Chapter 78: Founding a Foundation

“Oh good, you’re back,” said Catherine. “Count Volkonsky was just here. We looked for you but couldn’t find you. The girls said you were with Amy.”

“It must have been when we walked down to the shore,” I thought.

Catherine sat down beside me. She was still beaming.

“I believe you are the most beautiful woman here!” I told her.

“Don’t do that, Michael. You’ve already made my heart swell. Don’t try and make my head swell too,” she told me, smiling.

“You know that I always tell you the truth,” I replied.

“I know. And right now, I need to tell you something. The Count brought word that the Russians have agreed to the price for the fuel process. Evidently, they got your message from the White House,” she said.

“More likely, they got your message on the train,” I replied.

“Well, whichever message they got, they have agreed in principal, and asked Harry to have the account information forwarded as soon as possible,” Catherine said happily.

“But it’s Saturday night, almost Sunday morning!” I exclaimed.

“It’s already Sunday in the Soviet Union. Besides, they aren’t as ... observant of the Sabbath as we are. One of the things you’ll learn about a global company is that business is done when business is done. That’s why the wire transfer divisions of banks with large global clients, like us, stay open around the clock. When you’re dealing with millions of dollars, minutes mean lots of dollars in interest,” Catherine informed me.

“Thank god she is on my side!” I thought for the thousandth time.

“Even when I was upset about Grace, and angry about Nancy, I was still on ‘your side’. I just didn’t seem like it I guess,” Catherine said as she sighed.

“You were angry about Nancy?” I asked.

“Please don’t ruin this evening for me, Michael. We can talk about all this later, okay?” she asked.

“Sure!” I told her. Then changing the subject, I asked, “So when are they sending the money?”

“Well, a transfer like this could take several days. But the Count was here to ask if we would accept the payment in two installments. Half now, and the balance when all the equipment and information is delivered to the port.

“Since everyone is here except Nancy, I called a quick meeting and we agreed. With a caveat. Count Volkonsky and his family will be our guests until the transfer is complete,” she said.

“Hostages?” I asked, having a hard time understanding.

“Insurance,” Catherine replied. “He is the one who came up with the idea, even offering himself and his family. I think it might be good to have children around the house again. A boy and a girl, thirteen and eleven, if I remember correctly.”

“Sturgey and Trealyn,” I supplied. I wasn’t sure how I felt about this.

“It’s too bad you won’t be here,” she said.

“How long will they be hosta ... er ... guests,” I asked.

“It depends on how long it takes to get everything loaded and shipped. As you know, most of it is already done on this end. I’d say four to six weeks. Most of the summer, I’d imagine. After we agreed, he told me his wife and children were actually looking forward to getting out of Washington for the summer,” Catherine said happily.

“Well, I’ll be back in New York by the end of the month,” I said. “So maybe I’ll get to spend some time with them, then.”

“Well, the other thing we discussed briefly is your request,” she told me.

“My request?” I asked.

“You said you wanted to use the proceeds of the sale to start a Foundation,” she reminded me. “Is that still your plan?”

“Oh yeah! I just didn’t know what request you were referring to, that’s all,” I said sheepishly.

“But you never ask anyone for anything, so it’s not like you have made so many that you can’t keep up with them,” Catherine said smiling again. “Anyway, we discussed it briefly and it looks like you’ll have about five hundred million to start your foundation with. We’ll have to look at the numbers closer, but the other half billion will more than cover everything and still allow the company to show a profit.”

I just stared at her dumbfounded. I never dreamed I’d have a half billion dollars to work with. My mind started racing.

“Can Wagner Industries afford to do this? And not hurt ourselves?” I asked.

Catherine was really smiling now. She’d later report to the board that my first concern was for the company.

“Actually, it may be more. We’ll get the tax guys on it first thing Monday. The more we put into the foundation, the less we have to pay in taxes,” she said, still smiling.

I arched both eyebrows at this. If I really thought about it, I’d shit! A half a billion dollars. Talk about having to dream bigger!

“This will also give us a tremendous amount of working capital that we’ll need to invest right away. The more cash we have lying around, the more likely we’ll be a target for other, larger companies,” she said. Catherine was sparkling now. For the first time in many years, she was involved in Wagner Industries, plotting and planning for its growth.

“Software,” I said. “Invest in software development. I’ll get you some details later.”

“Software?” Catherine asked.

“It’s what tells a computer what to do,” I explained.

I could tell she was puzzled.

“Catherine, in 2011, almost every man, woman, and child over ten, carries a small computer with them everywhere. It’s about the size of the compact you are carrying in your purse right now. It will tell you the time and date, works as a portable calculator, GPS, camera, still and video, or movie camera you would still call it today. Kids use it to text on and play games on, and sometimes, they even call their parents with it. The list of uses is so long, there are companies that do nothing but make applications for it,” I told her.

“What’s GPS?” she asked.

“Remind me later. Meantime, don’t say anything to anyone else. I need to think this through. If you want to, you can start doing some checking around on battery companies to buy. Preferably ones with good R&D departments, or specializing in Lithium battery development,” I said, thinking out loud.

“Batteries?”

“Yeah! All those computers and a thousand other things all need batteries to operate,” I explained.

Catherine just looked at me.

“If I was younger, you would never have made it out of my bed alive, this morning!” she said excitedly. “As it is, I heard what the girls have planned for you, and you may not survive the night!” she laughed.

“Speaking of the girls, I need to show you what happened with Amy, and then ask your advice, okay?” I asked.

Catherine was still smiling as she nodded, so I touched her forearm and replayed what happened with Amy.

When I was through, Catherine arched one eyebrow at me.

“That reminds me, we have to talk to Beth,” I told her.

“Don’t worry about Beth for now,” she said.

I arched both eyebrows at her, questioning what she meant. She just shook her head, asking, “What do you have in mind for Amy?”

“Based on what you just told me, I’d like to hire her to help me set up and run the new foundation. I’ll require her to get a degree along the way, and help her get in some art classes, which she thinks she might like. But when I scanned her, she’s just the opposite of her mom. Only she’s never had much she thought she could give,” I explained.

“Is that it?”

I grinned a crooked grin at her.

“I’m sure as hell glad you’re on my side!” I said as I laughed. “I’d also like you to get her and Ileana to a doctor tomorrow. To get them checked out and started on the pill.”

“Ileana?” she asked, again with one eyebrow raised. I think she had figured out that it bugged me that I couldn’t do that, so she did it to tease me.

“Yeah. I guess I forgot to tell you that she’s not going back to Tapato. Kalani has agreed to let her, and I quote, stay with her husband,” I said.

Catherine got serious. “Are you okay with that?”

“It was my suggestion,” I told her.

“But I asked if you were okay with it ... in here?” she asked again, touching my chest, slightly left of my breastbone, between my nipples.

I sighed. “I’m fighting hard not to, but it’s not working. I think I’m falling for her, like I did with Grace.”

“It’s okay, Michael. Broken hearts hurt, but they don’t kill you. And you have more love to give than anyone I’ve ever met. I think you need to give more of your love away. Because when you do, you seem to become stronger and more powerful,” she said to me.

“I don’t understand. What do you mean by ‘more powerful’?” I asked her.

“Michael, haven’t you noticed that your abilities seem to increase every time you give yourself in love?” she said.

I didn’t respond. My mind was churning as I considered what she had just said. Was there a connection? And if there was, why hadn’t I noticed before now?

“I first noticed it when you were in the hospital. Every time you gave of yourself, you grew stronger. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. Your Empathic powers seemed to grow greater as you gave your love to Anna, your sister, and your cousins. But when you decided to help Rose and Eve, it was so great, you almost shined. That’s why, when you turned it on me that time, you overwhelmed me with love. Pure love,” she explained patiently.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked.

“Oh, yes! I realized I almost ruined it, with my anger and guilt. But every time you give your heart, you get stronger. So, don’t hold back Michael. Love Ileana, and Nicky, and Candy, and all of them with all your heart!” she told me. “Only save a little bit for me.”

I started to kiss her to show her how much I loved her.

“No! Not here!” she cried. “Here, you have to be my grandson. We’ll have our time later, okay?”

“You’re right,” I replied. Then I smiled at her. “We will have our time later!”

“I’ll get the girls to the doctor first thing Monday. Are you still planning on leaving Monday night?”

“Yeah. We need to be at the State Department at ten o’clock Tuesday,” I told her.

Catherine stood. “Okay. I’m going to say good night to Harry. You start rounding everyone up.”

“Great! After the day I’ve had, I’m ready for some sleep!” I thought to myself.

In the background, the girls all broke out in fits of giggles!

“Uh-oh!” I thought.

I stood between Anna and Penny, as everyone boarded the coach. They were still discussing the party while I was scanning the area for problems.

“So far, so good,” I thought.

Kip suddenly appeared, speaking to Penny and Anna. “All clear,” he reported.

“Okay, Michael. We’ve got it. If you’ll get onboard now, we can get going,” Penny said.

“Nicky? Could I meet with you and Vickie for a minute?” I thought to them as I took a seat near the center of the coach. As before, the adults were all near the front and the teens were all in the rear.

“We will, Michael. But you have to promise you won’t scan any of us until we say you can,” Nicky replied.

“You know, that just makes me want to scan you?” I asked.

“Michael Wagner! Don’t you dare!” Nicky said emphatically.

“Please, Michael. We have a surprise for you. Don’t ruin it!” Vickie added.

By this time, they were taking seats near me.

“Okay. As long as you give me your word you’re not hiding something bad,” I told them out loud.

Anna had walked back from the front of the bus in time to hear what I said.

“Trust me. You will NOT think it’s bad,” she said laughing.

“Is everybody in on it except me?” I cried in mock exasperation.

Anna just looked at me, raising one eyebrow.

“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see!” she said teasing me. Catherine must have told her about the one eyebrow thing.

“Are you involved too?” I asked Anna.

“I wish!” she said teasing me again. But I also detected an element of truth in her tease as well.

“I just came back to deliver a message. What you asked Catherine to do is set for 9:30 Monday morning. She wants to know if she is supposed to tell them, or if you’re going to?”

“That was fast!” I thought to Catherine. “I mean, I’m super-impressed you could arrange it, given its after midnight on a weekend!”

“What can I say? I’m good!” Catherine thought back to me. “Besides, Maureen was talking with Harry when I went to say goodnight. She’s my doctor.”

I could hear her chuckling somewhere up in front of me.

“She said to bring them to her office and she would work them in,” Catherine thought.

“Well, thank you for taking care of it. I’ll ask both of them if they want to do it and let you know soon,” I thought to her.

Anna had realized I was communicating with Catherine, and returned to her seat in the front.

I turned to Nicky and Vickie, who were now seated across the aisle.

“I wanted to talk to you, Nicky, because I have some exciting news, and I want you to be the first to know. One of my goals is to start a foundation, and I just got word that I’ll receive the funding to do it in about four to six weeks.”

“That’s great Michael, but why did you want to tell me first?” Nicky asked.

“Because the Foundation is going to be named in honor of your parents, and...” I started saying before Nicky cut me off.

“I don’t have your gifts, Michael, so I can’t tell if you’re serious or not,” Nicky said, then she paused, looking at me hard. “But if I find out that this is some kind of stupid tease or sick joke, you WILL SO regret it!” she responded angrily.

Surprised at her reaction, I realized too late that her parent’s deaths’ were still a raw subject with her. So I quickly thought to them, “Vickie, since I promised not to do any scanning, would you scan me and show Nicky what you find?” To make it easier, I recalled my conversation with Catherine to the front of my mind.

“A HALF BILLION? Oh my god! I can’t believe it...” the rest of what they were saying, was drowned in screams and voices as the girls in the rear came charging up the aisle.

Nicky launched herself at me from across the aisle as Vickie excitedly tried to tell the rest of the girls what was going on. The commotion caused the driver to turn on the interior lights to see what was happening.

“I just told Nicky about naming the Foundation after her parents,” I thought to Catherine. She quickly relayed the information to the driver and the other adults. Catherine told me to have everyone take a seat or the driver would stop the coach.

Nicky, still straddling me on the seat, continued to hug and kiss on me, between her rambling sentences of amazement and disbelief. Finally, she began to calm down. The others had returned to the rear. Vickie just sat there studying me with a quizzical expression on her face.