The Sauna Part 263

“So, I take it that you and Jon worked out your differences?” Jim asked with a wry smile.

“I think you could safely say that” I grinned, slapping his arm affectionately.

I felt greatly relieved and Jon’s response had gone a long way towards re-establishing my faith in us as the partners we needed to be. It would take time to negotiate this new relationship, but I finally felt like we were on the right path. Now I had work to do.

“Coffee? It looks like a long night” Jim observed and I nodded.

It was almost eight o’clock and I wanted to get started on composing the letter and I needed to contact Jack and make sure he’d accept my offer. I didn’t want to waste any time in setting things in motion as I intended my justice to be swift. Matt would be gone by the close of business tomorrow. Rather than email, I called Jack at home and explained what had happened.

“So the entire website has been disabled?” he asked, trying to digest all that I shared.

“It’s down and nothing comes up when you search for it on the web” I clarified, uncertain as to whether the link could simply be reinstated. “Jack, can you fix this? Will you take the job?” I asked, pressing him for an answer.

“Yeah, Trish, I will. Actually, I’m looking forward to it now that I won’t have to deal with your brother-in-law” he agreed.

“Thanks, Jack. Again, I apologize for having allowed Matt to cause you such grief and for my failure to have addressed the situation sooner. I promise I’ll be much more on top of things and you have my cell number if there’s anything urgent, okay?” I assured him.

“Hey, I understand. I’ve got family too and it was a delicate situation. Call me as soon as he’s out the door and I can start repairing the damage” he said simply.

“Will do” I replied and hung up.

The coffee was done and I grabbed a cup and headed upstairs to the computer with renewed vigor as I sat down to work on the letter. I had a draft ready within the hour and I reviewed it to make sure I eliminated anything personal. I was determined to refrain from attacking his character and I tried to keep it strictly professional, stating only the facts. When I was satisfied, I emailed the lawyer and I’d call him first thing in the morning to make sure he read it and approved.

It had been a long day and I was suddenly pretty tired, so I shut down the computer and got ready for bed. Jim was downstairs watching TV and I went down to thank him for all his moral support.

“I’m sorry I was being so stubborn earlier and I really am grateful that you were here. I don’t want you to think that Jon and I always act like idiots or that this kind of drama is normal” I ventured a bit sheepishly.

“Oh c’mon! And here I was thinking what an exciting job I’m gonna have!” he laughed.

I hugged him, shaking my head. Jim could roll with the punches and I was glad to know he could hang in there. As much as I wished it was different, our lives had become pretty dramatic of late and there were still rocky roads ahead. Maybe it was a good thing in the long run that Jim’s first exposure into our lives had begun as it had. Welcome to the world of rock ‘n roll, my friend.


************


When they returned to the hotel, Jon sat down and filled everyone in on what had happened. Richie was the only one who wasn’t totally flabbergasted as he’d seen first hand how Matt and Jon’s mother had behaved towards me at the retirement dinner. Still, he was surprised that they had gone to such lengths to ruin my credibility.

“You mean that Matt and your mother actually arranged the whole billing discrepancy just to make Trish look bad?” Tico asked in disbelief and Jon nodded.

“Jon, are you positive that your mom was in on this from day one? Are you sure it wasn’t just Matt acting alone?” David suggested.

“Matt isn’t that clever, Dave. It’s got my mother’s name written all over it. Matt’s always been her stooge” he replied, the truth really sinking in now.

“Shit, man, I’m really sorry. That’s really rough. Your mother, damn, man” Dave muttered sympathetically and Jon nodded again.

“What do you need us to do, Jon? You know we got your back, right?” Richie said finally.

“Nothing right now, bro. Just wanted to let you all know where things stood at the moment and to ask for your support with the plan” Jon shared and there were nods of assent all around.

“So what is the plan exactly? Matt’s out and Trish has the Fan Club, but who’s gonna take over the other stuff?” Hugh asked, always practical.

“I don’t know at the moment. Trish has someone in mind to run the Fan Club on a day to day basis, but as for the rest of Matt’s job…” Jon threw his hands up in the air.

“Okay, we’re cool with that. Just keep us posted and let us know if there’s anything we can do. I mean anything, man, anything at all” Dave added and again, everyone nodded.

Jon looked from one to the other and smiled. These four were better brothers than Matt had ever been and they’d always had his back. They’d been his family for almost twenty-five years and that hadn’t changed. It was good to know there were still people he loved who he could count on when the world crowded in. My real brothers.

“I will, Dave, and thanks. I’m lucky to have all of you” he said with a sigh.


*****************



I slept restlessly through the night and by six o’clock I finally gave up and went down to make coffee. Jim wasn’t even up yet and the cats trailed behind me like a train on a bride’s wedding dress. I stopped suddenly and Zeke plowed into Floyd and there was a skirmish as Floyd hissed his displeasure and I laughed. Sometimes routines were a comfort.

I emptied the cat food into their bowls and started the coffee while I waited for it to be earlier enough to call the lawyer. The sun wasn’t yet up so it was dark in the house and I turned on some lights and made a fire. I was sitting on the couch, lost in my thoughts and sipping my first cup when Jim ambled down the stairs.

“You’re up early” he remarked.

“Yeah, I couldn’t sleep and I’m anxious to get this all over with as soon as possible” I replied.

“Anything I can do?” he offered.

“Just keep me company” I smiled.

I called the lawyer just after seven a.m. and he read my letter while I waited impatiently on the phone. He made a few suggestions and had me include some legal phrases. Soon it was done and we were good to go. I printed the letter and then I called Jon to see where to fax it for his final approval and signature. I read it to him and he made a few comments while he waited to get the fax.

“It sounds a lot more polite than I feel, but yeah, that says it all” he agreed.

He signed the letter and faxed it back to me and I signed it as the lawyer advised that the copy Matt received should contain at least one original signature. Jon’s plane was leaving momentarily for Australia and we confirmed the details regarding my arrival, along with Jim’s. We would be leaving later today too, but since Jon’s flight was longer, with several stops to refuel, we’d actually arrive fairly close to the same time and he’d meet us at the airport.

“Jon, I’m really sorry that things turned out the way that they did. This isn’t what I wanted, you know” I told him.

“I know, babe. It isn’t your fault at all; Matt and my mother forced your hand. I’m just relieved that once all is said and done that we’re still okay. We are still okay, aren’t we, Trish?” he asked.

It broke my heart to hear the sadness and resignation, but his need for reassurance tore at my gut. I wanted to hear the confident, even cocky, tone in his voice again, but I’d settle for a little less morose heaviness.

“I love you with all of my heart, Jon. Nothing will ever change that and we’ll get through this, together. What the Goddess has joined together, let no man, or woman, tear asunder, remember?” I said, trying to lighten the mood.

“Well, wife, that’s a little different twist on the old saying, isn’t it? I wonder what my old Catholic school teacher would say about that” he chuckled.

“There now, that’s a little more like it, husband. I love you and I’ll see you tomorrow. Keep the bed warm, okay?” I said brightly.

“You know I will, babe. I love you too” he replied, feeling easier now himself.

I made several copies of the letter on the scanner and I called an overnight courier service and arranged to have the letter delivered to Matt this afternoon. I didn’t care what it cost; the sooner I knew he was gone, the sooner Jack could get in there and start rebuilding the website. I only wished that I could have been there in person to talk to the staff about what had happened and the changes they’d be seeing, but there wasn’t time and Jon needed me with him as soon as I could get there.

I sat down and wrote out a letter to the staff at Backstage. They didn’t need to know all the details, but they did need an explanation as to why Matt would be escorted out of the building this afternoon. They also needed to know that Jack would be assuming the reins in my absence and that I would be in constant communication with him. I also wanted to dispell any potential rumors about who was running the Fan Club as it would not have surprised me in the least if people were expecting Carol’s return. I printed it out and signed it and addressed it to Jack and it was ready when the courier arrived to pick up Matt’s termination letter.

Finally, I called Jon’s security people and appraised them of the situation and the need for them to be present when the letter was delivered this afternoon. I advised them to handle the situation with as much discretion as possible, but under no circumstances should Matt be allowed to remove any documents, files, or computers from the building and he was not to have access to any computer on the premises. Jack would disable his accounts and passwords immediately and they were to cooperate with him in every possible way. I would be standing by and available if any questions arose and they were to notify me as soon as Matt had been removed.

I hung up the phone and took a deep breath as I tried to relax while I waited for the proverbial shit to hit the fan.