"Jonathan? Are you coming? We’re going to be late." Jennifer grabbed Max’s coat and bag from the foyer table. "Max? Come on sweetie. We’ve got to go." Jennifer looked around the area for her two-year-old son as he came running in from the dining room. "Jonathan?" she called again. "Here Max, let’s get your coat on and get in the car while we wait for daddy."
"I want daddy to do it!"
"Come on Max. Daddy is busy." Jennifer looked up stairs hoping to see Jonathan coming. "Let mommy help you."
"I want daddy to do it!"
"Fine." Jennifer took a deep breath but it didn’t seem to help the growing tension. The last few months were a whirlwind of activity and Jennifer found her self increasingly fatigued and annoyed. She had agreed to chair the fundraising committee for the Healthy Children Project without realizing the size and scope of the Southern California based public health group. Further, she was late with the rewrites on her new book about healthy eating for children.
To add to it, Jonathan’s new project at Hart Industries seemed to be keeping him longer at work. Jennifer couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t delegate the project to one of his many capable staff but Jonathan insisted the project, a safer and easier to install car seat, needed his full attention.
It didn’t help either that Max was in one of his ‘daddy-only’ moods. For a two-year-old, he was generally a joy. He definitely needed more supervision as his curiosity was running wild. Like most two-year-olds he was prone to temper tantrum primarily when tired. But overall, Jennifer didn’t feel two years old was too terrible. Still, she wished he’d let her help him with his jacket. She considered forcing herself on him but decided that battle wasn’t worth taking on considering her already irritated mood.
"JONATHAN!"
"I’m coming, I’m coming." Jonathan came down the stairs finishing the knot in his tie.
"Max would like you to help him with his coat," Jennifer said tightly.
Jonathan looked at Max and then to Jennifer. "Okay," he said feeling the tension in the room envelop him.
Jennifer grabbed Max’s bag and her purse and headed out the door.
Jonathan picked up Max’s coat. "Why didn’t you let mommy help you?" He started to help Max.
"I can do it!" Max grabbed the coat.
"Come on Max, mommy’s in a hurry."
"I can do it." Max laid the coat on the ground so that the collar was at his feet. He leaned over, putting his hands in the sleeves. He pulled the coat up over his head, sliding his hands the rest of the way into the coat.
Jonathan stood back. "That’s great champ. Where did you learn that?"
"Mommy taught me." A twinge of guilt crept into Jonathan. He had been annoyed by all the hurrying he was being required to do that morning. Actually, he’d been annoyed for some time by how busy Jennifer had been and how she wasn’t as supportive of his new project at Hart Industries as he had expected her to be. But hearing Max report a new trick she had taught him made him think maybe he was the one who was too busy.
"Come on. Let’s go."
Jonathan pulled out into the busy 6 lane traffic heading towards the birthday party of one of Max’s pre-school friends.
"I want Barney." Max demanded from the backseat.
"Thank goodness we have faders on the speakers," Jonathan said as he popped in the tape and turned the front speakers off. Jennifer forced a smile. Jonathan glanced over at her. Another tinge of guilt crept up at how things had been over the last few months. "Great trick you taught Max."
Jennifer looked over at him. "Hmm?"
"With the coat. Great trick." Jonathan smiled, the humble one.
"Oh, yes. He picked it up pretty good didn’t he?" Jennifer glanced back at Max as he sang about raindrops and gumdrops. She then turned back to Jonathan. She knew he was trying to lighten the tension and she felt bad that she didn’t seem to have the energy to help out so she looked out the window.
Jonathan watched her gaze shift from him to outside. Annoyance reared up in him again that she wouldn’t at least try. Putting both hands on the steering wheel, Jonathan forced his gaze forward.
They approached the busy intersection, each in their own separate world oblivious to the car running the red light.
"Jonathan!" Jennifer screamed when she saw the car veer into their path.
"Oh God." Jonathan stood on the breaks and tried to swerve out of the way. Instinctively his hand shot out to protect Jennifer. But all attempts were useless. They ran into the car head on. There was gnashing and crumpling and breaking of glass and then nothing.
Jennifer began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open and then shut again as the room began to spin.
"Ah, there she is. She’s coming around." She heard a man’s voice. It was vaguely familiar although she couldn’t place it. "Jennifer? Can you hear me? How do you feel?"
"Like someone put my head in a vice," she mumbled.
"There you go Steven. She’s going to be fine."
"Dr. Sawyer?" Jennifer asked. Why would her childhood doctor be here at … at… Jennifer opened her eyes again and realized she was in her room at her father’s home in Maryland.
"That’s right Jennifer." Dr. Sawyer sat beside her on the bed. "Your father is here."
"Jennifer."
"Pa?" She brought her hand to her head. "What happened?"
Steven looked at the doctor concerned that she wouldn’t remember.
"You were in a horse accident dear," Dr. Sawyer answered. "Do you know what day it is?"
"Saturday."
"That’s right."
"How about the date?"
"Ummmm. December 3rd?"
"That’s right. She’ll be fine Steven. Let her rest. Wake her up every 2 hours or so. Call me if she starts to get disoriented or groggy."
"I will. Thank you for coming Martin."
"No problem. Jennifer has always been one of my favorite patients." Steven showed Dr. Martin Sawyer out and then returned to Jennifer’s room.
"How are you feeling Jennifer?"
"My head is killing me."
"Here is some medicine. Sit up and take these." Steven helped Jennifer sit up and take the pills. "I called Alexander. He wasn’t available but I left a message to call immediately when he was."
Alexander? Jennifer’s head was pounding making it difficult to clear her mind. Oh yes, Alexander. My husband. "It’s okay Pa. No need to bother him. I’ll be fine."
"I’m sure I will get an earful if he found out you were hurt and I didn’t call."
"It’s fine. I just need to rest and I’ll be fine."
"You can tell him that when he calls. Right now you need to rest. I’ll be back in an hour or so."
Jennifer nodded. She relaxed her body and let her mind drift. She was in her childhood home with her father spending a much-needed week off. Alexander Chancellor, her husband of five years was in Europe on business. She was glad she could remember although it all seemed fuzzy, not quite right. Of course, how could she think straight with all the pounding in her head? Jennifer let sleep carry her away and hoped it would clear her mind.
Jonathan rolled over and immediately regretted it. His brain felt detached from his head and it was sloshing around, ramming against the inside of his scull.
"Mr. Hart!" Ruthie came running into the living room. "Are you alright?"
"If the room would stop moving I’d be better."
"Let me call Dr. Jamison."
"What happened?"
"We just had an earthquake." Ruthie said helping Jonathan sit up. She picked up a crystal bowl that had been on a shelf. "You must have gotten hit with this."
"There’s lead in crystal right?"
"Yes sir."
"That must be why I feel I was hit with a ton of bricks."
Jonathan managed, with the help of Ruthie to get to his couch. "Let me go call Dr. Jamison."
"That’s okay Ruthie."
Ruthie ignored him and went to the phone. Jonathan lay back on the couch to settle his brain.
"Oh Jonathan!" Jonathan opened his eyes to find a pretty brunette coming towards him. Sitting on the couch next to him she took his hand. "Are you okay?"
"Fine. Just a little bump on the head. What are you doing here?"
"I felt bad about working on the weekend and came home."
"Are you okay?" He asked entwining his fingers with hers.
"Yes, I’m fine. I was in the car and barely noticed."
"Not surprising considering how you drive."
"Jonathan! You rest a bit for now. I’ll be back in a minute."
Jonathan closed his eyes and willed the throbbing in his head to stop.
"Jonathan. What’s this I hear about you avoiding me?" Dr. Jamison entered. "Hello Mrs. Hart."
"Hello Dr. Jamison," Catherine Hart replied.
"What happened?" the doctor asked.
"I was hit by expensive crystal. Can I sue?" Jonathan said winking at his wife.
"Maybe but my docket is full." Catherine leaned over and kissed her husband. "Now let Dr. Jamison check you over and behave."
Dr. Jamison checked the bump on Jonathan’s head and asked a series of questions. "Well Jonathan, you are going to live although you will have a doozy of a headache. You’ll need to take it easy."
"Did you hear that honey?" Jonathan called.
"We’ll make do." Catherine responded.
"Put him to bed."
"I like this." Jonathan smiled.
"Are you sure he’s not drunk?" Catherine jeered.
"Either way, he’ll feel the same tomorrow."
Jonathan rested his head back on his couch as Dr. Jamison gave Catherine instructions. At least the room wasn’t spinning anymore. His mind seemed to be clearing. Yes, he was at his home in Los Angeles. His wife of 3 years, Catherine, was here taking break from her busy law practice. Yes, it was coming back to him. It was still fuzzy though, somehow not quite right.
Jennifer sat at the desk in her office overlooking busy New York City. She had recuperated at her father’s home for a week and was now back at work as president of the Alexander Chancellor I Foundation. The foundation had been struggling when Jennifer and Alexander (the third) had married but since taking it over, the foundation was thriving and supporting a variety of children’s organizations. Jennifer enjoyed the work and was happy with her success. Still, it took a lot of time and her writing suffered. She hadn’t published anything in over a year.
"Mrs. Chancellor?" a voice came over the intercom.
"Yes, Callie?"
"Nancy Shift is here to see you."
"Yes send her in."
Jennifer got up from her desk as her door opened. "Nancy. Come in."
"Hello Jennifer." Nancy burst into the office obviously excited about something. "I got him Jennifer. I got Jonathan Hart."
"Really?" Jennifer raised a brow. She knew of Mr. Hart and his generous donations to children’s charities but she somehow could never get over how he never returned her call all those years ago in London.
"He’s agreed to speak at the Holiday Benefit AND he said he’d consider sitting on the board."
"Terrific." Jennifer stated.
"Terrific? It’s more than terrific. It will mean lots of money and he’ll bring other high powered people with him."
"I understand that. Great work Nancy."
"The thing is, he wants to get a closer look at the foundation; how its run, the accounting etceteras."
"That’s where I come in," Jennifer guessed.
"You are the president. I think he will be miffed if the president didn’t take some time to woo him."
"Woo him eh." Jennifer knew Nancy was right. Jonathan Hart had money and influence. Having him support the Chancellor foundation would make all the difference in the world. Maybe they would be able to get a new president and she could go back to her passion; writing.
"When does he arrive?" Jennifer asked.
"Your first meeting is Monday morning. Over the week you have been scheduled for a luncheon, planning sessions, a board meeting and toy lift committee meeting. Then whatever he feels he needs to get him on board."
Jennifer nodded. "Be sure Callie and I have a copy and put together a prospectus and any other documents we may need." Already done."
"Great." Jennifer watched as Nancy left. Jonathan Hart. Well maybe this time she would get an interview after all.
"Mrs. Chancellor? Mr. Chancellor is on the line."
"Thank you Callie." Jennifer picked up the line. "Hello there."
"Hey you. How are you feeling?"
"You know you don’t have to call me three times a day."
"That’s not a nice thing to say to your husband."
"It’s not that I don’t want to here from you. I just don’t need to be babied."
"I am thousands of miles away. At least let me check in with you. How are you?"
"Good. You’ll be interested in this latest piece of news."
"Really? What’s that?"
"Nancy has arranged for Jonathan Hart to speak at the Holiday Benefit when she extended the invitation to sit on the board."
"Wow. That would be a great help to the foundation."
"Yes, in fact. I was thinking that if he came on the foundation would be strong enough that we could get someone else to run this place and I could start writing again."
"I thought you liked running the foundation." Jennifer could hear the strain in Alexander’s voice.
"Its fine but not what I set out to do in my life. You know that Alexander. We agreed this would be temporary. I have been here over three years now."
"It’s just that this stability is new not yet solidified. I’d hate for you to leave prematurely."
Jennifer sighed. "I’m not the only one qualified to run this place."
"I know honey. Look, we’ll talk about it when I get back. I have another week here but I’ll be back in time for the benefit. Be sure to extend my greetings to Jonathan Hart."
"I will. Bye."
"Jennif…" Jennifer hung up before he could finish. Alexander sighed and hung up the phone. He wondered what it would take for Jennifer to be content? She excelled at running the foundation. She saved it from certain ruin. Now she wanted to leave it to pursue a hobby. Well, more than a hobby. After all she was a published author. Still, her gift, her skill was in raising money and running the foundation. How come she couldn’t see that?
Jonathan sat in the kitchen drinking his morning coffee.
"Good morning Jonathan," Catherine said as she came in.
"Good morning." He lifted his head for a kiss. She pecked him on the cheek.
"You’re up early."
"I leave for New York today."
"Oh that’s right. A week right?"
"Mmm." Jonathan took a sip of coffee. He watched as she sat with some fruit and coffee. "Why don’t you come with me? We can have a little vacation, spend some quality time together." He reached over to toy with a tendril of her hair.
"Jonathan, you know I have to be in court this week. I’ll be there Friday night for the benefit."
"How about we stay the week after?"
"I have appointments, clients."
"You know, you don’t have to work so hard…"
"We have been over this hundred times. I like my work. I don’t want to be a housewife. Really, its very chauvinistic of you."
"Wait a minute. You know that’s not what I mean."
"What do you mean then." Her face with flush and her eyes dark with anger.
"I mean, we have lots of money to do what ever we want and all we do is work. I want to travel, shop, have fun. We can get a horse ranch and ride whenever we want. Or find some deserted island and make love on the beach…"
Catherine rubbed her eyes. "I like my work and I don’t want to go horseback riding."
"I don’t want you to give up something you like Cat, I really don’t. But God, I could really use some excitement, adventure."
"Life with me is boring, eh?"
"Don’t do this, Cat. I love you and we have a great life. I just want to be able to spend more time with you. We have the means why can’t we create the opportunity?" Jonathan reached out to take her hand.
Catherine sighed. "I guess it might be fun to spend some time on the beach."
"There you go."
"I’ll check my schedule and see when I can get a week… or two."
"Music to my ears. Come here." Jonathan took her hand and pulled her into his lap. "Will you wear that red bikini I got you last year?"
"Maybe, if you behave."
"I don’t want to behave." He ran his hand along her thigh, pushing her satin robe open.
"Jonathan! I don’t have time for this today." She pulled her robe together and slid off his lap.
Jonathan sighed. "I hope you can get that time off soon."
"Mrs. Chancellor, Jonathan Hart is here."
"Send him in please Callie." Jennifer got up from behind her desk to greet the formidable Jonathan Hart. The door swung open followed by a tall well-dressed man.
"Mrs. Chancellor." He extended his hand. "I’m Jonathan Hart."
For a moment Jennifer stood dumfounded. He was much more impressive in person. Larger. And his smile was devastating. It seemed to reach right into her chest to play volleyball. "Mr. Hart. I’m please to finally meet you." She said pulling herself together. His warm hand enveloped hers.
"The pleasure is mine." Jonathan found himself staring at the stunning woman. She was gorgeous no doubt but he found himself drawn to her eyes, which were full of energy, excitement, even danger. Realizing he held her hand a little longer than customary he dropped it.
"Please sit down," Jennifer said motioning to a chair. Normally Jennifer would have sat next to him but there was something overwhelming about Jonathan Hart so she opted to sit behind her desk, where it was safe. "How was your trip?"
"Uneventful. I forgot though how cold it is back here in December."
"It is winter."
"Not in Southern California." He smiled again and Jennifer felt her stomach lurch.
"I guess not. We are thrilled you have agreed to speak at the benefit this year."
"I’m always happy to help children’s causes." Jonathan couldn’t take his eyes off of hers. "I have followed your efforts to save the Chancellor Foundation. You have become a major contributor to children’s charities. It’s admirable."
"Thank you. Perhaps you will like to be a part of that?"
"Ah, the board. You don’t waste time do you Mrs. Chancellor?’
"I try not to and its Jennifer."
"Okay, Jennifer." The sound of her name off his lips sent a chill up Jennifer’s spine. "I’m interested in your board but I do need to research it a bit more. See how you work. I’m very selective on how I spend my time."
"Of course. I understand you are a busy man Mr. Hart…"
"Jonathan."
Jennifer smiled and Jonathan thought it would melt snow in the North Pole with its warmth. "Jonathan. I know you are based mostly in Los Angeles. We have supported programs there and even a new homeless youth outreach program at the San Francisco Mission Street Children’s Home, formally orphanage."
"I see you do you homework."
"I like to know what I am getting into as well Mr.….. Jonathan."
"I bet you do." There was a silence that echoed between them. It wasn’t uncomfortable. It was more amusement, challenge, wonder.
"Well, how much time do you have for us today Jonathan?"
"For you, I have all day."
Jennifer raised an eyebrow. "Why don’t we start with a tour then?"
