Jacobi thought back about everything happened in this past surprising week while driving to Wellspring.
Lady Luck was certainly on his side.
He was lucky that what he thought was his exit interview with Dusty the CEO turned out to be his induction to their inner circle and his new branch manager job at Wellspring.
He was lucky to find out that the stern safety inspector he used to butt head with turned out to be a cute and spicy vixen who enjoyed his company.
He was lucky he didn't get his ass kicked and fired for banging his CEO's niece over the old man's desk. For older southern guy, Dusty was quite open-minded. He just swore and laughed and said how great it is to be young. Then, he told us to clean up after ourselves before leaving.
He was lucky there was not much work to finished up and prepped for his colleague Arnold to take over. It was like Will set it up for him to be ready for the move.
He was lucky his mama was so understanding. While Wellspring was not that far from his home, his new responsibility meant it's more likely that he would come visit his mama less. She only blessed him to make the most out of this opportunity.
He was lucky that Barry, the former Wellspring branch manager and his would be advisor, sounded so friendly and upbeat on the phone. Jacobi had some apprehension that they might not get along with him going to replace Barry. One phone call dispelled such anxiety. He could not wait to meet the guy and learn from him.
For the first time after a long while, things seem to be looking up for him.
He thought that his life was over when the doctor told him he could not properly play football after his devastating knee injury. His chance for a better life for him and his mama slipped away with one freak accident. He thought he was dealt such a bad hand after Gary Sewell bailed out on the Templeton branch office and left him and his crew to fend for themselves. He used to curse the Lady Luck everyday as he worked himself to the bone to keep the branch office and his livelihood afloat.
No more cursing at Lady Luck. At least, not today.
***
After a day of unpacking and settling in the house the company provided for him, he showed up to the Wellspring office and met with the warmest of welcome by Barry. The fifty-something round-bellied man was full of energy. He introduced Jacobi to the Wellspring office staff and then the construction crew. Then Barry spent the rest of the morning showing Jacobi the day-to-day of his new position.
"Shouldn't be too tough for someone who survived Templeton," said Barry cheerfully, "if you ran into any trouble, I'll stay around for a while, so ask away."
Barry was right. The basics here used the same format and system like in Templeton or the main office. Jacobi can start right away.
"Time flew by so fast when you're teaching a smart guy, huh?" said Barry, "let's get some lunch then I'll show you around the town and let you get ready for tonight."
Tonight would be his reception as a Wellspring branch office manager at the Crane family home. Maybe, Grace would be there, Jacobi thought. After that fateful night, they not yet met properly and continue the relation with Jacobi being busy getting relocated to Wellspring and all.
"Will talked you up a great deal, you know," said Barry as he worked through his cheeseburger at the restaurant down the road from the office, "how old are you? Thirty-five? Forty?"
"Just turned thirty, Barry," said Jacobi unable to hide his pride, "I do need to learn a lot from you."
"A good ass-kisser, too," said Barry as they both laugh, "young, smart guy like you getting this job. Lots of people in the main office are going to be jealous. But don't be worried. You're family now"
"Yeah about that," said Jacobi, "I heard that more than twice this past week now. What's that mean me being in the family? It sounds like a mafia or something."
"Nah, nothing like that. You'll get a clearer picture tonight," said Barry as he wiped his face with a napkin, "if you're done with that chicken fried steak, let's go. I'll show you around."
***
"On this part of the neighborhood, almost every houses here were built by us, exclaimed Barry proudly, "on the corner of the street there's strip mall where you can find a decent Chinese buffet and the office of Dr. Jo Crane."
"Dr. Jo Crane as in our Crane & Co.?" asked Jacobi.
"Yeah, you might know her better as our spunky safety lady Grace Larson's mom."
"What?" exclaimed Jacobi. What a small world. Well, a small town.
"Yeah she got split from Grace's daddy a while back, so she came back to use the Crane name. Has better weight in this town, anyway," continued Barry, sounding not so cheerful for the first time that Jacobi met him, "she's psychiatrist, so if you got stressed, give her a visit. Her service is covered by our benefits anyway."
Well, thought Jacobi, if I want to meet Grace's mom, I'd rather not be as her patient.
As Barry's truck cruised down the road, he pointed out a big, white building across the bridge, "that's Wellspring Financials. You gonna be dealing with them a lot from now on."
Of course, Jacobi knew about the financial firm. Almost anything to do with money of Crane & Co. Construction, Wellspring Financials got a hand on it. From securing a loan for big project to setting up insurances and consults on personal finance for the employees, the relationship between the two companies were as strong as they come.
Will briefed Jacobi on this. One of the most important aspect of his new job was to build better relationship with Wellspring Financials.
"The bond between us and them used to be stronger, you know," continued Barry, "with Dusty's brother Bob being their senior director. Will's sister working for them for years. Hell, Their CEO's sister even married our founder. You'd think there shouldn't be any problems."
Nodded Jacobi. Crane & Co. Construction and Wellspring Financials were like the two pillars that supported this town. They both looked like family businesses from the outside. But, family did often fight. Was that why Will want someone new and outside the family to deal with this issue? Jacobi wondered.
"That should be enough showing you around for now. Let's go back to the office and finished you up quickly, so you have time to prepare for tonight."
***
As Jacobi walked from his parked truck to the front door of Crane's family home, he got to take in the grand architecture of the building.
Rich folks and their big house, thought Jacobi.
Only a few seconds past after he knocked on the door, he was greeted by a familiar slender, Indian lady in a light blue dress.
"Hi Jacobi," greeted Maya, Will's wife, "on time as usual."
"Hi Maya," greeted Jacobi as he went for a soft hug, "how are the boys doing?"
"Rowdy and staying with a babysitter all night, so we can make this party for you," said Maya, "congratulations, again. Everybody is inside."
As Maya led him inside toward the atrium, Jacobi got a good look at the decorations. Contrasting from Dusty's minimally furnished office, everything in this house felt expensive from carpets on the floor up to the lavish chandelier. The decorating painting didn't look cheap either.
"The man of the hour is here. C'mon in, my man."
Will approached Jacobi on the opposite side from his wife to lead him in and started introducing his family.
"This is my mom Esther."
The lady sat beside Dusty on the sofa sported a head full of white hair as if to match her husband. She also looked much young than her actual sixty-something age dressed elegantly in her white dress. Guess Dusty has a partner on his diet and exercises, thought Jacobi.
"Here's my aunt Jo and you already know Grace."
Right away, Jacobi could tell where Grace got her height and busty figure from. Dr. Jo Crane sported the similarly flowing and slight curved hair, but the older lady's was light brown. She also looked younger than her age but on a thicker side compared to Esther. The mother and daughter pair were in matching dark green dress, extenuating Grace red, majestic hair