Love's Healing Power

By Michelle Tschantre'

Kevin Emerson never envisioned inheriting his grandfather’s tree service, but at the reading of the late John Emerson’s Will, it happened. He also was unaware of the forces resentful of that happening, forces intent on their own possession of the company. Living in the same town was Margaret Shafer, barely in the high school memory of Kevin Emerson, but he did recollect something had happened to her back then, something undefined. It drove her into an emotional shell, a reclusive lifestyle. When a spring ice storm wrecked havoc on the town, Emerson Tree Service was called into action. After Emerson’s office called the temp service for help, Margaret Shafer appeared in Kevin’s office as the requested CDL driver; it was the second time he had seen her. The first time was at a recent jazz concert where they had spoken in passing, Kevin in his usual good-natured approach, her in a clearly dismissive manner. How would she handle being his employee, and how would he handle things if she somehow became more than an employee? That was not likely given her outward characteristics, but there was a tiny flaw in her shell. Not really visible, but there anyway. Would it widen enough for Kevin to bring her back to a good life, or was it already too late to save this woman for whom his feelings were unexpectedly taking root?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michelle Tschantre'
• Release date: Dec 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370401475

Michelle Tschantre'

Michelle Tschantre' has accrued years of "people" lore, mostly listening and encouraging, letting them find their own way past whatever issue prompted the conversation. The WINDMERE Series of fictional events uses some of those experiences, a little science here and there, some reality now and then, a belief that there may be powers greater than we know, and an everlasting belief in good outcomes for good hearted people. It is what the author has come to believe over the years: plan for the worst, hope for the best, deal with the reality. In “Laura's Big Win”, the foundation is built for the books that have followed, with some of the same people, some new faces and problems, and Windmere in there somewhere keeping it all going.

Book preview

Love’s Healing Power

WINDMERE series – book ten

Michelle Tschantré

Smashwords Edition

Love’s Healing Power

Copyright © 2017 Michelle Tschantré

All rights reserved.

Cover Design & Formatting by: Laura Shinn Designs

http://laurashinn.yolasite.com

Smashwords License Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with other people, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you are reading this ebook without purchasing it and it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

Love’s Healing Power is a work of fiction.

Though actual locations may be mentioned, they are used in a fictitious manner and the events and occurrences were invented in the mind and imagination of the author. Any resemblance of characters in this story to any person living or dead is strictly coincidental.

Dedicated to:

… love, healing the wounded heart.

CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

About the Author

Preface

Kevin Emerson never envisioned inheriting his grandfather’s tree service, but at the reading of the late John Emerson’s Will, it happened. He also was unaware of the forces resentful of that happening, forces intent on their own possession of the company. Living in the same town was Margaret Shafer, barely in the high school memory of Kevin Emerson, but he did recollect something had happened to her back then, something undefined. It drove her into an emotional shell, a reclusive lifestyle. When a spring ice storm wrecked havoc on the town, Emerson Tree Service was called into action. After Emerson’s office called the temp service for help, Margaret Shafer appeared in Kevin’s office as the requested CDL driver; it was the second time he had seen her. The first time was at a recent jazz concert where they had spoken in passing, Kevin in his usual good-natured approach, her in a clearly dismissive manner. How would she handle being his employee, and how would he handle things if she somehow became more than an employee? That was not likely given her outward characteristics, but there was a tiny flaw in her shell. Not really visible, but there anyway. Would it widen enough for Kevin to bring her back to a good life, or was it already too late to save this woman for whom his feelings were unexpectedly taking root?

Chapter One – Good Deed Punished

Kevin Emerson sat in the lawyer’s office with the rest of the gathered family awaiting the reading of his late grandfather’s will. In Kevin’s mind he believed the reading would be the final act of the rather routine course of events for a death in a mostly normal family; proper respects had been shown for the mourned, but not unexpected, demise of the departed. He would miss visiting with the old man, although since his MBA college graduation several years earlier they had not trafficked on a routine basis. Still, he did fondly remember those summers between semesters, both high school and college, when he could earn some good pocket money working for gramps at Emerson Tree Service. He also knew that given the current state of labor laws, the old man would probably have earned a prison term of some sort for letting the mid-teen boy operate heavy equipment on his own. True enough, the old man schooled the lad before allowing him to operate, and when things went wrong, as things are bound to do from time to time, Kevin saw no wrath, only a correction to start over. He specifically remembered that day he drove the tines on the fork truck through the side of the storage building; his grandfather just shook his head, said something to the effect it was stuffy inside and they needed more ventilation anyway; it didn’t dawn on the lad that the old man knew his grandson would mentally punish himself for such a misbegotten act. And then the day came when the call from his own father told him gramps was no longer with them, that the old man had died peacefully in his sleep after a brief illness and did not suffer in the process. Kevin packed for a week, assuming that would be several days more than he would actually need for the funeral, memorial, all those things that had to be done, including the reading of the will while all the legatees were close at hand. Like many families, the members each had their own ways about them but in general now that the three children of Kevin’s generation were grown and on their own, they had a better appreciation of each other as individuals. There were some cousins scattered about the area and assorted other relatives, but none involved in the reading of the will. The lawyer was both the company lawyer for Emerson Tree Service and for Grandpa Emerson himself. Paper in hand he started in.

Thank you all for coming in today; this makes things much easier; if any questions arise during this process, please feel free to speak up. To set the record, my name is Ari Schoenroth. I serve as legal council to Emerson Tree Service and served on a personal level to the owner of that company, the late John Emerson…… The voice continued through the list of individual bequests as Kevin found himself nodding just a bit in the warm room. The old man was believed to have amassed substantial wealth on a personal basis; the list of bequests was extensive, but unknown to those present was that the means to fulfill those bequests was not as substantial as they had believed. Kevin didn’t hear his own name mentioned in that list, a fact that didn’t concern him as his awareness waned, but did make him wonder just a bit as to why he had been called to the reading; his attention level increased mildly when he heard the lawyer say …and that concludes the list of bequests. There is, however, an extenuating issue to discuss. I need to clarify right up front that the accumulated finances involved are not adequate to fully fund all the bequests. When Mr. Emerson and I reviewed this list several years as it was being written, he assured me there were more than adequate resources available and that any overage should be paid out pro rata based on the bequests; as of today, that no longer appears to be the situation and the bequests will be prorated according to available assets. Any questions?

Kevin’s father responded. Mr. Schoenroth, not to make a great deal of it, but what sort of percentage are we looking at here, and another thing: what about the company itself? What happens to it, sold off and proceeds distributed to those listed in the will?

Ari Schoenroth responded. Reasonable questions to be sure and that brings us in a way to the final matter. At best estimate, based on what we have managed to discover, the pro rata share will be about 50%. I cannot tell you at the moment why the asset level dropped so quickly in only a nominal two years, but I can assure you we will perform due diligence on that issue to discover what happened. As to the disposition of Emerson Tree Service, you may have noticed the name of Kevin Emerson was not mentioned in the bequests, yet his presence here today was requested. There is a reason for that omission. In a document separate from the will itself, a document which Mr. Emerson had me prepare about the same time as the will was written, it reads, in part, the following which I now quote: ‘…to my grandson Kevin Emerson, title and unencumbered ownership of Emerson Tree Service in its entirety’ close quote. The term unencumbered means the company is held apart from the provisions of the will; in relation to the present situation, the inadequate source to fully fund all the bequests, the company is not held liable in any way to fulfill those bequests.

Reverting to his grade school days, Kevin Emerson’s hand shot up, requesting to be called on. With a nod from the lawyer, he voiced his question: Mr. Schoenroth, what did you just say, tell us? Can you say that over again, please?

In plain language, you are now the owner of Emerson Tree Service. Does that answer your question Mr. Emerson?

The words resounded in Kevin’s mind. Surely that couldn’t be true, the whole company, while others were handed what seemed like a pittance in comparison. He would learn later that comparison wasn’t exactly true, but for the moment he needed more of a reality check. You’re telling me I just inherited a whole company, Emerson Tree Service. You also said you helped gramps write this document some time back. Can you…I don’t know…can you explain what he might have been thinking, help me understand what’s taking place here? I mean, I know it was his will and all that, but there’s a room full of people here; some of them are getting bequests but this hardly seems right to me. Can you help me out here, please?

Schoenroth continued. To some extent I may be able to clarify. I remember quite well the long conversation I had with your grandfather as all this was being put in place, my concern over funding adequacy, that sort of thing. I can’t at this time explain what happened in that respect, but we did talk in specifics about your inheritance. I had some of the same concerns you may be having at the moment, although as you have so correctly noted, it is his will, not mine; I have a responsibility that the wording employed conveys the exact meaning intended. I can warrant to you we went through this issue more than once. When I questioned the intent, he assured me it was because you had spent some of your summer time in his employ of your own free will, while others went their own way. He appreciated your work ethic, even more importantly your company in his presence, and while you were paid for your service to the company, he felt as your grandfather you were owed more than mere cash; hence, you now own the company. There is some legal documentation we have to move along, but it is all rather simple. He reincorporated some time back, making you a full partner under the provisions of a Sub-chapter S partnership; upon his death, you became sole owner. I realize you may not have been aware of that partnership situation, which was his preference; I have the documentation if you would care to review it at your convenience. I should also mention that since you were a partner with your grandfather, whether you knew it or not, there is no inheritance tax as there is no inheritance per se. Are we agreed now?

Kevin sat, stunned by the revelation, while others in the room murmured to each other about this newest aspect of things; more than once individuals thought back to when they could have spent a bit more time with the old man and thus shared in the ownership; it was too late for those retrospective ideas. Concurrently, while they might not have liked the situation, all were aware Kevin also had been kept in the dark about the whole ownership transfer plan; it was apparent he had engineered none of the deal. His voice returning, Kevin did feel he needed to know more, a lot more: So…what now? What do I have to do now? I don’t know anything about anything in running a company; sure, I work for an M&A consulting company, but we just arrange things, not operate things. I’m not even sure I remember any of the things I did working for gramps, except a few bad examples of things to not do.

Ari Schoenroth wrapped up the general meeting. Kevin, you and I need to meet briefly, sign a few papers, that sort of thing, and you can be on your way. For the rest of you, please check on this list of those mentioned in the will to make sure we have your correct name, address, e-mail, all that sort of thing so as soon as funds become available we can get on with the process. Any other questions…seeing none, please enjoy the remainder of the day; we will go to work on administering the contents of the will. Again, thank you all for coming in today. The meeting for the reading of the will of Grandpa John K. Emerson was over.

A few papers were signed, copied, handed to Kevin, and he walked out of the lawyer’s office into the bright sunshine but under a cloud of anxiety as his new found position presented a steep hill he had to climb. The first thing to do was to take more time off from work, time he would need to at least discover the present situation with Emerson Tree Service, maybe even find a manager or work something else out; some years later he would realize any idea of selling off and closing was never in his mind as an option. Kevin sat in his rental car, windows down in the warm spring breeze, as he called an associate in his office, someone he felt he could trust to get the paperwork processed for another week or two of vacation, a friend who would represent him fairly if questions arose. Two rings and a pick up: Benevolent Mergers and Acquisitions. May I help you?

Kevin recognized the voice. Hey, buddy; it’s Kevin. Can you do a little something for me? Got a situation here I need more time to resolve, maybe even another week. Can you let the big guys know so I don’t get in trouble?

The voice on the other end of the line was looking at his phone, reading that it was Kevin, but seemed to hesitate just a bit. Sure…um....look….maybe before we get into that, I need to get you up to speed on something; okay?

The voice seemed unsure, nervous to some degree, not at all like the stalwart and reliable individual Kevin knew this friend to be in person. Sure; something go to hell with one of our M&A deals, something I need to know maybe? Don’t know what I can do from here, but…

No, nothing like that, not that easy. Kevin…this morning the big guys called a meeting of all staff in the conference room, jammed us in there and closed the door, told everyone to keep their phones in their pockets, no photo’s or recordings, nothing like that. All very weird. Then they let us have it: company has been sold; not a goddamned word to anyone, point blank sold, and we’re to be done in two weeks, told to move out. Big guys all managed to save their own asses but sacrificed us big time. Sorry to let you know this way, sorry, but nothing I can do about it. Final checks will be cut right after the sale date. Guess you can have your two weeks or as much as you want; I am so pissed off I can’t see straight. You gonna be okay, Kev? Guess I’ll start job hunting, maybe with the new owners. You okay?

The silence on Kevin Emerson’s end of the line continued for some seconds, more like an eternity as thoughts swirled through his mind, but a light came on, a very dim light but glowing nonetheless: Yeah…I think I’m gonna be okay, really. Crazy situation and I’m really sorry that happened to you and the rest of the gang, especially with your new baby at home, but hey, you are really good at what you do and the big guys are gonna fold without us to prop them up….I probably shouldn’t admit this, but what the hell: I was looking around a bit myself, you know, keeping an oar in the water sort of venture. Call Kimberly at Axeman M&A Consultants, you know who she is. Tell her what happened and let her know I recommended you call her. Don’t know what she had in mind but they’re hiring. Truthfully, I have another job already, unexpected but staring me down at the moment. So, keep me posted; you have my e-mail and don’t be a stranger.

That doesn’t sound right; another job already and you just lost this one. I thought you were at some family funeral, not job hunting. Big Guys would be in a rage if they knew you did that…

No, not what you think, not at all. I am at a funeral, my grandfathers. He was always a favorite relative of mine and I did work there a lot of summer vacations; I just found out at the reading of the will he left his company to me, whole damned thing. Man have I got a steep learning curve ahead of me, almost like I’m being punished for being a favorite grandson, but it’s a job, unexpected for sure, but a job. Call Kimberly; okay? and assured his associate would call as suggested, Kevin signed off and just sat in the car for a few minutes. He would call the car rental agency next and tell them he needed the car maybe another week, but before he could place the call saw the door to the law office pop open and Ari Schoenroth come running out to the parking lot.

Your granddad would shoot me if I forgot this little item. Here’s the spare key to the house I had made some time back, plus some other keys he gave me to hold for him recently; don’t know what they may open. But, as to the house, since company funds were expended to construct it years ago when the laws were a bit different, it has remained on the company books. Even though he did relocate to that long term care facility some time back, I’ve kept an eye on it, lawn mown, utilities on, things like that, and I know this may sound silly but had the tree company park a different truck there overnight now and then to keep up the pretense of it being occupied. The furniture for the master bedroom went with him as a part of their care plan, so you may want to see if it will be returned….and I’m pretty sure his car is still in one bay of the garage. I just didn’t think to do anything with it since we didn’t know the eventual outcome when he moved. My fault…

No, look, you’ve done everything you could and I suspect one hell of a lot more than a lot of people would do. I still have a hotel room but will check on the house, and the furniture when I get that far, and let me tell you what I just learned. Over the next few minutes Kevin explained what had happened to his former position, then went on his way. The rest of his day he would spend back in his hotel room reading the ownership copies the lawyer had presented to him, extending his car rental agreement and hotel room stay agreement, and in general wondering just how it had come to pass he was now a business owner, inexperienced and a bit perplexed as to how it had all happened to him, but an owner nonetheless.

Chapter Two – Accepted Reality

Margaret A. Maggie Shafer opened the door to her condo and walked in, small bag of grocery items in hand to store away until needed. It was hours before dinner time, the end of an afternoon of clerical work, boring but better than staring at a wall; the pay was hardly an inducement to perform but for her the motivation to function was not about money; her motivation was to do something rather than nothing. Sitting for a moment at the kitchen island to review the small pile of received mail in her slot, her mind once again, almost as a routine function, drifted back to how she had ended up in this situation. It was not a pleasant series of memories, but over the years she had developed a barrier to the pain, and the memories played out more like a bad movie one is forced to watch again and again than any real suffering. She accepted the fact she was never going to be a runway model way back in her sub teen years. What was that too familiar term: Big boned; that’s what she was: Big boned, with a height to match at around five foot ten inches. In many respects, some of which she was painfully aware, she was more capable in physical stature than any number of men with whom she was familiar.

The first real turning point in her life was right after she turned all of fifteen years of age. There was this new boy in town, a high school senior just turned eighteen years of age, not drop dead handsome but not bad, physically capable at sports activity, good enough grades without working very hard at it, and most important of all: he talked to her, really talked to her, like a human being, and she was smitten, one hundred and ten percent smitten. They went places together, were seen together, and she reveled in his presence; in fact, her dependence on him to give her life meaning had to be sustained at any cost…and it cost her. First it was just a few extra caresses here and there, then more, and then when he implied still more would be asked she capitulated without a struggle or second thought. Even then she felt it was all worth it: he was hers and life was truly wonderful. Then, he asked for that one time, just once, for them to make love without protection. She had been afraid to go to her mother and ask to go on birth control, knowing in her mind that while all this was necessary to sustain her own feeling of relational well-being, most likely her mother would have had a screaming fit had she learned the true nature of her daughter’s relationship. Just once, one time; what could that hurt? Just once. Then a second time; what could that hurt if nothing went wrong the first time, and a third time…and more.