Chapter 72
The architect hadn't changed he was still a lovely focused kind of guy. Conner and I sat with him as he explained where the build was at, they were installing the inner walls and finishing off the bathrooms, he wanted my ideas on the near-finished apartment which just happened to be our penthouse. The new lift was smooth and quiet, I suppose it will get noisier the older it gets, it dropped us off in our apartment entry hall. It was a blank canvas and when we walked through to the great central room it had views of the city, the bay and the other side was the mountains, nothing inhibited those views. I nearly wet myself at the sheer size of it. The bedrooms were off to the left and right but the great room ran the length and across the width of the building giving us views from all four sides. Conner had pulled a shifty and decided that we alone owned the top floor. There were to be two penthouses but now it's just the one, and it was awesome.
"When did you change it Con?" I inquired to my now very red-faced husband.
"A few days after we decided on it Brent, I thought the two under us would be just as good, so what the hell. I wanted the rooftop all to ourselves."
"Very good Mr. Conner's, very very good," I said as I put my hands behind my back and inspected the four bedrooms that were each almost the size of my family room at home, then I inspected the four balconies.
"So why are we here, remind me again?"
"Well as you can see, there are no fittings yet just the shell and I wanted to run some color samples by you, then we can get in a stylist because tiles, paint, splashbacks and the flooring have to be decided on." I stared at him for a minute.
"You mean we aren't employing a stylist or an interior decorator?"
"Not Yet Brent, but we are just about at the stage where we need to do something about the interior. The plumbing and electrics are done, so we need light fittings taps all that sort of stuff. As you can see each bedroom has a full bathroom attached that's the result of there being four large flats on this level and it made sense to leave them as they were for plumbing arrangements. Then we enlarged the bedrooms and now it's color and styling time."
"I guess you could do that in your spare time baby," Con whispered to me.
"Oh no you don't, I have a shipping company to run. I don't need any more work but I know who does." I grinned back at him then flipped my phone out.
"Hi, I need your help with something can you meet me at the house around three, or I can walk up to yours?" The person on the other end agreed with the time and inquired what was the problem. I told her it was a big secret, but she will love the idea.
That was when Di came to work for us, she was onto it immediately, and was jumping up and down by the time she left to go feed her kids. We gave her a blank cheque to do what she wanted and she was to go see our architect before she starts, just to look over the apartments. He has a list of things she has to decide on for the fit-out. She will do the whole building and maybe when it's done she can do a photoshoot for Home Beautiful or another magazine, maybe Skye would like to do it with her, I sort of suggested. I had confidence in her after seeing her home and how she had styled it, she's been around that sort of stuff and has learned a few things in the process.
"And that Con is how it's done." I stared him down.
"Well Brenty I knew you would know someone; my first choice was Adam but he's really busy at the moment."
"Well, she will do an awesome job Con and I think she will call Adam in as a consult, anything else you need today?" he scratched his balls and shyly said.
"Maybe." I knelt and assumed the position as he released his dragon.
We rushed around to find the footy gear and then we hit the road for the park. Grant was back onboard and John and Ray had come home from where ever they had been for the day.
A picnic basket was produced and Andy and Fran with their boys were waiting when we arrive. It was business as usual as Con and I did laps while he kids practiced. John had small salad rolls today he was cooking dinner for us all tonight so we only had a couple each.
"Daryl loves the new job, Brent, he can't wait to start unloading that first shipment."
"Good, when does he start full-time Fran?"
"I thought you would know that boss, but next Monday is the official start date." She and Andy both giggled into their rolls.
"How about you Andy, are you back into the swing of things?"
"Yes Brent, I am all caught up. I can't believe I even went overseas it seems like a distant memory now."
"Well, anytime you want to go just let me know. I can look after Shaun and put the twenty-first of next month on your calendar you are coming to Hobart for the long weekend with us."
"But......"
"No buts, we are family and that's what family do isn't it Fran?"
"I suppose so Brent." She giggled.
"And don't think you're getting out of it, the boys want Bubby and you there too."
I smirked at her.
"Run Mr. Conner's?"
"Of Course Mr. Walsh anything else before we leave?" I thought about it for a moment and decided I wanted to watch Cons ass in those tight shorts.
"Not at the moment Con, after you."
"Who have we got in mind for the general manager's Job baby?"
"Helen, its time she pulled her weight, and I recon Adam would be good at her job at Go Ship." I laughed at my joke.
"Good choice, Adam won't be happy though it will disrupt his shopping days. And don't forget he's still the resident flight attendant."
I grinned at Conner like the mad evil bitch I am and replied.
"Oh is that so, not anymore he isn't?"
"Oh man, are you going to cop it." He grinned back.
I didn't answer any questions and I didn't know if we had done the right thing but moving Helen over to manage the shipping made sense. She can do that job with her hands tied behind her back. Adam is perfect for Helens old Go Ship job, he loves spending money and organizing people. Maybe in the future when Daryl's more comfortable we will revisit Helen's status with the company, maybe make her a board member or something.
I was exhausted when we got in so I slid down onto the sofa with my son, Ted was watching his shows and Conner was heading a committee meeting with John and Ray at the table. There was no shouting so I guess they are talking about what I had in mind. I didn't get out of that one because Ray yelled.
"Hello, Brent we are waiting for you." My son looked up at me and he giggled, I jumped up and moaned that they could do it without me.
"Brent moving Helen makes perfect sense, but putting Adam behind her old desk is not what we had in mind."
"I thought it was a great idea Ray, he's very good at shopping and much of that stuff Helen does is rosters and lists. Adam has experience."
"So do you, baby," Conner said out of the blue.
"Okay, I will take back the flight attendants job then."
"No, you will do Helen's job baby, no flying for you."
"But I miss my boys."
"They are coming for dinner."
"When were you going to tell me that?"
"I just did." Con smiled.
"I don't want to do that job Con, I will stuff it up."
"No you won't, you will be very good at it."
I guess I'm back at work again, I suppose I can do it but I would much rather stay at home with Con and our boy. I had better put plan B in place, that's if I find one.
"We will talk about it later on Conner, now what else is on your list?"
"Nothing baby." He couldn't hold his face straight for any money. So he burst out laughing.
"So your joking then?"
"Of course you already have a job, looking after our son and me, why would you want to go back to work?"
"I don't want to Con, but if you need me I can make myself available."
"No, we just wanted your opinion on Andy, we thought we might offer him that job, most of it he can do at home anyway. Helens second in charge can do all the office side of it, Andy can do the accommodation and flight schedules plus a hundred other things Helen has taken on board over the years." Ray said.
"Excellent choice but don't forget he has a son too. Why don't you ask the tea lady to do it, she's not that old?" I'm fighting for you, Andy.
"No, she stays where she is Bob likes her coffee, and she gets a good wage doing what she does."
"Can I think about it Ray; all jokes aside I do have someone in mind. did we do that kid's room?"
"Yes, in fact, the tea lady oversees two little kids and when she's out doing her rounds one of the mums do it."
"Leave it to me." I smiled inside, this is going to be awesome a real family business with family running it.
My boys turned up at six looking so good in their flight gear. I went to Dave first and gave him a huge hug, then Phil was next. Even though it's only been a week since I had seen them, I did miss their conversation. Conner passed out a few drinks, he and I had a small gin and tonic each. Teddy had cornered Phil and was talking football to him; I don't think he wants to be a pilot today.
"I heard on the grapevine you had a meeting with Mary the other day Brent, did everything go all right?"
"Perfectly okay Dave, he likes her wisdom and she gets his head back into the right place." I smiled, I always smile when I talk about my son.
"Good, did she mention when they are going to get married?"
"No, only that they are going great guns. Why has she been talking about it?"
"No, I suppose she's still thinking on it, she's in no hurry to tie the knot she's very happy with the way it is."
"Well, she's doing great things with the charity. Cody Mitchell was saying she's almost taken it to another level."
"Well, she enjoys her work and is no longer looking for answers to her attack. She's said she's more stable now with Tony around."
"Good and how are you two going I didn't have much of a chance to talk to you when we were away."
"We are fine Brent, we will always be fine, and as soon as this plebiscite is over we are going to get married for real" I squealed and jumped up to hug him and Phil. "Wonderful news, it will be passed I have no second thoughts about that. Awesome when?"
"As soon as we can Brent, I can't wait to make us legal in our own country," Phil said with a beautiful smile on his face, but it was for Dave, not me.
"Open the champagne Con, there's going to be a wedding."
Conner smiled at me. I like him smiling at me and I think he had the same idea, but we will discuss it after the votes are in. He opened the bottle and we had a glass each, even Teddy got a small one, then he went back to his TV. Dave sat with him and Phil sat at the table with us all, John was fixing dinner and it smelt wonderful.
"Phil, do you think Adam and Rob will get married when this legal thing is over?"
"Yes he's shopping for suits already, he did mention he had to visit Cody's shop in the next week or two."
"Why don't you all go straight to Cody he can personalize your suits." John offered.
"Nah, he's a very busy guy John, we are going to get a couple off the peg from his shop too. Some of them are amazing I hear." My brain had gone into overdrive and if I don't come down to earth soon I will have the wedding all planned before Con can say anything.
"John Ray? are you thinking about doing it?"
"No Brent, we have been together since we were nineteen nearly thirty-eight years now, we don't need a piece of paper to tell us we love each other. Although I do have a slight fetish for white lacy underwear." That comment got him a hand slap from John.
"The only laces you will see in our home Ray are shoelaces." He laughed. I wondered if John wanted to get married deep down.
Our night was fantastic and the granddads put Ted to bed while I stacked the dishwasher. Phil and Dave had said their goodnights they had an early flight and were going to sleep on the plane. It was so good to see them; we don't catch up nearly as much as we did. when the boys next door left, Con and I went to check Teddy out, he was fast asleep and had a slight smile on his face. Conner pulled me into the bedroom then he slowly stripped me, kissing every exposed part of my body.
"Do you want to get married for real baby?"
"We are married Con, in our eyes that is, remember the wedding we had?" He nodded then he pushed me back onto the bed.
"It would be nice for Ted to have legally married parents though."
"Well as John said its only a piece of paper Con, it doesn't define who we are in any real terms, but."
"So your thinking about it, but what?"
"Yes Conner, I was thinking about it but what if the press gets a hold of the story?"
"Fuck them, if I want to marry you I will. And don't forget I can write beautiful songs too, there's plenty of money in that you know."
"I know Con, let's just wait and see, we still have the beautiful suits Cody made for us. I would like to see you wear yours again." I kissed him deeply he responded by moving my hand onto his stiff member, and then it was like a wedding night we made love for what seemed hours.
The next few days were bliss as Con didn't do any more media, we generally lazed the days away. Teddy had taken his drawing to Mary's and she sat with him again and they had another small talk. She was impressed with it and repeated her words that he was just a normal little kid.
John had reminded us there was a general meeting at Go Ship, and all of us are expected to be there. Firstly, for the meeting, and then to watch the first of our ships dock. Grant suggested he take Ted and his mates for a tour of the Go Ship operations while we had our meeting. I went with that because Ted does own a big chunk of both businesses. I wanted Teddy to see the boats too. Con and he had started on the model ship and he was learning all about being a ship's captain.
We said our hellos to everyone and Conner signed a few autographs while I said my greetings to Tan's mum. She was leaving on her holiday soon and she was excited. I told her that we would look after Tan at our place, but she pulled me aside and told me he was staying at her boyfriend's house.
"He has a gay son around Tans age" She whispered.
Then she winked and lightly punched my arm smiling. I was so happy for her and Tan and I wouldn't mind meeting his new, sort of stepbrother.
We congregated in the board room, the tea lady did her thing and surprise surprise she got Con to sign her new discs and I was a bit annoyed she served him first.
"Helen, could you come into the board room please?"
"Yes, your lordship." Bob smiled then shook his head at her response.
I hugged her and made her sit with me, then I held her hand. Daryl arrived he was out of breath and he announced that the ship had just passed the heads and will be docking in an hour or two, he had to get back, asap.
Ray called the meeting to start and we all sat down, firstly he talked about the new shipping company it will trade as Go Shipping and will be run separately from the parent company.
He needed us to vote on several things that concerned the new business and firstly was Helen's appointment as General Manager of Go Shipping. She nearly fell off her seat.
"You are joking aren't you. I can't flipping well do that job, it takes years of training."
"You already have the training Helen, and you can do that job hands down," Ray replied very business-like.
I squeezed her hand and she felt all sweaty.
"The job entitles you to a fat raise and a new company car."
"But what about my job here, and I already have a new car thanks to the boss?" She squeezed my hand back.
"Brent has someone in mind for that job Helen, don't give us any grief, please. You need this job to grow with the company, and we need you to do it, please."
"I will think about it then."
"Okay let's vote. Raise your hands if you think Helen should take the job?" We all did except Helen.
"Okay, Helen show in the minutes you have taken that job." She was about to scream blue murder, but I whispered in her ear.
"Please Helen, let us give you something special for a change, you have done so much for this company, and Ricon beforehand. They want to reward you." I stared into her eyes, they were glassy, she did the hand squeeze again.
"Next on the agenda is Daryl, to be elevated to shipping manager, a small raise and he already has a company car." We did the same and voted in the affirmative. Daryl slumped into his chair but didn't say a word, he was grinning at me and shaking his head, up another notch I think.
"Now last but not least, Brent who have you in mind for Helen's job?"
"Someone that likes to travel loves kids and is sick of her boring old job, and also needs to stretch her wings a bit."
"Well, who?" Bob almost screamed.
"Jenny."
The board room went dead quiet, and all eyes were on me.
I cleared my throat and said.
"She's the obvious choice, she is stuck in a dead-end job doing mundane legal shit for her bosses. She will be returning to that boring job very soon. Conner is growing and she will have to place him in a crèche. She doesn't see the sunshine from nine to five most days and she will miss her son like crazy. She needs a break, Bob as you told me in London. This way she can bring little Con in here to our kiddy crèche, she can do hundreds of things like Helen does. The money will be good and she can leave early if she's not too busy. Plus shes a legal eagle"
"Oh, and who is going to tell her all this dear brother in law?"
"Well, you Bobby." I gave him my best innocent smile.
"No fucking way Brent, enough is enough. you tell her." I had to think quickly.
"All those in favor of Bob telling Jenny please raise your hands." Everyone did even Helen and it was passed to Bob. I couldn't stop laughing.
Daryl got a phone call he had to go, and so we ended the meeting because I wanted to show my son the big ships. I quickly picked up my paperwork and took Helen's arm.
"Not so fast Brenton Walsh we have to talk."
"Not now Bobby, we got a ship arriving, call my new secretary and make an appointment."
"What bloody secretary?"
"Your wife, Jenny."
We both burst out laughing and Helen grabbed me again. "Don't worry boss I'll protect you from the big bad man." She giggled as she cleared our way past Conner Ray and John.
My baby was standing at a big window watching the ships, and Grant was pointing out what everything does on the wharf. We had gone up one floor of the Go Shipping offices because that's where Helen, Daryl, and their team will be working from. The guys were finishing off all the fittings and moving desks and files in. But in the meantime, Bubby Shaun and Teddy had their noses firmly planted on the newly cleaned floor to ceiling windows.
"There's my daddy," Bubby pointed to a man in a hard hat who looked like he was on a walkie talkie giving orders. He looked like Daryl but my eyesight isn't as good as Bubby's, I suppose he can pick him out in a crowded room.
"Thank you for bringing them in Andy, is Fran not here?"
"No she had something to do Brent, and she was pleased to offload Bubs to me for a few hours."
"Oh, something to do, I wonder what that is?"
"A very special roast dinner tonight just for the three of them Brent, it's been a long time."
"Then I must make sure Daryl leaves on time then." I was secretly jumping up and down inside and wouldn't mind a roast tonight.
As the boys watched the ship berth and get tied in for its stay, I moved to Helen's side.
"You're not mad are you?"
"Not at all boss, I'm in a bit of a haze at the moment. I hope your faith in me will reflect in my monthly reports."
"It will my friend, don't worry about it, you will be doing all the coordinating work that Daryl doesn't want to do. He's more hands-on, you're the office and I mean the whole office, no doing any work yourself, delegate Helen delegate."
She laughed that good wholesome tummy laugh of hers then winked at me.
"I will need a tea lady."
"You don't get mum, Bob loves her coffee." She laughed again because she knew if we shifted her mum there would be a riot.
The boys got their ship fill and were bouncing off the walls to get closer but we thought it too dangerous for them to run around the pier.
I watched as Daryl bounded up the gangway throwing out orders. Although I couldn't hear him I could see his men were starting to tie it to the dock. It was magnificent but not as big as I thought it would be, the containers sat proudly on the deck and I assumed there were more deliveries in the holds.
The other ship had already left and is due in a few days. I was told this one will be empty by tomorrow afternoon and will wait in the bay for its next cargo run.
We went back to Bob's office to tie off some loose ends and Sam came in with a stack of paperwork for me to sign.
Grant took the boys on another tour, and Con and I took care of business. Helen was in talking to Bob Ray and John and I could see she was signing some papers too. The tea lady came by and I asked for more coffee. Her name was Hannah, we eventually found that out from Helen.
"What's happening in there, boss?"
"Helens just got a promotion, I guess they are talking about color schemes for her new office." I grinned.
"Are they moving her to a new office?"
"Just upstairs my lovely, she's the new general manager of Go Shipping." I smiled at her shocked face, then she turned and looked at Conner, who was smiling back at her.
"What your aunty and uncles have done for my family is beyond simple generosity, you are all angels and you have made this old tea lady's day. It would be hard to find a company so family orientated nowadays, and I thank you both from the bottom of my heart." She almost bowed to us.
"Hannah, it was my aunty that was the angel, we are just taking a leaf out of her book and carrying the tradition on. Your daughter deserves this promotion; she will have to quit Go Ship but its the only way we could reward her for all the help she has given us over the years. And to answer your next question, no you cannot ask for a transfer you are needed here." Con laughed after he said that then he took my hand and squeezed it. I saw a tear in her eyes and then she rummaged around under her tea trolley and placed a packet of biscuits on our desk.
"Eat up boys, your secrets are safe with me, and thank you once again for looking after us." She walked off because she was on the brink of bursting into tears.
"Are you nearly finished Con?" I wiped my eyes.
"Yes baby, it's been a draining day I can't wait to get home."
"Okay I'm done, meet me in Bob's office."
I closed the folder then took it into Bob's office, Helen was telling Ray she liked lilac, he was telling her it's an old lady's color and it's not for the office.
"Okay, when is Di coming in Ray?" I asked.
"Di? what's she got to do with anything?"
"She's coming into design and style the new offices isn't she?"
"No Brent Di doesn't work for us."
"But her new interior design company does, she is doing our block of flats, she may as well do the new offices too."
"If you say so boss, is this a new business venture for her?" John was curious.
"She can't leave her babies, so apart from a fashion shoot or two she probably won't go back to her modeling. You saw her place Ray and John she's a wiz at home decor. Get her in to do the new offices and get her to send in her ideas to rejuvenate these too."
"They don't need it," John said.
"Just look at her ideas, and while you're at it get her onto doing the Go Shipping logo for the ships. At the moment there's nothing to indicate who we are and the ships need brightening up, classy like."
There was dead silence in the room as Con came in.
"What did I miss?"
Helen jumped up and squeezed my face.
"This is why they call you the boss, boss." Then she kissed my cheeks.
"Nothing Con, just giving John and Ray a lesson in happy families."
"Speaking of families, any ideas on how to tell your sister she's got a new job?"
I looked at my gorgeous brother in law Bob and said.
"Hand me the bloody phone." Bloody gutless wonder, she's his wife he should know her better than me.
"Hello, Jen, it's me?"
We got back from our big day out and all three of us flopped on the sofa, Teddy was exhausted and didn't want to go to training. I was reeling from actually winning an argument with my sister, she will start work Monday week. I could feel her excitement coming down the phone. I think the clincher was she could bring little Conner in with her.
I heard a rustle of paper and when I looked sideways Conner had taken that packet of biscuits out of his jacket pocket.
"You gonna share them?" He hesitated then handed them over to us.
"You hesitated Conner."
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
"I didn't."
"Did."
And so it went on as our son watched his cartoons with his fists balled tightly.
John came in the back door Teddy had gone off to sleep and I was licking the last of the imaginary crumbs off Cons lips.
"No time for that Brent we have to discuss Di."
I sighed, and though I had organized all of that. I kissed Con and grabbed my jacket then went out the front door heading for Di's place.
"How big do you want your new business to grow honey?"
She had made me a coffee, and we sat at her big dining room table.
"What do you mean Brent, I'm doing the flats; what business?"
"Get Marty to register you as a business because I have heaps of work for you to do over the next six months." I smiled.
"I already am a registered business, I had to do that when my modeling got huge; and?"
"We need an interior decorator at Go Shipping. They have new offices to do and the new ships need some sort of logo that stands out. Is that something you will be prepared to do or will we call another company?"
"Don't you dare Brenton Walsh, of course, I would love to do it."
"Good because Ray and John don't want to overload you with work because of the kids." I could see she was happy as a pig in poo.
"I can do it, Brent. I just have to find a couple of people to do it with."
"Adam, and you will need Helen's input she knows her offices."
"But Adam works so hard Brent, but he's an awesome stylist?"
"Oh is he?" I winked at her she giggled because she knew Adam was perfect to take on as a part-time partner.
I smelt food when I arrived back, Con was already at the table and Teddy was showing him how to drive a ship. They were working on that kit they had bought for me.
"All fixed John, she will contact Helen tomorrow and her and Adam will have their first meeting with her in a few days."
"She doesn't mind Brent?"
"Of course not, she's over the moon."
"Good, I just don't want her to neglect the kids."
"She won't, and she can take them into the crèche with her, they will never be far from her side."
"Okay, I guess you have it all sorted out then son, well done for your first day."
"What do you mean by that John?" I heard Conner snigger as Teds face lit up with a smile.
"We need someone to run the crèche, and you're it. Don't argue we all voted." He laughed his head off. Very funny granddad and my boys thought it was haha hilarious too.
Dinner was homemade pies with mash and peas. Ray was tapping away at his laptop and the three others were arguing over what piece of the puzzle goes where I sat on the sofa and went to sleep.
Con woke me and got me into bed after I kissed our son goodnight, he wanted sex and I wanted to sleep. I was coming down from my high today which made me so tired.
In the morning I was taking my boy shopping for some more school clothes, he's growing so fast he will almost be up to my waist soon. Conner was going to do a TV interview and then sit with Marty and nut out the Hobart casino gig. I think he will do a smaller concert like the ones overseas but anything could happen where Cons concerned. I bundled Ted into the car, he was excited to go shopping because he knows I will let him pick up a toy while we are there.
The saleslady was very helpful, but I felt she was a bit over fitting out kids for back to school. I took a load off her shoulders and started with one shirt and one pair of shorts. I changed Ted in the shop behind a rack of long pants, then after deciding, they were the right size I just said to her.
"I'll have four of each thanks." I smiled at her.
"Well that was easy, I wish all my customers had your ability to make quick decisions."
"It comes from running a household full of men." I laughed but didn't elaborate. Ted had moved over to the football section and I reminded him they don't have his school team colors; he has to get them at the school shop.
I paid with my card and hoped I hadn't blown the budget, then we went for a small milkshake and coffee. It was a beautiful day being with just my son but it was about to get a whole lot noisier when Andy Shaun Bubby and Fran turned up. They were here for the same thing, so we all joined tables and had a girlie morning tea.
"How're the shares going Bubs?" I thought I might make conversation as Andy got the coffees.
"Good Mr. Brent we have lots of money; daddy thinks we have enough to buy a block of land in the country maybe."
"Well wait until you can buy a flat in the city first, they are a better investment."
"That's what he told me too, but I have to find out how to buy a property first." I looked at this power broker of a six-year-old and wondered if I could move his money along a bit quicker.
Andy had overheard the conversation and suggested Bubs.
"Why don't you just play the stock market for let's say a year, and see where it's taking you. Maybe you can pull your money out for a big deposit on a flat by then." All three boys gave Andy the bug-eyed stare. There is no way that one will buy without the others.
"Oh sorry forgot there are three of you."
"That's better." Bubby went back to his milkshake and all three of them giggled. As they headed for the big store we went and had a look around the toy shop. He's not a greedy boy and he's very selective when he buys his toys. He only wanted one and settled on a kids size baseball bat.