Destroyed Dreams (9 page)

Melissa left for the city the next morning as planned. Rather than leaving for good, she was only leaving for a few days.  She had spoken to her uncle the night before, and he had agreed to let her stay at the cabin until she decided what direction she wanted to take her career. She had been prepared to defend her decision to quit her job and had been pleasantly surprised by the support she received from him.

Robert was going to tackle the bathroom remodel while she was gone. They had stayed up late, discussing a variety of things, and making plans for the future. Melissa had finally gone to bed, needing a few hours of sleep before she started the drive back into the city.

On Thursday morning, she arrived at the office prior to anyone else and packed up her desk and other belongings. As she waited for Mr. Forster to arrive, she looked out the window of her office and thought about the decision she was about to make. Analyzing her options for the last time, she found no part of her wanted to change the current course. She hated her job and no longer was willing to subject herself to that kind of stress each day.

Her phone buzzed, and Mr. Forster’s secretary informed her that he was in and would be delighted to meet with her right away. Melissa had not told his secretary what she wanted to speak to him about; she had known him long enough, she wanted to deliver her news in person.

After exchanging pleasantries, she got right to the point, “Mr. Forster, first I want to thank you for how kind you have been over the last several months. I realize that my behavior in court could have caused serious damage to this firm’s reputation..”

Stephen raised his hand and cut her off. “Melissa, I don’t want to hear anymore of that. Let’s face it - you had had enough. And your client deserved everything you threw at them. If I might suggest you deliver your more scathing remarks to our clients in a more private setting next time?” Stephen grinned at her as he offered his suggestion.

Melissa grinned back and nodded her head, “About the next time…I don’t think there’s going to be one.” Sobering, she continued, “I love the law. But I hate what I do here. I love working for your firm, but I don’t think I can help people destroy each other for the rest of my life. It’s destroying me.”

Looking back up to meet Mr. Forster’s eyes, she was surprised to see him smiling indulgently at her. “You don’t seem to be very upset.”

“Melissa, I’ve known you for several years now and I’ve watched you grow from a floundering college student into a young woman with grit and determination. Your tenacity in the courtroom still amazes me. But, you’re right, you’re not cutout to help people destroy each other. Over the last several years, I’ve watched you become bitter, cynical and close yourself off from other people. The young woman sitting in front of me today appears to have found herself again. I would hate to pressure you in to staying at a job that would make her disappear again.”

Melissa wasn’t surprised that he saw so much. Mr. Forster was known for his intuition and she valued the confirmation coming from him that she was making the correct choice. “Thank you, it means a lot to hear you say those things.”

“So, what are your plans for the future?”

“Well, I met this young man while I was away, and I think we’re going to try and make things work. The little town where I was staying is growing and doesn’t have a lawyer in residence yet. Right now, the people have to drive almost sixty miles round trip to get any legal work done. I thought maybe I would hang out my shingle and see what happens.”

Mr. Forster nodded his head and said, “Melissa, whatever you choose to do, if you do it with the same work ethic you demonstrated here, you’ll be successful. I wish you lots of luck. Excuse me for a moment, please.”

Melissa was a little perplexed that Mr. Forster would decide to make a phone call in the middle of their meeting, but he was the boss and it must be important.

Stephen watched Melissa try to hide her curiosity when he interrupted their meeting by picking up the phone. After dialing, he watched her and then turned away to hide his grin. He was about to send her off on her own in style.

“Graham? Hey, it’s Stephen Forster….I’m good. Say, about that deal you’re putting together – remember I told you about the young attorney I had working for me that had studied some environmental law before coming to work for me. Well, she has just decided to strike out on her own….Yes, she is an excellent attorney. Anyway, she’s moving up to your neck of the woods, and I think you would be very wise to meet with her and let her negotiate this project for you.”

Melissa listened and had to keep her mouth from hanging open. She couldn’t believe that Mr. Forster was recommending her services to one of his acquaintances.

Stephen looked at the look on Melissa’s face and silently patted himself on the back. “G
reat, I’m going to send you her contact information and let her know you’ll be contacting her the first part of next week….Great…You be sure to let me know how things turn out.”

Turning back to Melissa, “Well, that will help you get started. Graham Turner is getting ready to expand his ski resorts to include that mountain your uncle’s cabin sits on. He’s already negotiated parts of the sale with the local authorities, but needs some help navigating and assuring the locals that the environment will be kept safe. I think you would be the perfect candidate to help him in his endeavor. He’ll be contacting you first thing Monday morning. If you find yourself stumped along the way, you just give me a call and I’ll help you anyway I can.” Stephen Forster grinned at Melissa as she took in the blessing that had just come her way.

Melissa finally pulled it together enough to thank Mr. Forster for the referral and promised not to let him down. As she headed back to her office for the last time, she couldn’t wait to tell Robert about her day.

Picking up the box containing her possessions, she told her secretary goodbye and headed out to see what else the day had in store for her.

             
                                                        *****

Robert was just finishing removing the vanity from the bathroom when he heard someone calling his name. Wiping his hands on his jeans as he went, he exited the bedroom to see Charlie Taylor entering the cabin with another man by his side.

“Charlie, good to see you. I was just finishing the demo in the bathroom. Did you need to see me about something?” Robert looked inquiringly at the newcomer and then back at Charlie.

“Not me. Robert, I’d like to introduce you to Graham Turner. Mr. Turner owns several ski resorts and is in the process of negotiating the sale of the small slope on the mountain. He has big dreams to turn it into another Aspen. We were talking last night, and I told him about the work you were doing for me up here. He asked if I would mind introducing the two of you.”

Robert reached out and shook Mr. Turner’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you sir.”

“Just call me Graham, everyone else does. Mr. Turner makes me feel old,” Graham chuckled. “Charlie here tells me you’re quite the architect and that your talent is going to waste remodeling decks and kitchens. I was wondering if we could sit down in the next day or two and go over what I have in mind for the resort I want to build.  I’d love to work with someone local, but I really want the place to shine.”

Robert nodded his head and couldn’t believe his good fortune. He had been unwilling to go find another career out of fear, and now it seemed that a new career might be right in front of him. “That would be great. How does Friday work? I need to finish this bathroom remodel before his niece returns or I’ll be in hot water.”

“Friday sounds fine. Why don’t we meet at the diner, say around 11:30, does that work for you?”

“11:30 works fine, I’ll see you then.”

Graham shook Robert’s hand again and Charlie patted him on the back as the exited the cabin. Robert watched them leave and then stood there for several minutes trying to process what had just happened. He couldn’t wait to tell Melissa about his day.

             
                                                        *****

Melissa finally entered the hotel room she was staying in around 9 o’clock that evening.  After leaving her office for the last time, she had visited a moving company and arranged to have her apartment packed and moved up to the mountain after Tammy’s parents went home.  She had cancelled the lease on her apartment and then gone to visit her mother.

Her mom was happy for her and very supportive. She promised to come out for the holidays and meet Robert.  Melissa had also changed her mailing address to that of the cabin, and closed her bank accounts. After having dinner with Tammy and her parents, she had finally marked all of the items off her “to do” list.

Picking up the phone, she called Robert’s house, hoping that he had gone home after work instead of TJ’s.  As he picked up, she sighed in relief. “Hey, it’s me.”

“Melissa. So, how did today go? Was you boss really upset that you were quitting?”

Melissa started laughing, she could hardly believe her good fortune, how was she to explain it to someone else? “Well, no actually. In fact, when I told him what my plans were, he contacted a buddy of his that is planning on building a ski resort near us and needs some legal advice and someone to help him navigate the environmental laws for the area.”

Robert started laughing as he put it all together. “His name wouldn’t happen to be Graham Turner, would it?”

Shocked, Melissa replied, “Yes. How did you know?”

“Well, I met Mr. Turner this morning when your Uncle Charlie brought him by the cabin. I’m meeting with him tomorrow for lunch to discuss designing his new resort complex.” Robert couldn’t keep the pride out of his voice, or the happiness.

“Robert, that’s wonderful. Wow. I don’t know what to say.”

“I might be able to help you with that. When are you going to be back here?”

“I took care of everything today. I was planning to drive back tomorrow; I should be there right after lunch.”

“That’s what I needed to hear. How about we celebrate tomorrow night, I’ll grill us some steaks, and we can light a fire…”

“That sounds perfect. I miss you.”

“I miss you too. Get some sleep and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay. Bye.”

Melissa hung up the phone and hugged herself. Her life was coming together and she couldn’t wait to get back to Robert.

Three weeks later, Melissa opened the door to the cabin and stopped to enjoy her surroundings. After moving back, her uncle had offered her the chance to purchase the cabin. Melissa had jumped at the opportunity as she and Robert had agreed to move in together, but his place was very small.

Robert had asked her to marry him the night before and Melissa had enthusiastically said “Yes.”  They were planning to wait until around the holidays so her mother could attend and not have to take time off from her new job.

Robert had gotten the job of designing and managing the construction of the new ski resort and all of the condos to be built.  Melissa had met with Mr. Turner, and together they had negotiated with the environmental groups and authorities and the ski resort was well on its way. They were planning to open right after Thanksgiving.

As Melissa surveyed her surroundings, she was reminded of her first meeting with Robert and had to laugh at the spectacle she had made of herself. It was amazing the changes that love could make in one’s life. She was so blessed to have found Robert when she did; he had saved her from a life of misery and loneliness. Smiling, she
turned and left the cabin; headed to find the man of her life and tell him how much he meant to her.

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