Jimmy and Trish both opened their door, and got out. Marsh and Becca stood up and walked out on the passenger side. "Sure is nice not to worry about banging my head on the way out of the car." Marsh remarked. "I could get used to having a beautiful chauffer, hauling me around in a sweet old rag top."
Marsh went ahead and opened the restaurant door, and held it for Jimmy, Trish and Becca. As Jimmy walked by Marsh thought he heard Jimmy mumbling something like, "Yeah right punk kid. Who's gonna pay for all of this?"
When Marsh followed Becca into the restaurant store, he walked up beside Jimmy. Marsh put his arm around Jimmy's shoulders. "It's OK old man. I still love you, and I know I need to learn from you for a day or two, as well, and as to who's paying, I offered but you said you were taking YOUR girls to brunch, so it stands to reason that YOU are paying for this."
"Yeah right," Jimmy responded. "You're just marrying me for my money."
Marsh smiled. "At least you have enough money to get me interested, because you're sure not pretty enough."
Now it was Jimmy's turn to laugh. "Marsh," He answered. "I know you don't give a shit whether or not I have money, or about how pretty I am. You want my women."
"Guilty as charged!" Marsh said enthusiastically. "You keep your money I get the girls."
"What girls?" Becca had walked up beside Marsh.
"Whaaat?" Marsh looked in Becca's eyes. "Surely you don't expect me to kiss and tell." Marsh did his best innocent little boy imitation.
"Hmmm," Becca mused. "I guess I should be careful, I know some of the girls you've kissed. They would not want you to tell."
The hostess called Trish's name, and led the group to a table. After perusing the menu, everyone ordered their food, and began a conversation that was light and friendly.
At one point when the conversation seemed to lag, Jimmy looked at Marsh. "Marsh, I like your idea of getting checked out in the Gulfstream. I want to take you to corporate tomorrow morning. Why don't you and Becca head out to the airport tomorrow afternoon, and get started familiarizing you with the Gulfstream? You'll get busy after I start introducing you to key people in the companies, and transferring some of my work load. It might be to our advantage to have you in the cockpit as soon as possible."
"I can live with that, Jimmy. Should we consult your chief pilot, or do we just assume there's nothing else on her agenda?" Marsh smiled at Becca as he talked to Jimmy.
"I'm pretty sure his head pilot has a full agenda, but after all Jimmy is the boss, and if he says I have to hang out with some pretty doctor, what's a girl to do. I know this girl doesn't want to get fired for insubordination." Becca was watching Jimmy as she spoke.
"Trish looked at Becca then at Marsh. "Just a minute," she glared back at Becca. "Your mother may have something to say about who you hang out with."
Becca started to laugh. "You mean the mother that's been sleeping with that same doctor?"
"Uh-oh." Jimmy broke in. "Marsh, I think we may have started something."
Marsh looked around the table. "Hey Jimmy," he suggested. "Do you think we might be able to ramp this up, and start a female mud wrestling event? This could get interesting."
Becca gave Marsh a look that said volumes. "Trish, she said. We need to nip this thing in the bud. If these guys think they can play us off against each other, we need to set them straight, right now!"
Trish shrugged her shoulders. "Just how do you think we're going to do that, pray tell? They're incorrigible, already. Anything we do or say, they're going to try to turn on us. Come to think of it, I do have the car keys. Maybe we should leave them to pay the check, while we go get in the car and leave."
"Now see what you started Jimmy?" Marsh gave Jimmy a dirty look and turned to Trish. "Really Trish, he started it."
"Yeah right." Trish sneered. "And who brought up the mud wrestling?" "Trish?" Marsh was really laying it on thick. "You can't get mad at a guy that wants to see you at your best. I was trying to give you a compliment."
"You dirty old man y..." Trish began.
"Huh-uh. Marsh quickly interrupted. "I am NOT old, girl. You ain't gonna get away with that one. Dirty, OK that might fly, but NOT the old part."
Becca decided it was time to change the subject. "So Marsh, how much multi engine time do you have? That would be a determining factor for getting your certificate."
"I don't remember the exact number, but it's just over eight hundred hours. A little over twenty eight hundred total time, in the log book. There are some hours that I really couldn't add in there, but let's leave those out of this discussion." Marsh replied.
"That should be enough." Becca said. "We can probably get you checked out in a couple of years, if you can actually fly an airplane." Becca smiled at Marsh.
"I may not be very good, but I'm still here, so I must have done something right the last time I tried it," Marsh replied.
Jimmy took his napkin out of his lap, and tossed it on his plate. "I think we can find someplace we will like better to continue this conversation. Any of you object to getting on the road?"
"Do you have someplace in mind?" Trish asked. "Or shall I take you home?"
The four of them got up from the table. Jimmy picked up the check, and took it out to the cashier. Marsh left a tip at the table, and walked out to the car with Trish and Becca. Jimmy followed a couple of minutes later.
Marsh and Becca were already snuggled up in the back, when Jimmy walked up to the convertible.
"Hey! Marsh, do you think you're the only guy that gets to cuddle up in the back seat with one of these pretty women?" Jimmy asked with a frown on his face.
Marsh smiled up at Jimmy as he responded. "It seems to be working so far," he grinned.
"Well now it ends." Jimmy growled. "Trish, hand your daughter the keys. Becca you're driving. Marsh, get your ass out of my seat."
"Wow!" Marsh blurted out. "I see we should have gotten Jimmy some desert, or some candy. He needs something to sweeten him up. Trish, if you're gonna ride back here with your dad; do something to adjust his attitude."
Trish looked at Marsh. "You got a baseball bat? Or do you want me to try something else?"
"Whatever works." Marsh smiled a wicked grin.
Jimmy had stepped into the back seat and Trish moved into the center of the seat. Jimmy was wrapping Trish in his arms, as Marsh sat down in the front passenger seat.
Marsh looked back at Jimmy. "Here's the rule old man: Don't do anything I wouldn't do. You hear me?"
Trish's eyes opened wide. "Are you trying to kill my father, Marsh? You know he'll have a heart attack if he tries to keep up with you."
"Not my problem," Marsh laughed. "He's the one that wanted to play in the back seat with you. If he tries to keep up with you girl, it'll be his own fault. Though, I can think of a lot of worse ways to die. If I die someplace with you giving me mouth to mouth, I'll die happy."
"Marsh," Jimmy growled. "You're an incorrigible S.O.B. I have half a mind to send you back to your cave, and protect my daughter and granddaughter by myself."
Now Marsh laughed out loud. "You have gone mad." Marsh was laughing so hard he could hardly talk. "You can only dream of keeping up with these two, old man. I'm not at all sure they won't be an early death of me, and I'm half your age.... Wait a minute, did you find the fountain of youth on your travels? I thought that was a myth."
Becca was driving towards the ranch. "Grandpa?" Becca asked. "Did you have anywhere to go, besides home? If mom starts anything, you're going to need a nap, by the time we get there." Becca was laughing by the time she had finished.
Marsh looked back at Trish. "Trish, are you supposed to work at the hotel tomorrow?" He asked. "And do you have a car that's parked there?"
"Yes, and yes." Was Trish's reply.
"Becca," Marsh addressed the driver. "I think we should go by the hotel, and get Trish's car. That way she has wheels to get to work in the morning, unless Jimmy wants you to drop her off on your way to the airport tomorrow."
"No." Jimmy spoke up. "We should go over and get Trish's car. Come to think of it, what is your car Trish? I don't even know what you drive. Is it worth going after?"
Trish hesitated. "Well, when I go somewhere, I try to get someone else to drive. I have an old Toyota Camry. It usually starts and gets me to the grocery store, but it's not pretty."
Marsh turned sideways in the front seat. "Jimmy, are you going to buy this girl a new car, or am I? If she represents a company I work for, she's not going to drive around in an old clunker. If it's OK with everyone else in this car, I think we should go car shopping."
Jimmy looked at Trish, then at Marsh. "Trish," Jimmy began. "I had no idea you didn't have a decent car. Come to think about it, I'm not paying you a manager's salary either, am I? Have I given you a raise since you were a housekeeper?"
"Jimmy, ah, ...daddy." Trish was stammering. "You've been good to me. I figured that you would always pay me what I'm worth. I have a place to live, you pay my utilities, the hotel pays for my uniforms, which is usually all I get a chance to wear. I don't need much. I really haven't thought about needing a new car."
Marsh turned to Becca. "Is there an auto mall around here? I think your mother is getting a new car this afternoon. I'm buying her something nice. The company is buying the hotel a passenger van, so she has something for hauling guests to and from the airport, or meetings and such."
Jimmy looked at Trish. "I'm so sorry, Trish. You've done a great job for me. That hotel is making more money than it ever did, and it runs smoothly enough that I never have to worry about it anymore. Darling, I'm not paying you anything near what you're worth. This is exactly why I need someone like Marsh."
Jimmy continued, "Marsh comes in here, and in part of two weekend days, he's making changes, not just in the way things are done, but in the way we think about things. Thank you, Marsh! I really am glad you are here. Let's go get Trish a new car and a van for the hotel."
When Jimmy stopped for a breath, Marsh cut in. "Trish, do you have any idea what kind of car you want?"
"I haven't got a clue." Trish replied. "I've seen Becca's car. It's kinda pretty."
"I'll tell you what," Marsh said. "If there's an auto mall where there are several dealers, we can drive through. If you see something you like we can stop in and see what kind of deal we can make."
Trish looked up at Marsh. "Marsh," she said, "It sounds like daddy is going to give me a raise, but I don't want to spend it all on a car payment. I need to get something I can afford."
Marsh looked at Trish, and opened his mouth.
Jimmy spoke up first. "Trish baby, unless I heard him wrong, Marsh said he was going to buy you a car. Whether he plans on putting his own money out, or he plans on tapping the corporate account. You are going to be able to afford any car you choose. It will be paid for."
"You heard me just fine, Jimmy." Marsh chimed in. "As it turns out, I have my checkbook in my pocket. I don't have access to a company account today. Trish is getting a car today. I'll write a check from my account."
"Jimmy, one of the things I've learned in my short time on this planet, is that if I take care of the people who work for and with me, I can get a lot more out of them. I get what I pay for. Trish works for one of your companies, and if you are hiring me to run one or more of those companies, I'm going to take care of her as I would any of my employees. Aside from that, she's family, and we take care of our own." Marsh finished saying with a confident grin on his face.
"Trish," Jimmy's voice was soft. "You have always been family. I thought you were my niece, but that's family. You've done such a good job I've just let you run the Best Western without paying much attention to just how good you're doing. Now as it turns out, you're my daughter. Thanks to Dr. Marshall Mitchel, I know that now. It's time for me to step up and treat you like family, and not just as an employee, which I wasn't even doing a very good job of at that."
"It appears you are going to be living out at the ranch now. I appreciate Marsh's offer to buy you a new car, and I won't fight him over it. But your father would like to buy you a new car, if Marsh will let him. Marsh said you could choose whatever car you like, and whether it's Marsh or your dad, money is NOT an object."
Trish leaned into Jimmy and snuggled up against him while he held her tightly in his arms. She sobbed uncontrollably for a few minutes and when Trish was able to speak, she looked at Jimmy then at Marsh. "I've never felt so loved. I'm not trying to be mean daddy, but since Marsh checked in to our Best Western I've never felt so loved and so much a part of a family."
"Daddy, you have been good to me. I know you love me, and you have tried to take care of me since mommy died, even as my uncle. I have not always been very kind to you, and there have been some rough times. Marsh has made all that seem so far away. You brought Marsh out here, and you and Marsh have put our family back together. I love you daddy. And Marsh I love you too." Trish said in a subdued voice. "My car is old and it scares me to drive it very far. I would have bought a new one if I could. I will be very grateful if one or the other or both of you buy me a new car, but you don't have to buy me a car to show me you love me. I know that already."
Jimmy looked at Trish with damp eyes. "Trish, Marsh has pulled us together. I can feel the love in this little family like I never did before. You and Becca have worked for me, and you both have given me at least one hundred percent. You both have done your jobs and gone above and beyond. I am truly grateful to Marsh for coming back here and pulling us together, as a family."
Becca turned the car into the auto mall. There were ten dealerships, and Becca drove slowly up one side of the road, and then down the other. "Did you see anything you liked, Trish?" Marsh asked. I know it's been kinda quick just going up and down the street. "Would you like to stop and walk around some of the dealerships?"
"I don't even know what to look at," Trish sounded a little awestruck.
Jimmy joined the discussion. "I saw something I think she'd look good in. Becca, let's go back to the Lexus dealer."
Becca turned the big Chevy around and drove to the Lexus dealer. She pulled into the new car lot, and almost immediately there were five salesmen around the car. One of them came up to Becca's door and opened it for her. Marsh had to open his own door. Jimmy stepped out on Marsh's side, and Trish was given a hand on Becca's side of the car. Marsh decided to try to get someone's attention, since all the salesmen had gone to the driver's side.
Marsh used his outside voice. "Ok guys. These ladies are taken. The pretty one with the red hair and the blue green eyes is getting a new car this afternoon, and one of the old men is going to write the check. Any questions?"
Just the sound of Marsh's voice got everyone's attention. Marsh heard one of the salesmen say, "the pretty one with red hair and blue green eyes. Yeah right, that narrows it down to both ladies."
One of the guys came around to Marsh and Jimmy. "Hi, my name is Bill. I'm up, so I guess I should talk to someone about what you or what the lady wants."
Jimmy answered the salesman. "OK Bill. I think I saw a blue convertible here a few minutes ago. I think my daughter would look good in that car. Let's take a walk over to that car and see if I'm right."
"Oh, yes sir." Bill led the group across the front of the lot to the front of the showroom. The blue convertible was a 2013, IS 350 C. Bill opened the door and Trish slipped into the car and automatically reached up and gripped the steering wheel. Everyone agreed, Trish looked fabulous sitting in the new convertible. Jimmy suggested that Bill should get the keys, so Trish could test drive the car. Jimmy and Trish got in the car and waited for Bill to return with the keys. When Bill returned with the keys for the convertible, they waited patiently while Bill moved three other cars to let Trish drive the IS C out onto the road. Trish and Jimmy came back in about ten minutes. Trish was excited. "I love it!" she exclaimed. "What a rush!"
"Can I assume you want it?" asked Marsh.
"Oh yes, Marsh! I want it." Trish was jumping up and down like a little school girl.
Marsh turned to Bill. "OK Bill, Marsh said. We're going to buy this car this afternoon. I'm going to write a check for the full amount. I want your best price up front. I need to see the invoice, and will pay a reasonable amount over the invoice cost. If you can't make that kind of deal, you need to get me the person who can."
Bill's mouth dropped open. "I don't know if we can do that." Bill gasped.
"Then get your boss." Marsh told him. "Or we can go elsewhere."
Bill asked the group to come into his office. Once everyone was seated, Bill walked to another office across the showroom. He briefly spoke to the woman in that office. She got up and followed Bill into the office where Trish, Jimmy, Becca and Marsh were waiting.
The woman extended her hand to Marsh as he stood up and stepped across the room. "Hi there," she said. "I'm Helen Jones. My husband Ralph and I own this dealership. Bill tells me that at least one of you is no pilgrim." Her handshake was firm, and her tone was friendly.
"Ms. Jones," Marsh replied. "I'm Marshall Mitchel. The young ladies here are Trish Turner, and her daughter, Becca Andrews. The gentleman is Trish's father James Turner. Trish needs a new car, and she likes that pretty blue IS 350 C. I'm going to write you a check, if we can agree on a deal."
Helen looked into Marsh's eyes, weighing her response. "Mr. Mitchel," she began.
"Hold everything," Marsh interrupted. "Let's restart this conversation. It's Dr. Marshall Mitchel if we are going to have to be formal. I'd rather we skip that, and if we can forgo the formality, I prefer Marsh."
Helen's face lit up. "Well Marsh, I like that. I prefer Helen, then. That's been my name a lot longer than Mrs. Jones."
"Since we have the formalities out of the way, I'm pretty sure you looked at the sticker, and you have something else in mind as a price."
"Helen, I understand the auto industry, and the flooring portion of your cost." Marsh was going to make sure Helen knew where he was coming from. "That being the case, I also know how long a car like this one lasts on your lot, so I know you haven't paid a huge flooring cost, if any yet."
"You've got an invoice that says what the factory charges you for the car, before your volume discount gets subtracted. Why don't you and I look at that invoice? We'll add your preparation costs, I'll kick down five hundred dollars to Bill, and we add a thousand to the invoice. You make the additional factory incentives, and we all end up going home happy. That is if Bill likes the idea of walking home with five hundred dollars cash in his pocket."
"Hmmm," Helen mused. "You've done this before, I see. Would you like to come to work for me?"
"Wait just a minute here." It was Jimmy's turn to get into the conversation. "I just tricked this guy back here from California, to hire him into my companies. I haven't gotten him to sign on the dotted line yet, but Marsh I will pay you double what she offers."
"Oh my," Helen moaned. "I'm suddenly faced with a bidding war. Would it help if I just give the pretty ladies each a new car?" she laughed.
Marsh looked quickly at Becca. "You stay out of this young lady."
"That's for sure." Jimmy interjected.
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