JOHN AND ROSE
Chapter Twenty-Nine
"I think you’ve made an enemy."
Rose looked across the small room at John, unbuttoning her dress and putting
the fussing baby to her breast.
"I know. Rose, about what happened
today…"
"You did surprise me, I’ll admit. I’ve
never seen you be so…ruthless before."
Her face was expressionless, waiting for what
he would say. Rose wasn’t one to judge without knowing the facts, but she had
never cared much for ruthless men. She’d seen too much damage done by them to
be very tolerant.
"Rose…" John tried to think of how
to explain himself to her, knowing how she felt. "I’m not usually like
that, but…you don’t get to be where I am without learning…and using…a few dirty
tricks. I’m sure you know that."
"I do…but there’s different levels of
ruthlessness. It depends upon what kind of tricks you use, and who you use them
against. If you’re leveling the playing field against other businessmen who
know and understand those tricks, then that’s one thing…as long as no one is
really hurt by them. I am well-aware that the business world is a tough
place—Hollywood isn’t much different—but sometimes things go too far. When
lives are destroyed in the name of power or greed—that’s going too far."
"I have never destroyed anyone’s life,
and I’ve always done my best to ensure that those working below me have a fair
break. I wasn’t always in this position, you know."
"I know. I lived with you when you were
just starting out in America. I also know that Anders has a reputation for fair
dealing—but I also know that things go on below the surface that the public
doesn’t know about. I grew up in the upper class, you know. Business dealings,
whether from new money or old, can be merciless. And all too often, the people
who stand in the way—especially the poorer ones—are the ones who suffer. The
people at the top are usually cushioned by their money and reputation, while
those at the bottom don’t have those advantages. But even the people at the top
can be harmed—and all too often unfairly."
"Rose, you’ve been to Anders Cedar
Rapids. You’ve seen how things work, how the workers are treated. I’ve never
objected to unionizing, or hired scabs to replace people who had a legitimate
complaint. And when you saw how things work, you know that I didn’t fix them up
for you beforehand—because you have a habit of showing up unexpectedly. I have
stepped on a few toes—mostly when things were about to get out of hand, or in
pushing Anders’ products above the competitors’. But since other businessmen
use the same strategies, I’d say we’re even."
"And the dean?"
John sat back, thinking. "I’ll do what
it takes, to protect my family. Nadia was being treated unfairly, and I won’t
stand for that. I’d do the same for you, or for Mary or Christopher or Jane, or
even for Elizabeth or your mother."
"John…I do understand." Rose rocked
the nursing baby gently, wincing as one of the infant’s new teeth dug into her
flesh. "I must admit that I stepped on a few toes in my career as an
actress—though they usually deserved it," she added ironically. "I
also know that you, unlike some successful businessmen, are not amoral—you have
a heart, even if you do try to ignore it on occasion. You do what you have to,
but no more. And what you’ve done for the workers, and for charity—it isn’t
just for show. You genuinely care. I respect that, and it goes a long way
toward making up for the occasional ruthless behavior."
"I try not to hurt anyone." John
sighed. "I guess it just comes with the territory, and in trying to get to
the top."
"That’s usually the way it is. I know
that the ideal is that if you just work hard enough you’ll be a success, like
in those Horatio Alger books that Nadia used to read, but the truth is, success
depends in a large part upon who you know and what you’re willing to do. A lot
of people work very hard and never get out of the slums, while others do next
to nothing and still always seem to come out on top."
"You sound like Miriam."
"Her ideas were considered radical in
our society, but there was a lot of truth to them. I think you agreed with her
ideas, too."
"Some of them. Others…you’re right, she
was radical."
"But you still learned from her. It
shows."
"So, do you forgive me, then?"
"I wasn’t angry."
"But you were shocked."
"A little." Rose paused, putting
the baby against her shoulder and patting her back. "But not too shocked.
Now that I think about it, I might have used some rather devious tricks myself,
if I thought it would protect my child."
"Well, I think that the problem is
solved, though I may wind up establishing an Anders factory here—maybe a
textile plant. We’ve been expanding into that area."
"People would probably appreciate it,
and it would give you more leverage. It might be a good area for it, too—plenty
of potential employees, and easy access to the materials needed for
production."
"Maybe. I’ll look into it." He
looked at Rose as she set Jane in her lap and buttoned her dress. "Are you
almost done? I’d like to take you and Nadia out to dinner."
"Yes, I’m done." Rose carried Jane over
to the dresser she had set up as a changing table. "Just let me change
Jane, and we’ll be on our way."
*****
The rest of the visit passed uneventfully.
Some people looked at them with anger and resentment, but few showed it openly,
once word got around of who they were and the dean’s story about Nadia’s
background was announced. Not everyone believed it, or cared, but enough people
did to make it work.
Nadia showed them the university campus and
the town, introducing them to her friends and to the young man she had been
dating. John and Rose were pleased to meet Nadia’s friends, but the
introduction to her boyfriend was not so pleasant, since he had abandoned her
when the scandal began, and then came back when he learned that her father was
a wealthy businessman. Nadia had confronted him, and when he hadn’t been
swayed, and had kept trying to win her back, John had confronted him, warning
him to stay away from his daughter. John’s warning had finally convinced him to
give up, knowing that he would get nowhere when Nadia’s father was against him.
The Calverts stayed for a week, taking Nadia
to visit some of the other towns in the area when she had time away from her
classes, inviting her friends along. Her friends were very impressed,
especially with her movie star stepmother, and one who was a theater arts major
asked Rose if she might work for her motion picture company the following
summer. Rose replied that if she wanted work, she would find something for her,
as long as she could get to Cedar Rapids. She had no plans to expand or to film
on location outside the Cedar Rapids area anytime soon.
Nadia accompanied them to the train station
the day they left, skipping a class to do so. She knew that she couldn’t afford
to miss too many classes, especially after all the trouble she had taken to
stay at the university, but she wanted to say good-bye. She would go to visit
them at Thanksgiving, and they would undoubtedly come to see her again, but she
was a little homesick, and would miss them.
"We’ll see you at Thanksgiving,
okay?" Rose told her, hugging her stepdaughter.
"Stay out of trouble, now," John
added. "If you have anymore trouble with that dean—or with that
boyfriend—just tell us and we’ll help you out."
"I will." Nadia hugged them both.
She had always been rather shy and quiet, but the events of the past few weeks,
combined with living away from her parents, had allowed her inner strength to
come out. She was more capable of taking care of herself now, and was truly
growing up. She was still young, but she was at last putting her childhood
behind her. "Don’t let Jane forget me, and tell Christopher I’m thinking
about him—and he’d better stay out of my room."
Rose laughed. Nadia was more mature than she
had been when she left home, but some things didn’t change.
The whistle blew, signaling the train’s
imminent departure, so John picked up their bags and started toward the train,
Rose and Nadia walking beside him. As John and Rose boarded the train, Nadia
hugged them again, then stood back, waving, as the train pulled away and soon
made its way out of sight.