Kate Educates Jacob #48

Reorientation

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Kate’s Point Of View

I felt angry but contained it while walking around the house so Alicia could pick a bedroom. The team outside was swayed by wealth, specifically mine and Jacob’s. The helicopter theatrics, specialist lawyers, and demonstrable excellent home for Alicia shouldn’t be how a child’s future was decided.

But it was, and I knew the team of government officials and our lawyers sitting outside enjoying coffee and homemade lemonade would hammer out a deal.

While Alicia inspected the final room available to her, I slipped my hand into Jacob’s, squeezing tightly.

“I’m proud of you, Kate.”

“I’m always proud of you, Jacob.”

“She’s such a perfect child.”

“I doubt that sweetheart. We girls come with a whole set of challenges you have no idea about yet. This is going to be a great journey for the three of us, but not all sugar and spice.”

Alicia stepped onto the balcony, and her attention was drawn to a low wall and single steel bar that she could easily scale to get into our small apartment. I noticed her wry smile, knowing Jacob would miss that, and I put a heavier set of curtains for our bedroom on my shopping list to prevent prying eyes when my fiancee and I were enjoying a relaxing time.

Our almost adopted child stepped back out and tried to look studious, as though considering her options before thumbing over a shoulder.

“Can I have this room, please?”

“Yes, of course, sweetheart. So long as Jacob is happy with that.”

He nodded and glanced next door to our room, arriving late at my conclusion. Jacob smiled and nodded because he only cared about rescuing a princess from a dire fate. She hugged me, then Jacob, and went back inside her new room to sit on its bed to develop strategy.

I went to get Lizzie and asked her to arrange for all of Alicia’s belongings to be brought. Apparently, it was no mean task because she’d lived at the orphanage for some time.

A local lawyer was sought, collected, and arrived within the hour. She arranged a care order for Lizzie through a local judge, and the childcare agent signed off. I felt happy for her when Alicia signed the forms set in front of her with tears rolling down her cheeks.

“The local child services team will visit you frequently at the start, Miss. Granger, but they’ll support you rather than try to catch you out. It might be an idea to take on a counselor who can help the household settle in.”

“Thank you. I know this could have gone differently.”

“No… thank you, Miss. Granger, I wish it could go like this every time.”

He looked like a man who’d had the best day in his professional life in a long while. We shook hands, and he wished Alicia the best of luck before turning back to the table and packing his briefcase.

The helicopter left, and shortly afterward, our new friends from the Federal Government and the sheriff drove past security. Alicia stood between Jacob and me, gripping tightly to both hands, releasing them only to wave each time someone left.

She looked up at me, beaming with delight.

“You just signed for a new daughter. I think that’s brave.”

I glanced down at her, thrilled at the chance to help mold a wonderful young mind. I gently placed a hand on my stomach and prayed the child growing inside would be healthy, and more children would follow.

“We all found each other, Alicia. I think that’s cause for celebration.”

“What did you have in mind, Kate?”

“Pancakes and lots of crispy bacon.”

“It’s way past breakfast time.”

“Who cares?”

After Lizzie whipped up a light supper of pancakes and maple-brushed streaky bacon, we showered in our own bedrooms, but only after I promised to help Alicia shampoo, condition, and style her hair the next day.

Having someone so full of personality, questions, and innocence in my life felt uplifting.

Jacob hauled a mattress onto our balcony, where my burgeoning family of three and a half lay watching the stars. Jacob told stories of the mountains in Afghanistan, trying to convince Alicia and me of an Abominable Snowman who lived there, having run out of food in Nepal.

I shook my head at Alicia, although Jacob’s storytelling ability and style were a revelation.

A duvet covered us, warming once the night air grew chilly. I slept comfortably under the stars with my fiancee and the child that was ours to love.

I wanted to make love to Jacob, especially having had the day we did, but that was impossible. The sun woke us at daybreak. Alicia nudged me and pointed to the amazing corona that boiled as it rose above a distant horizon. I stood in a light negligee while Alicia wore one of my t-shirts, and we watched the sunrise together, hand in hand.

“Does Jacob often have bad dreams, Kate?”

Ah, she heard.

“Sometimes, but it’s nothing for you to worry about. Jacob is a war hero, and some things are hard to forget.”

“I knew it was something like that when he screamed out and woke me. Some of my friends at the orphanage shriek like he does.”

Jacob stirred and rolled over, smiling at us. He hadn’t intended for anyone to sleep outside, but it happened, and aside from a couple of insect bites that swelled up and itched, I rather enjoyed it.

When he pleaded and held up a corner of our duvet, I rolled back onto the mattress and slipped under our duvet, warming a slight chill on my arms and legs using Jacob’s heat.

“We have to shop today, Kate.”

“What are we shopping for?”

“Bikes. Well, actually… Mountain bikes, to be specific. Your Mom is arriving later as well, and I asked her to bring Cosmo and Luna.”

I saw Alicia’s ears prick up and smiled. She was precocious without being arrogant, and I liked that about her. She studied Jacob with a serious face as though daring him to lie.

“Do we have puppies, Jacob? Those names sound like pet dogs.”

He looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights. I laughed while feeling sorrowful that my fiancee had just lost his two pet puppies. His face softened when she lay close to him, wrapping her arm across his midriff, giggling.

“Yes, we have, Alicia. We also have a horse called Sierra, don’t we, Kate.”

“And another one called Beauty. Have you ridden before, Alicia?”

“Never.”

“My mother, Catherine, arrives today. If you ask her, I’m sure she’ll teach you to ride.”

“Won’t you teach me, Kate?”

I caught my breath, realizing a grave error. Alicia stared at me with wide eyes. It was a simple question and not one based on practicality. She wanted to know why I would pass her on so easily. I felt awful, selfish, and as though my first act as an adoptive mother was to shun rather than nurture.

“Sorry, Alicia. It will be my pleasure to teach you. We can have a great time together, and perhaps Jacob can learn as well.”

“Thank you, Kate. I can’t wait for us to have fun together.”

She sprinted off, no doubt, to the kitchen where Lizzie would have a Chef running around, making whatever the small child desired. I eyed Jacob, wanting so much to fuck my lover. I gripped his cock, rubbed him hard, then shot an apologetic look as I retreated from the duvet.

“Oh, c’mon, Kate. That’s unfair.”

“I need to get on a video call with someone in Berlin for an hour, Jacob. After that, let’s take a walk and go shopping for those bikes.”

He smiled, pulled me back, and had a serious expression.

“I wouldn’t be so hard on yourself about Alicia. It’s early days, and big changes are afoot.”

“What do you mean?”

“I saw you kick yourself when she asked why you couldn’t teach her to ride.”

“I know.”

“What’s up, Kate?”

He sidled closer, wrapping both arms around me, prodding my side with a generous boner of my creation. I was reeling somewhat from the responsibilities and joys of motherhood, realizing what a monumental change we’d thrust upon ourselves.

“Passing her on to Mom seemed expeditious, but then I realized good parenting is anything but. That’s worried me about my ability to be a good mother.”

“I think we need to chill out. One new daughter gained, two puppies, and a couple of horses lost. I think we got off lightly this time. Alicia has made a smash and grab for our hearts.”

“Am I a good person, though, Jacob?”

“Of course, sweetheart. You will be a great Mom. It’s just a reorientation. Who is the Berlin call?”

“A new CEO for GD. I want someone who is permanently at the office.”

“Reporting to you?”

“Yes.”

“What about Hannah?”

“She’s great in Marketing but doesn’t have the edge yet to be CEO, and to be honest, these jobs are best in the hands of a workaholic who enjoys slaving themselves to the system. It’s not for me, Jacob. I’ll be GD’s Chairwoman and retain overall control but fuck chasing my head up my own ass every day for the latest crisis.”

“It sounds perfect, Kate.”

“We’ll work together with him, Jacob. He’ll need an eye for the kind of problems you notice. We will still be involved, but maybe for one or two days a week at the office or working from here. We’ll also travel to clients and foreign governments, promoting GD while Gunther grinds away in the office.”

“Sounds perfect. When we travel, what about Alicia?”

“She can come with us, but we’ll need to discuss education options with her and possibly get a few tutors.”

“Did you know that Henry was a teacher?”

“I don’t know anything about him, Jacob. I do know that I much prefer being here to Granger Hall.”

He stared at me dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe I’d said it and would never confess that to my mother, but it was true.

“This place speaks to me, Jacob. I feel it could become our legacy home. A place we’ll leave to our children. It’s enormous and loving, bright and happy. I won’t ever sell Daddy’s estate, but it was his creation, not ours.”

“Kate… you don’t need to convince me, but I think it would be a mistake if we didn’t make our families welcome here, so, if you don’t mind, I’ll make sure the lodges and rooms in the house are available.”

“Of course, honey, but mostly the lodges, right?”

I squinted and grimaced, hearing that selfish part of me I so despised

“Yeah. We’ll have occupants to fill the main house bedrooms soon enough.”

“We have eighteen bedrooms, right?”

“Yes, Kate. We’ll never fill them all, though.”

“Never say never, sweetheart!”

I showered while Jacob left to steal a few pancakes from Alicia. Afterward, as I lounged on a balcony deckchair, combing through wet hair and wearing sweats, I realized we needed to work better, not harder.

Eventually, Alicia came to find me, bearing a small plate of pancakes and a mug of coffee. With no Jacob in sight to stop me, I almost scalded myself, sipping quickly in case he withdrew my caffeine fix.

I dried and styled my hair while Alicia watched, crumbling pancakes and dipping them in syrup before offering the delicious morsels to me.

“I’ll help you with your hair once I speak with a friend.”

“Jacob explained everything to me. You’re getting someone in so you can stop being a slave to the office.”

“That’s it exactly. How come you understand things so quickly.”

“It’s called surviving the system, Kate. Henry says I’m bright and mature.”

“Henry is wise.”

I left her with Jacob, both searching the internet for mountain bikes. Lizzie had rigged up a place for me to take the call.

“The breakfast bar is the perfect spot, thank you.”

“Cappuccino, Kate? I’ll make myself scarce after that.”

“You don’t need to. I’d rather our home wasn’t a place of secrets.”

The main kitchen was in its own room, but the living diner had a large island where refreshments and snacks could be prepared and dispensed. I noticed it was Lizzie’s headquarters, which was fine by me.

The call came through, I answered, and a man appeared on my screen. He looked in his fifties, wearing a weatherbeaten smile and a thick fisherman’s style sweater. I heard kids in the background, then someone shushed them, and Gunther smiled at me.

Jacob and Alicia came into the room and made a wide circle around me, propping themselves opposite, whispering drink orders to Lizzie.

I’m glad he’s dressed for the weekend, not in a suit.

“Hello, Miss. Granger.”

“Please call me Kate, Gunther.”

“Okay, Kate, forgive me. I don’t have much time because family beckons.”

“That’s a fundamental reason for my call.”

“You want my family?”

“I need a CEO that can take away the day-to-day burden so that I can enjoy mine.”

“And deal with all of the people that suck your day away, leaving you exhausted at the end?”

I nodded enthusiastically because that was the crux of it. He landed on my page and seemed to tick every box.

“Can you do that for me and GD, Gunther?”

“Can I bring in a couple of team members? A strategy Director and planning audit team?”

“Yes, of course. If you’re moving anyone around or out, I’d like to discuss that first.”

“No need. I won’t cut people out and throw them on the scrap heap if that’s what you mean. It might be useful to restructure, but everyone can be retrained if we need to. I know GD well because I often competed with your father on contracts.”

“Did you win?”

“Not usually against him when he was steering GD, but studying his ways meant I could beat most others.”

“I already have a strong Marketing VP in post. I’d rather she continues.”

“That’s Hannah, right?”

“How did you know?”

“If you need to ask, I’m not the right man for the job.”

He was confident but not hubristic. Gunther seemed straightforward, and I imagined he’d vanquished many of the mealy-mouthed types that wrecked my day.

“Are you the right man for the job, Gunther?”

He paused and beckoned someone off-camera.

“Komm heir liebchen kind.”

Come here, darling child.

A small child, only five or six years old, crawled into Gunther’s lap, smiling and waving at the camera. Her blonde tousled hair looked delightful; I guessed she was probably a grandchild.

“I am the right man for the job, Kate, but on one condition.”

“Name it.”

“My free time, including weekends, is sacrosanct unless there is an emergency. Any emergencies, I shall deal with. If you get a call from anyone setting the hares running, please refer them to me.”

“I think that’s perfect, Gunther.”

“I expect we will talk frequently, and I’ll keep you up to speed always, but this only works if you allow it.”

“The job is yours, Gunther. I think we both have better things to do right now.”

“I’ll fly Monday and meet you at a place and time of your choosing.”

“Goodbye then.”

“Goodbye Kate.”

He disconnected the call. I felt relieved, and by the look of Jacob, he seemed impressed.

“That was ten minutes, Kate.”

“Not bad, is it? I really like him.”

“Me too, sweetheart, but don’t forget there is a lot of shifting around and organizing to do here so we can work from home.”

I took another coffee, never one to refuse, amazed that Jacob hadn’t noticed. When the cup reached my lips, and I tasted hot chocolate, my fiancee smiled and shrugged, rolling his eyes.

“I’ve left strict instructions, Kate, and since I manage our estates, you can’t overrule me with the staff.”

“I do need some coffee, Jacob.”

“No, sweetheart, you want some coffee. There is a difference. Once we visit the doctor, you can ask, and they will tell you that one cup a day is fine and you already had that.”

Alicia and Jacob thought it hilarious, nudging one another like comic co-conspirators. I felt the yearning pangs of a lifetime caffeine addict, then considered the baby growing inside me and relented.

“I’ll have to get used to hot chocolate and tea.”

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