Part 23 (1/2)

They did and I set the files down on Paul's desk. He stood when he saw the men enter and walked around his desk to greet them. I stood back and let him handle the beginning of the meeting.

Paul extended his hand to Norman. ”It's great to see you again, Norman,” he said with a huge smile on his face as he pumped his hand.

”You too, Mr. Pierce. I was just telling Aly here how we are so grateful for you and all you are doing. The neighborhood seems different, happier.”

Paul's smile broadened. ”That's great. We are very excited as well.” He turned his gaze to Sean. ”And you must be Mr. Halliday. I'm Paul Pierce. It's nice to finally meet you.”

Sean gave him a similar greeting as he gave me. He said a h.e.l.lo and shook his hand, staying behind Norman. Paul looked over to me and I just smiled.

”Please, gentleman, have a seat. Aly, I brought this chair over by me for you,” he told me, pointing at a chair behind his desk. I nodded and went to sit down.

Paul clapped his hands together and sat down after the two men were seated. ”Well, I say let's get right to the point. Aly and I appreciate you being here today, Mr. Halliday. We know how you have felt on this and are grateful to be able to express our thoughts to you.”

Sean nodded, looking between Paul and me. ”Yeah, I felt I was pretty clear in the email I sent to Ms. Chase a while back.”

I froze, starting to panic. Paul sensed it and gave me a look. Looking back to Sean, he answered, ”You were, but Ms. Chase is very pa.s.sionate about what we do and has only wanted the chance to talk to you so thank you for being here.”

Sean nodded, continuing to stay silent. Norman looked over at him. ”Sean, I know you have some questions for them, why don't you start asking?”

Sean shot him a look of annoyance. Paul sat forward, giving them his best smile. ”That would be great, Mr. Halliday. Aly and I are here to answer any questions you might have.”

Sean bristled in his chair, then looked directly at me. ”Why did you talk to my daughter that day? You had no right to tell her the things you did.”

His intensity caught me off guard and I froze. Paul and Norman both gave me sympathetic looks and I pulled myself together. ”Yes, about that, I'm very sorry. I realize now that that wasn't very smart of me to do. I should have just given her our card and left it at that, but this is my chance to express to you why I did and why I feel so pa.s.sionate. When I saw your daughter answer the door to Norman here, my heart melted. I started imagining all of the things that we at Pierce Homes could give her and I got caught in the moment wanting to know what her favorite things were. Again I am sorry I went over your head. That was wrong.”

Sean seemed to consider my answer. ”I appreciate your apology, but you've planted a seed in her now that I cannot get out, no matter how many times I've told her we won't be involved in the project.”

Paul steepled his fingers below his chin. ”If I may interrupt for a moment, I'd like to ask why you are so against this project?”

Sean looked away from me and looked at Paul. ”Because I can take care of my family on my own.”

Norman started to say something, but Paul held up a hand, stopping him. ”I understand that and I respect it. Is there any reason you haven't done that yet?”

My jaw dropped at Paul's question and I was sure that sealed the meeting. I looked to Sean and was surprised to see a faint smile appear on his face. I held my breath, waiting for him to answer.

”I don't see that that is any of your business, Mr. Pierce,” was his answer.

Paul nodded, mulling this over. ”You're right, but I can't help but wonder why you are so against us when you haven't done anything to improve your situation here. We can help give you that stepping stone to a better life for you and your family. I am just trying to understand.”

Sean's jaw set and I could tell he was annoyed. ”Well, Mr. Pierce, I'll tell you. I lost my wife to cancer recently and I'm left to raise our two young kids alone. The stress has been extremely high and I'm doing what I can to survive. While having you build me and the kids a brand new house sounds great, I can't get past how it won't be me providing it when I've always intended to. I want this to be something I provide for my family.”

Paul shoved a hand through his hair. I could tell he was trying to keep his patience. Norman must have sensed this too as he turned to Sean.

”Sean, all Mr. Pierce is saying is that you have an opportunity for them to help you, let them. Give your kids this opportunity while you have it. It doesn't mean you are a bad father, or a bad provider. I see you are doing the best you can with what you've been dealt with. Let Paul and Aly just help you get on your feet.”

I saw Sean think about it. I started to say something when Paul beat me to it. ”I'm sorry for being so direct, Mr. Halliday. And I'm very sorry for the loss of your wife. I want you to know I completely understand your thinking and I do not want you to think we here at Pierce Homes are trying to one-up you in any way. We are going to go ahead with this project as you know, and it would make us so happy to have you involved.”

I took the pause in the conversation and pushed the files toward Sean. ”Please take a look at these and see the different home options. We have four new models we are debuting with the Hidden Creek project that we're very excited about. Just look through them and see what you think.”

Sean grunted and leaned over to grab them. He opened the file and perused each sheet describing each model. I sat there, my stomach churning, knowing this was it. We'd have our answer from him before he left today.

I looked to Paul who gave me a comforting smile. He silently mouthed, ”It's okay,” and winked. I smiled back and waited for Sean to finish looking things over. When he did, he placed the file back on Paul's desk.

”Those all look real good,” he started. ”I appreciate what you both are trying to do and I admit I'm tempted. I just don't want my kids growing up thinking they'll get bailed out when times are tough. I want them to see their dad did good and provided for them.”

I sat forward. ”Please don't look at it that way. Look at it for what it is, a stepping stone to a better life. This is what we do here, it's our job. You aren't any less of a man if you accept our help. In fact, in my eyes you'd be more of a man.”

All three men jerked their heads toward me at my last statement. I didn't back down, I meant every word. I sat up straight, looking at Sean.

Norman was the first to break the tension. ”Well I hadn't thought of it like that, Aly, but I agree with you,” he said laughing.

Paul continued to look at me quizzically, but didn't say anything. I looked back to Sean, awaiting his reply. He looked to me, his dark brown eyes smiling for the first time since he'd been here.

”Well, Ms. Chase, you certainly know how to sell a product, don't you?” he asked.

I smiled and nodded. ”I do my best.”

He shuffled his feet a bit on the carpet, looking at Norman, then back to me. ”It still kills me to say this, but I know you're right. I know I'm letting my pride get in the way. I hate that I can't do this on my own, but deep down I think I'd regret letting this opportunity slip by. Not to mention the wrath of Heather. She hasn't stopped talking about it since you came by.”

I smiled, realizing what he was saying.

He s.h.i.+fted in his seat. ”So yeah, I guess I'll sign on for this project, but I would like to be as involved as I possibly can. I want to help as much as I can. I need to be a part of it for my pride I guess, as well as showing my kids we still have to work hard for what we want.”

Paul clapped his hands and stood. ”Of course. We'd love it. This is your home, Sean. You need to make sure you are completely happy with it. Welcome to our team.”

Norman beamed and I stood and walked over to Sean, giving him a hug. ”Thank you,” I said. ”You have no idea how happy this makes me.”

Sean seemed a little put off by my hug, but I didn't care. We did it and I was on cloud nine. I went back to my chair and watched as Paul shook both Sean and Norman's hands.

”Sean, I must say you've surprised me. I was sure this whole time you'd say no,” Norman said. ”I'm so happy you changed your mind. You won't regret it.”

Sean sighed and ran a hand through his hair. ”I hope not.”

Paul clapped his hand on his back. ”I guarantee you won't. This is great. If you have a minute, let's get your signature on a few things before you go to get things started.”

Paul had him follow him to his desk where he produced some doc.u.ments. I was grateful he was prepared in case Sean changed his mind. I pushed the file of the model homes toward them, telling Sean, ”Feel free to take this home and see what your kids like.”

Sean grabbed it and thanked me. He listened to Paul explain what each doc.u.ment meant and that signing it gave his consent to start production. Sean nodded and would scratch his head every so often, obviously overwhelmed.

My heart soared when I saw him lean over and sign each doc.u.ment. Paul looked over at me and grinned, giving me another wink. I smiled and winked back at him.

Norman took me aside. ”I really am shocked, Aly. The whole way here he was very adamant he wouldn't do this. I think what you said, about him being more of a man changed his mind.”

I blushed a little. ”Well, I meant it. I think pride can make someone do things that aren't in their best interest and his case is a prime example. I'm very glad he pushed it aside and decided to go ahead with this.”

Norman gave me a smile. ” Me too, Aly. Me too.”

Sean walked toward us, finished with signing everything. ”Well Norman, I need to get going to that meeting.”

”Yes, of course,” Norman responded.