It Was 2 A.m. My Son Knocked On The Door And Cried: “Dad, My Wife Took All My Money And Ran Off With Her Lover…” I Calmly Let Him Into The House And Made A Call: “Start The Plan… Now!” – Part 6

Worst of all, he considered it the right, sensible approach. “I brought you something,” Noel reached into his jacket’s inside pocket and pulled out an envelope. “An invitation to the opening of my company. In 2 weeks, there will be a small reception for potential clients and partners. I’d like to see you there.” I took the envelope.

It was heavy, expensive paper, gold embossed. On the front, in elegant lettering was written, “No hope, founder and CEO, Hope Strategy.” “Hope Strategy?” I raised an eyebrow. “Sounds confident, doesn’t it?” Noel smiled. “A hint of the surname, but also a promise of hope, of solutions. Marketers say it works well.

” I nodded, though inwardly I cringed at such a calculated use of his own surname. The old Noel would have found it too pretentious. “I’ll be there, of course,” I said, putting away the invitation. “I’m proud of you, son.” And I really was proud. Despite all the changes, despite my concerns about the kind of person he was becoming, I couldn’t help but admire his determination, his ability to recover from a blow and move on.

“You know, I wanted to thank you,” Noel said, looking at his glass. for that plan with Payton, [clears throat] for opening my eyes. I just wanted to protect you, I replied honestly. To get your money back. You did much more than that. Noel looked up, his eyes shining with a strange mixture of gratitude and cold determination.

You taught me the most important lesson. Always have a plan. For every situation in life, he finished his whiskey and put the glass on the table. Now I have a plan for every situation in life, too, he continued. at work, in relationships, in finances, always a backup, always insurance, just like you taught me, I felt a strange uneasiness.

Yes, I had always been a proponent of foresight, planning, and preparing for the worst, but not to the extent that it became the main principle of life, supplanting spontaneity, trust, and joy. Son, I began cautiously. Planning is good, but life cannot be completely planned. Sometimes you just have to live, trust, take risks.

Noel looked at me with slight surprise. It’s strange to hear that from you. You always said the opposite. Maybe I wasn’t entirely right, I admitted. Or rather, not entirely right. Caution is good, but not to the point of turning life into a constant wait for a blow. Noel was silent, pondering my words. Then he shook his head. I’m sorry, Dad, but I can’t agree.

Not after what happened to Payton. Not after what I’ve seen at work, in business. The world is cruel, and the only way to survive is to be tougher, smarter, more calculating. I looked at my son and saw myself reflected in him, the cynical, cold person I had become after Beverly’s death, which to be honest, I had been even before her death.

But she had softened my rough edges and brought warmth and light into my life. And suddenly, I realized what I had done. I had created a monster in my own image. I took Noel’s best qualities, his openness, his ability to see the good in people, his sincerity, and methodically destroyed them, replacing them with my lessons, with my cynicism, with my distrust.

I wanted to protect him, but instead I took away what made him special, what he had inherited from Beverly. Son, I tried again. Don’t become me. Don’t make my mistakes mistakes. Noel frowned. You built a successful business, provided for your family, always stayed one step ahead of the competition. What mistakes? I lost the ability to trust, I said quietly.

I lost the ability to truly love after your mother died. I lost touch with you for many years because of my stubbornness and pride. These are not victories, son. These are defeats. Noel looked at me with incomprehension, as if I were speaking a foreign language. “You taught me how to survive,” he said firmly. “I am grateful for that.

” “But life is more than survival,” I felt desperate, trying to get through to him. “It’s about connections, trust, love, everything that makes us human, not just predators fighting for a place under the sun.” Noel shook his head, and in his eyes I saw not anger or rejection, but something worse. Condescending pity. It was as if he were looking at a naive old man who didn’t understand the realities of life.

I’m sorry, Dad, but I prefer your old lessons, he said softly. They seem more practical to me. He glanced at his watch and stood up. I have to go. I have to get up early tomorrow. Lots to do. I got up, too. Feeling heavy-hearted. We hugged formally without any real closeness. Once long ago, hugs with my son were filled with warmth and love.

Now it was just a social ritual. “See you at the opening,” Noel said, heading for the door. “And thanks again for everything.” I watched as he got into his expensive car and drove away, taking with him a part of me, the worst part which I had so diligently passed on to him. Standing on the porch, watching the headlights recede, I felt a deep, piercing loneliness.

I returned to my chair and poured myself another whiskey. Night fell on the desert, covering it with a dark veil. The stars twinkled coldly and distantly like No’s eyes when he talked about his plan for every situation in life. I had created a monster in my own image and likeness, and now it was too late to change anything.