Rhythm

by

John Terry Moore
 

CHAPTER 39

They landed at Tullamarine at around 8.00pm; progressing through Immigration and Customs.  Linda was quiet; so much had happened in the last ten days or so.  Just when she thought it may have been a dream, the girls were there to remind her that she was now considered a member of their family.  With all the responsibilities that went with it!  She hoped Mrs McIntosh was still able to cook for them because she couldn’t!  She had grown up with loving parents, and an amah who was skilled at all domestic duties.  When she married Albert she simply transferred to another home staffed by servants and there was no need to possess culinary qualifications!  Their hire car driver held up a little sign, ‘Wu family’ and they loaded the car with their luggage, duty free purchases and some gifts for friends.  Linda remembered the Australian egalitarian attitude and the desire to do things for oneself instead of allowing staff to do it for them!  She wondered how she would cope in the day-to-day running of the home as her son and his partner went about their business.  It was Andrew who suggested she should come to Australia and consolidate her relationship with the girls.  But it was Stephen who insisted that she come.  Just for a month, and then return to Singapore with him on his next trip.  Stephen told her there was a function the following weekend that involved all their university mates, which he and Andrew always looked forward to.  Linda was invited naturally, as parents, children and even friends of their university ‘family’ were all attending.  But Stephen told his mother that it was important she was there because ‘there was a deeply personal reason and it involved Andrew.’  He had planned a surprise for Andrew, so he swore her to secrecy.  It was more than the annual get together; this time their great supporter, educator and friend, the former Vice Chancellor, Margaret Reeve was to launch her book.  A definitive social essay based on Adam, Patrick and The Eight.  About the profound changes in Australian societal attitudes which had driven them all together in a series of strong partnerships.  Adam and Patrick, Lance and Angelo, Darcy and Jacob; all met and married whilst at university.  Then suddenly, Richard Nation’s marriage collapsed, nearly losing his life in the process.  And he ended up with Peter where he should have been all along.  Married now and in their late twenties (like all of them) and exuding an infectious happiness.  Nearly a perfect score for the Dean’s predictions!  Stephen smiled inwardly.  Only Lance who retained an uncanny ability to read people had guessed.  Along with Angelo, of course.  The pair of them had been wonderful to Andrew when he was ‘in limbo’ between his wife’s departure and the true beginning their partnership, Stephen decided.  Yet they had remained totally discreet because both Stephen and Andrew had asked them to be so, just to give them breathing space, particularly with Elizabeth and Claire to consider.  So he rang a jubilant Lance and Angelo, gave them a full report, and enlisted their help for the following weekend; keeping the news quiet for one more week!  But he knew he also had a duty elsewhere.  Since her ‘retirement’ she had acquired an office and staff support at the ICHP.  He quickly slipped through her door without being seen.  He could hear Peter Finche doing a presentation in the auditorium next door and he grinned to himself.  He knew it was all worthwhile; he just wanted the person he loved to feel special on the day amongst their true friends; Adam, Patrick and the remainder of the Eight.  And the Dean.  He sat across the desk and explained it all to her; some of it she was smart enough to be already aware of, but now he proudly told all.  “Thank you for letting me know,” she said, springing to her feet and hugging him.  She agreed with his strategy, and they carefully went over her script together.  He left as quickly as he had arrived, the Dean blowing her nose.  “What an outcome, Stephen,” she said, as he disappeared out the door.  “What an outcome.” 

*****

The following Wednesday there was a video call from Eddie Chin. 

A grateful Eddie Chin.  Only three of his new buildings would need repainting.  But the work would be done by a new contractor.  Fortunately, the supplier of concrete had always delivered material to specification; they just paid a ‘commission’ to Nicholas.  His sons had resigned from the company and were no longer directors.  He had replaced them with their own wives, which he knew had the potential to destroy their marriages completely.  But the grandchildren were too precious for that to happen.  So in order for Nicholas and Daniel to save ‘face’ he was in the process of buying a rubbish recycling company which he intended giving to them.  He told them if they wanted to steal from that business, they were welcome because they were only stealing from themselves.  He told Stephen he had stood over them and forced them to pay the cost of repairing the defective paintwork, on top of refunding all the bribes they had received.  Which left them broke.  Which was a good thing because they would work hard in their new business to make it succeed.  “I am a broken man, Stephen,” he said, “I don’t think I can ever trust my sons again.  They are aware that had they been other than family, I would have preferred charges against them.  My own sons,” he sobbed.  “But I have you to thank for bringing it to my attention.  Thanks to you, my company is saved.  We have checked all our other employees, particularly in purchasing, which is obviously where we are so vulnerable.  We have taken them more into our confidence and rewarded them with incentives, just the way you run your company.”  There was a beep and Uncle Sin walked in and sat next to Eddie.  “Sin and I have discussed the situation quite thoroughly.  In five years we shall both retire. So we have five years to train the new people and put the new company together.  Then if we think we have something to offer the public, we will list on the stock exchange.  Money means nothing to me now, Stephen,” he said quietly.  “I want to watch my grandchildren grow up and maybe even produce some great grandchildren.  “Now,” he said, “this is the offer I would propose to bring us all together.”  Stephen called Andrew and Linda and they sat there, spellbound as Eddie spoke clearly and without hesitation.  He wanted SGF to buy him out, not the other way around!  Stephen thought he would never close his mouth so great was his surprise!  Together with Sin and Harry and Linda, they were basically two billion Singapore dollars better off than before Eddie’s call!  Andrew had also worked out the mathematics, and Linda was slowly coming up to speed.  Eddie looked directly into the cam.  “I suppose you are wondering why I have done it this way?”  “I have never had any peace of mind since I entered into that agreement with your late father,” Eddie said quietly.  “None.  And when Annette was killed and you were left with the children, Angela and I were devastated.  We simply didn’t know how to react.  We know we were wrong, and we paid the price.  Both of us have had extensive therapy to try to move on with our lives.  What happened two weeks ago when Andrew and Linda reintroduced us to our grandchildren has been the best therapy of the lot.  We are sleeping better and even with this dreadful business with Nicholas and Daniel, Angela and I feel at peace at last.  Because the simple fact is that I trust you and Andrew implicitly whereas I cannot trust my sons.  So my investment must follow my trust. 

I understand that money cannot buy forgiveness, but I also wanted to make this gesture so you will be aware how much we appreciate being reunited with Elizabeth and Claire.”