The Beginning by Tina Anne Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Tina Anne
tell you.”
I looked at him and took a deep breath. “Didn’t you tell me what?”
“I’ve got a couple of business associates who are going to the park with us before it opens. Jerome is going to meet us there and let us in so we can really inspect the place before the meeting.”
A couple of business associates. In Frankie’s world a couple usually meant anywhere between one and one hundred. Wait, did he say Jerome was letting us in?
“Frankie, when did you talk to Jerome? How did you get his number?”
“I got his number during one of your many trips to the bathroom. He really knows his stuff, Mom. Anyway, he can’t wait to help us. Especially because he wants to save the park as much as we do. So get dressed and I’ll meet you in the lobby in fifteen minutes.”
“Fifteen minutes?”
“Yes, fifteen minutes. Now get moving.”
With that he left. I just stared at the door. I never get dressed in fifteen minutes. What was he thinking? Well, I’d try, because really, I knew better than to question him. Even though I usually did anyway. Once in a while I just had to remind him who’s the parent and who’s the kid.
I knew from almost the beginning that my son was some kind of genius. He was reading the financial section of the paper as soon as he could read, and he could read at age three. He was giving his father and I accurate stock advice not too long after that. He graduated high school at age fifteen and business school at eighteen. People from all over the world asked him for his financial advice. He’s had job offers from all over the world too. He could have worked anywhere he wanted too. And yet, he stayed in Pennsylvania. I always wondered why he never left. I’m sure I would have.
When I met Frankie in the lobby, he was sitting and talking to about six people. Six very important looking people. I wondered if they spent the night here and if they did how much of a shock it was to their systems. They all stopped talking and looked my way. I just smiled and said hello.
“Mom, I’m glad you’re ready. Let me introduce you. Everyone, this is my mother. Mother, this is Don Haskle. He owns a construction company. He’s built a lot of buildings that you’ve heard of.”
Really, I thought, because I’d never heard of him.
“This is Frank Driscole. Frank is a city planner from you know where.”
I didn’t know but I didn’t want to insult the man.
“This is Donald MacGilvey. He is a real estate investor.”
Never heard of him either.
“This is Chef Michael LaGivens. He owns several restaurants you’ve heard of. He also has a TV series.”
Ok, I think I’ve seen him on TV.
“This is Emeril Fontaine. He designs thrill rides for theme parks and amusement parks worldwide.”
Never heard of him, but it didn’t sound like I should have either.
“And finally this is Rosemary Thyme. She is a very famous botanist. She also designs some beautiful gardens all over the world.”
Nope, never heard of her either, but I thought the name was great. One out of six isn’t bad, is it?
I shook hand with everyone and we exchanged the “nice to meet you’s”. I hadn’t heard of most of them, but that was ok. I was still very impresses by my son’s ability to gather them all up at a moment’s notice.
“Where’s Pete?” I asked Frankie. Pete was Frankie’s lawyer. Somehow he was the only one I was expecting to see today.
“Pete’s meeting us at Adolph’s lawyer, George’s office. He’s preparing al the legal stuff before the meeting. Our agenda is to tour the park and get a realistic picture of what is wrong with it. And how much it will cost to fix as well as how long it will take.”
A man in a blue jacket walked in to the lobby. “I’m looking for Mr. Summer,” he told the clerk. Frankie went over and talked to him. They shook hands and the man left. Frankie walked back toward us.
“The van has arrived,” he announced.
Frankie had rented a very nice van for our trip
I looked at him and took a deep breath. “Didn’t you tell me what?”
“I’ve got a couple of business associates who are going to the park with us before it opens. Jerome is going to meet us there and let us in so we can really inspect the place before the meeting.”
A couple of business associates. In Frankie’s world a couple usually meant anywhere between one and one hundred. Wait, did he say Jerome was letting us in?
“Frankie, when did you talk to Jerome? How did you get his number?”
“I got his number during one of your many trips to the bathroom. He really knows his stuff, Mom. Anyway, he can’t wait to help us. Especially because he wants to save the park as much as we do. So get dressed and I’ll meet you in the lobby in fifteen minutes.”
“Fifteen minutes?”
“Yes, fifteen minutes. Now get moving.”
With that he left. I just stared at the door. I never get dressed in fifteen minutes. What was he thinking? Well, I’d try, because really, I knew better than to question him. Even though I usually did anyway. Once in a while I just had to remind him who’s the parent and who’s the kid.
I knew from almost the beginning that my son was some kind of genius. He was reading the financial section of the paper as soon as he could read, and he could read at age three. He was giving his father and I accurate stock advice not too long after that. He graduated high school at age fifteen and business school at eighteen. People from all over the world asked him for his financial advice. He’s had job offers from all over the world too. He could have worked anywhere he wanted too. And yet, he stayed in Pennsylvania. I always wondered why he never left. I’m sure I would have.
When I met Frankie in the lobby, he was sitting and talking to about six people. Six very important looking people. I wondered if they spent the night here and if they did how much of a shock it was to their systems. They all stopped talking and looked my way. I just smiled and said hello.
“Mom, I’m glad you’re ready. Let me introduce you. Everyone, this is my mother. Mother, this is Don Haskle. He owns a construction company. He’s built a lot of buildings that you’ve heard of.”
Really, I thought, because I’d never heard of him.
“This is Frank Driscole. Frank is a city planner from you know where.”
I didn’t know but I didn’t want to insult the man.
“This is Donald MacGilvey. He is a real estate investor.”
Never heard of him either.
“This is Chef Michael LaGivens. He owns several restaurants you’ve heard of. He also has a TV series.”
Ok, I think I’ve seen him on TV.
“This is Emeril Fontaine. He designs thrill rides for theme parks and amusement parks worldwide.”
Never heard of him, but it didn’t sound like I should have either.
“And finally this is Rosemary Thyme. She is a very famous botanist. She also designs some beautiful gardens all over the world.”
Nope, never heard of her either, but I thought the name was great. One out of six isn’t bad, is it?
I shook hand with everyone and we exchanged the “nice to meet you’s”. I hadn’t heard of most of them, but that was ok. I was still very impresses by my son’s ability to gather them all up at a moment’s notice.
“Where’s Pete?” I asked Frankie. Pete was Frankie’s lawyer. Somehow he was the only one I was expecting to see today.
“Pete’s meeting us at Adolph’s lawyer, George’s office. He’s preparing al the legal stuff before the meeting. Our agenda is to tour the park and get a realistic picture of what is wrong with it. And how much it will cost to fix as well as how long it will take.”
A man in a blue jacket walked in to the lobby. “I’m looking for Mr. Summer,” he told the clerk. Frankie went over and talked to him. They shook hands and the man left. Frankie walked back toward us.
“The van has arrived,” he announced.
Frankie had rented a very nice van for our trip