CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
(part six)

Sunday evening – 5:17 P.M.

They had expected one venture capitalist. A friend of his mother’s. His buddy who split his season tickets with Jacob.

Five suits arrived.

It seems that this friend of his mother’s had Twittered that he was going to look at a construction company, and four of his venture capitalist friends wanted to take a look. Of course they weren’t looking to invest in Lipson Construction. They wanted to play with the construction equipment. It was Sunday after all.

Well, one guy wanted to meet Valerie. He’d followed Valerie around all day like a love sick puppy dog.

Jacob rested his head on his desk. He was bone tired and nervous at the same time. The investors – four men and a woman – were nice people, really smart, and knew business. In between sites, they asked him solid questions about Lipson construction. He felt like he had spent the day defending a Ph.D. thesis in front of business experts.

Aden came through with flying colors. The VCs, that’s what they liked to be called, loved the idea that he started at Lipson as a day laborer. More than once, they commented on the rapport Aden had with the employees. The VCs liked Tres too. And of course, Sam charmed them completely.

They left the real grilling for Jacob.

And now Jacob waited. The VCs had been in the conference room for over an hour. Every once and a while, he heard them laugh. He looked up as Aden came in the door.

“How are the kids?”

“Good.” Aden plopped down in an armchair opposite Jacob’s desk. “They spent the afternoon at the zoo. Everyone’s waiting for us at the Castle.”

“Everyone?”

“Well, the family,” Aden said.

Jacob nodded. Valerie wandered in the room and sat down next to Aden.

“How’s Mike?” Jacob asked.

“Excited. He and Colin are going to start a little martial arts school for kids,” Valerie said. “Colin’s been working with Katy and Paddie. Aden agreed to let Nash and Noelle join. I guess Honey wants to learn what she can do. Jill and the girls are probably in. Anyway, it’s not for money, just for the chance to do it.”

“Sounds fun,” Jacob said.

“Oh, Mike volunteered you to help too,” Valerie said. “So it’s you and Colin and Mike. I guess Colin has a couple other kids in mind too. There’s a boy living with Alex that’s Nash’s age. Teddy, I think his name is. Does Nash know Teddy?”

Aden shook his head.

“He’s their pilot’s kid,” Jacob said.

“Right,  Teddy is Zack Jakkman’s son.” Valerie laughed. “I don’t remember Zack but I guess he has quite a reputation. Anyway, everyone’s waiting for us for dinner.”

“I’ve heard,” Jacob said.

Sam came in the office with cold bottles of water for everyone.

“Delphie made her eggplant pasta,” Sam said.

“Oh, that’s so good!” Aden said. “I’m starved.”

Jacob took a package of Nutter Butter cookies and set them on the desk. Valerie and Aden were grabbing cookies when Tres came in.

“They’re close,” Tres said. “That’s what they said.”

“Hey, Tres,” Blane came through the door after him. “Thanks for the roses. Heather said they’re gorgeous. She said you had the snow shoveled?”

“I arranged for a service to clear your snow this winter,” Tres said. “With the baby on the way, you don’t need to worry about snow.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you,” Blane said. “I’ve been so sick that Heather shovels the snow.”

“I thought that might be the case,” Tres said. “And it’s the least I can do. I’m really sorry for being such an asshole.”

“Yeah, thanks for that too.” Blane smiled.

Blane walked over to the desk for some cookies. He held the package out for Tres to get some. Sam gave them each a bottle of water.

Jacob put his forehead on his desk.

“Are you all right?” Sam asked. “How’s your heart?”

“Just tired, Dad,” Jacob said. “I may miss pasta for a long nap.”

“I’ll go check again,” Tres said.

Tres was walking to the door when Celia’s VC friend stuck his head in the door.

“We’re ready to talk to you.”

Denver Cereal continues on Monday….