning a business its not a walk on the park. It takes time to make profit which i'm sure you need at this point." "I'm ready. I will do anything in my power to put food on the table for my family. I've changed Dad and there is no way i was going to ask you for money. We both are too proud to do that." Jesse paused for a second and looked at his father.
"I told her everything. It was bad at first but now i think we are in a better place. If it fails at least i know that i did everything i could." Jon saw that sparkle in his eyes that he had missed. "Okay, Jess. Give me a few days to talk with my accountant and my team. Can i keep these?" Jon asked while holding the folder. "Yeah, sure! I have copies at home." Jesse answered back and smiled. "Good, we'll be in touch Jess!" Jon answered and held his hand for a handshake. "Looking forward to do business with you Dad." Jesse replied and finished the handshake with his father.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the meantime Pauline was on the side of the town, in Trenton. After almost an hour on the road she reached the company's office where her father was meeting her again. She had thought about it very well even thought she knew she had no other choise. She didn't know if Jesse's new idea will work and they need the money. Of course she believed in him. It's been a while since he was so passionate about something and there was nothing else she could do, expect for believing in him. Soon enough she found a parking spot and left her car there. Still the same Toyota Prius her father gave to her on her 16th birthday.
Minutes later Pauline was greeted by the secretery of the company Rachel. She made her coffee and accompanied her to her father's office. Knocking on the door she heard her father say "Hey Paul, come in!" Pauline walked in and closed the door behind her. "Good morning Dad!" she said and smiled. "I see Rachel made you coffee." Costas asked her while she sat on the chair and took a sip of her coffee. "Yeah, it's pretty nice." "That's good to hear!So, i guess you and Jesse thought about my proposal." Costas started letting his daughter take the lead of the conversation. Pauline shocked her head and answered. "Yeah, we did." she paused and looked at him "I'll do it!" she finished and gave him a big smile.
"Oh i knew it! You did the right thing. I'm happy and proud of you, you'll do a very good job here!" her father answered and both stood up and hugged each other. "So, let me introduce you to the guy who knows this place better than i ever will." Costas added and dailed a number on the phone on the desk of his. "Could you please come to my office?" he said and hung up the phone. "You two will make a great team i'm sure!" he said and turned to her. "Who is he?" Pauline asked back confused. "Harry is my right hand. Great mind and he basically grew up here. His father and uncle both worked for uncle Nick before they retired." that was what Costas managed to say before they heard a knock on the door.
The door opened and a blonde, blue eyed man wearing a pair of black jeans and a white shirt with roll up sleeves walked in. Even though Pauline had been there more time she could remember it was the first time she saw Harry. "You asked me, Boss?" he asked and closed the door. "Yes, Harry please have a seat." he gave a quick awkward smile to Pauline and sat on the chair next to her. "I want you to meet your new boss, my daughter Pauline." Costas said. "Hi, i'm Harry! It's nice to finally meet you, i've heard so much about you!" Harry said smiling and shook hands with Pauline. "Likewise Harry." Pauline smiled back. "Oh cogratulations for the wedding. Your Dad saw us some picture you looked amazing and Jesse of course." Harrry added shortly. "Thank you Harry!" she said.
"So, Paul ready for your trainning?" Costas said and both looked at him. "Yeah, sure! We start like right now?" Pauline asked back a little nervous because she was not prepared to start right now. "No, silly! Tommorow here 8.00 am." her father answered and Pauline felt so realeved. "Don't worry i'll be here with some coffee." Harry tried to encourage her. Pauline chuckled and replied "Thanks." "I'll leave you two to catch up." Harry said and stood up. "Looking forward to work with you Pauline." "Same here Harry." Pauline answered politetly as he was watching him leaving. Her eyes where locked on the closed door for several seconds when her father said with a raised voice "Paul! I'm talking to you!"
"Oh sorry! What did you say?" she asked back and met his gaze. "I said what do you think about Harry? He's very good at his job and a good guy, everybody likes him. You have a lot to learn from him." Costas said and looked at his daughter. "I don't know, i just met him. He's okay i guess." Pauline answered and drunk a sip from her coffee. "Yeah, you're right. Anyway, see you tommorow. And please don't be late, you need to earn their respect from the beginning." "Will do Dad! Don't worry!" Pauline answered proudly. "That's my girl!" her father said smiled. "Now, try to get some rest. You will need it!" he added a few seconds later. Pauline was starring at him thinking what she got herself into. But there is no time for urning back now, the desicion had been made and she must stick to that no matter what.
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