Chapter 66: A Presentation and an Important Question

July 9, 1983, Chicago, Illinois

On Saturday, Bianca and I went to the grocery store and dry cleaners, then had lunch at home with Keiko and Juliette. After lunch, Bianca and I went to Bianca's room for our daily attempt at making a baby.

"I think today is the last day I'm likely to conceive," Bianca said when we cuddled after we finished our attempt to place an order. "My period should start on Tuesday. There's something I really want to do before you get engaged, if you're amenable."

"What's that?"

"Screw in the hot tub! Tonight would be perfect because we can wait until after midnight to limit the chances of being caught."

"I could see my way clear to do that. I'm going to assume you checked with Keiko?"

"Of course! And in keeping with the pattern, Juliette and I would like a last 'playtime', given in a week or so, you'll basically be off limits except for procreation."

"Knowing, of course, that as much as I love you, I'd be hard-pressed to turn you down, given Deanna and CeCi had their last times."

"I was sure that love would be the deciding factor, but I assume nothing, and if you say 'no', I'll understand. I hope you don't."

"If Keiko agrees, we'll start 'playtime' when I return from dinner at my uncle's house."

"You know I already asked!" Bianca exclaimed.

"Of course, but you also know I'm not going to do a thing to upset Keiko. She's been very tolerant, and the last thing I want to do is take advantage of that because I certainly could."

"Could, but won't, because you have integrity. And you know I'll support you, whatever decisions you make."

"My next decision is to get out of bed and shower so I can dress for dinner at my uncle's house."

"If anyone needed proof of your dedication to Keiko, it's you trying to please not just her but her grandfather by reconciling with your grandparents."

"Trying and failing might be better," I observed. "I don't think having them and my mom at the engagement party will go over well at all, and it'll turn ugly quickly if my grandfather starts in on my mom on anything or makes any kind of disparaging remark about Shinto or Buddhism."

"What are the chances of that not happening?"

"Near zero, according to my aunt. But I have to try, and if things actually get to that point, I'll lay down the law to my grandfather, and if he doesn't like it, that's on him, not on the rest of us. But, as I said, I'm going with an olive branch and a peaceful spirit. I'll maintain that so long as he doesn't slap the olive branch out of my hand."

"Which you expect him to do."

"Which my aunt expects him to do. I'm simply being realistic about the difficulties of trying to reconcile what amount to diametrically opposing worldviews."

"You haven't dated any Evangelical girls, have you?"

"No, unless you count CeCi, and I don't think she actually counts. Most of the girls have been Catholic, but there have been a few Protestants. The only one who goes to church regularly is Lily, and she's seeing someone exclusively. Others go occasionally, similar to how you go when you're home."

"It keeps the peace and doesn't bother me. You obviously know I don't give a fuck about what the Church teaches about most things."

"Obviously."

We got out of bed, I put on my robe, and went to the master bedroom so I could shower. While I was in the shower, Keiko came in and joined me. We finished our shower, dried ourselves, then dressed for dinner. Once we were ready, we left the house, got into my car, and began heading for Logan Square.

"Bianca asked me to spend the night with her and Juliette tonight," I said.

"She asked, and it's OK. I think you have about a week of freedom left!"

I chuckled, "And yet, I don't see myself as being restricted in any way that really matters. I always intended to marry, be faithful to my wife, have kids, and so on. Yes, the situation with Bianca complicates things a bit, at least for the short term, but that was an accommodation all three of us made to achieve something that is important to her and me."

"And me, believe it or not," Keiko said. "We know I may never be able to have children, and we both are OK with adoption, but having a biological child is important to you, which makes it important to me."

"I know we haven't talked about it, but how do you feel about not having a biological child, if that's what happens?"

"It's not what I had planned, but my identity is not tied to having a baby or even being a mom. Yes, I want to do that, but I don't have a visceral need to have a baby the way some girls do."

"And me," I replied.

"I don't think so," Keiko countered. "I think if presented with the choice, you would choose me and be happy to adopt one or two kids and never regret your choice. Having your own baby is important, but not a visceral need, such that you would give up on us to get it. Some guys would."

"I'd say that's an accurate analysis."

"That's high praise from you!" Keiko said with a smile.

"Let's say we do have to adopt, as you suspect we would. Do you want a boy or girl?"

"I would be OK with either, and perhaps we decide based on your child with Bianca, so there's a boy and a girl. Bianca plans to live with us long-term, right?"

"Yes," I confirmed. "Her plan is that we would raise our child together, and that's something I'd like. We already have a room we can turn into a nursery, and at some point, Jack and Kristy will move out, though it'll be a few years. Ceci will probably move to California when she finishes the four-year program at The School of the Art Institute, and Deanna will probably live with us long term, depending on what kind of relationship she decides to have."

"You might not have thought this far ahead, but knowing you, you did — what about a new house?"

"I have thought about it, and I think it's about three years away. Fundamentally, I think I need to create an REIT — a Real Estate Investment Trust — to own the rental properties. I also need to put myself in a position to repay the mortgage from Spurgeon. That way, I'll be able to finance the new house I want to build. I figure three years should do it, during which time I'll buy a pair of two- or four-flats. Those, plus this house, would create a nice REIT and provide tax advantages, as well as move the loans from being personal to being part of the REIT. I can capitalize the REIT by selling shares of it to the Cincinnatus Fund."

"So, no outlay on your part?"

"Correct. The only thing we have to sort out about the new house is how Bianca builds equity, but I need to discuss that with my tax attorney and CPA. But that's a few years down the road."

"When do you plan to buy the two- or four-flats?"

"I'll have enough capital in the Cincinnatus Fund once we seal the deal with the Overland Park Police and Fire pension funds. Then I'll speak to my friend Pete from Continental Illinois or someone at Goldman to line up the financing, transfer this house into the REIT, and then start looking for available property. I figure August, assuming Mr. Matheson and I close the deal on Wednesday."

"Will you manage the properties?"

"No. I'll ask Kasia to do that for me. Basically, I want an investment vehicle, and don't want to have to worry about the day-to-day stuff."

"You're very successful for being so young," Keiko said with a smile.

"The true measure at Spurgeon is long-term success. There have been some whiz kids in the past who were flashes in the pan, and people also burn out. One reason I'm so careful with my money is to ensure that no matter what happens, we can have a comfortable life."

"You've spent a lot of money on me."

"On us," I corrected.

Keiko smiled, "On us."

"And all of it is an investment in the future of some kind — the garden, deck, and hot tub improve the value of the house. Would I have done them for you without that? Yes, of course, but in the end, each and everything I've spent money on provides some future value, including the engagement rings."

"I have to hear that analysis!"

"You're my life partner, and that, Keiko-chan, is more valuable than anything I can think of."

"Thank you."

"I hope you understand how much I love you."

"I do. I just ... well, you know..."

"All we can ever do is take things one day at a time and deal with any challenges as they arise. That doesn't mean we don't plan for the future, but no matter what plans we make, there are no guarantees in life. The best approach is to live our lives to the utmost, whatever the future brings, so that, as I read in one of the Eastern philosophy books Anala recommended, we can say we had a life well-lived."

"Have you heard from her?"

"No. Once she met the guy from Milford, she's been scarce, and the contact attempts were one-sided. If she doesn't want to spend time with me, there isn't much I can do about it."

"I suppose not."

When we arrived in Logan Square, I dropped Keiko in front of my uncle's townhouse and then went in search of a parking spot. That took about five minutes, and when I arrived at the townhouse, Keiko had been invited in by my aunt and uncle. My grandparents were expected shortly, and, as Aunt Wendy had promised, Lisa was nowhere to be seen. The four of us sat in the living room and chatted until there was a knock at the door. My aunt got up and let her parents into the townhouse.

I had never met them, and I had no idea if they had even seen a picture of me growing up. I expected that they had not, given my mom wasn't in touch with them, and the last contact I'd had with them was the .22 rifle they'd sent me when I was eight. My grandfather was about my height, and if I was completely honest, I saw some resemblance to the face I saw in the mirror each morning, albeit about forty years older.

I stood up when they came into the room and extended my hand to shake with my grandfather.

"Hi," I said.

"Hello, Jonathan," he replied.

"It's nice to finally meet you," my grandmother said.

"And you as well," I replied. "This is my girlfriend, Keiko. You'll excuse her wearing the surgical mask, but she has a compromised immune system."

"Wendy explained the situation," my grandmother said. "It's nice to meet you, Keiko."

"Nice to meet you both, as well."

"Can I get you something to drink, Dad?" Aunt Wendy inquired.

"Ginger ale, please, and for your mother."

"Be right back."

We all sat down, and Aunt Wendy brought two glasses of ginger ale and handed them to her parents.

"Wendy tells us that you're an investment analyst," my grandfather said.

"Yes, and I hold a pair of securities licenses as well, so I can trade professionally in my own name and on behalf of clients."

"No college degree is required for that?" he asked.

"No," I replied. "I studied the training guides from Spurgeon and then attended classes to prepare for the licensure exams."

"And what do you do, Keiko?" my grandmother asked.

"I'm a student at Loyola, studying political science, and I intend to seek a Master's in international relations."

"Would that lead to a job at the State Department?" my grandfather asked.

"It could," Keiko replied. "But it also could lead to a position at any company that does significant business overseas, a teaching position, or a job at a think tank."

"Are you a Christian, young lady?" my grandfather asked.

"Dad..." Aunt Wendy warned.

"I don't believe a discussion of religion would be fruitful," I interjected, hoping to head off what I feared was an inevitable debate which would ruin the evening.

"And why is that?" he asked.

"Answering that question will simply start a debate which cannot have a positive outcome."

"There is only one way to heaven, Jonathan."

"I'd strongly prefer not to have this conversation," I said.

"Just like your mother," he replied.

"Tim, please," Uncle Alec pleaded.

I was sorely tempted to get into it with him, but I refrained because I'd promised myself, Keiko, and my aunt and uncle that I'd do my utmost to avoid being confrontational. The comment about my mom and the implications behind it was basically the limit, and if he didn't cease and desist, I'd say something that would likely end the evening when it had barely started.

"Grandpa," I said. "I'm looking to mend fences or build bridges or whatever metaphor you prefer, not continue a fight that appears to have begun about twenty-one years ago. If that isn't your intent, or you aren't willing, please just say so, and we'll save everyone from a fruitless debate."

"Denying the truth doesn't make it go away," my grandfather countered.

My options were to respond, to leave, or to listen to the sermon he was so clearly itching to give.

"And fervently believing a fantasy does not make it true," I counted.

"Fantasy?!" he growled. "Blasphemy!"

"Aunt Wendy," I said, "I'm sorry, but you appear to have been correct. Keiko and I are going to leave."

"Jonathan, stay put for a moment, please," Uncle Alec requested. "Tim, may I speak to you privately in my study?"

Interestingly, my grandmother seemed uneasy and gave the impression she disagreed with my grandfather, but if I understood the dynamic correctly, she would never contradict him nor assert herself on any topic on which he had expressed an opinion. I was somewhat surprised when my grandfather got up and followed my uncle to his study.

"Mom, would you come to the kitchen with me, please," Aunty Wendy requested. "I need to check on dinner."

I considered volunteering to help, but I suspected my aunt wanted to have a private conversation. My grandmother got up and followed her daughter into the kitchen.

"I don't understand why he's trying to pick a fight," Keiko said quietly.

"Because as a 'True Believer', with a capital 'T' and a capital 'B', he has no choice but to follow what he thinks are the key precepts of his beliefs. The problem is, he can offer no proof of what he believes and appears to expect everyone to just take his word for it. I have no problem with him following whatever code works for him, but when he tries to force it on others or looks down on them because they disagree, then we have a problem."

"He's not going to come to our wedding," Keiko said. "No way."

"Sadly, I think you're correct. His worldview is so narrow that it has no room for dissent. I suspect he'll reject coming to the engagement party as well. That said, my grandmother's body language and facial expressions indicated she didn't approve of his behavior."

"Why didn't she speak up?" Keiko asked.

"Because she's bought into the program that says the man is in charge, period. She went straight from her father's control to her husband's. It's not something I could ever contemplate doing. And I suspect, strongly, that my mom sneaking out to meet my dad was all about who was actually in control. Mom proved fairly definitively she was. And THAT, I think, is the true source of the conflict with my grandfather, even if he couches it in terms of sinful behavior."

"He's going to have a fit about you having a baby with Bianca."

"I think he'd have a bigger fit about the fact that Bianca has a girlfriend and probably a bigger one about the boys."

"I don't understand how people can be so intolerant."

"Me, either. Life is far too short to worry about what anyone else is doing if it doesn't harm me or an innocent party. Fundamentally, society would be a lot better off with fewer busybodies and less moralistic pontification."

A full five minutes passed before my uncle and my grandfather returned to the room.

"Alec tells me you bought a house earlier this year," my grandfather said.

"Yes, I did," I replied.

"That's quite an accomplishment for someone who is only twenty."

"Hard work and determination, plus a small amount of luck," I replied. "And an introduction from Uncle Alec, which got me into the mailroom."

"You've worked your way up to analyst from the mailroom in two years?"

"Yes."

"Do you know Bob van Kampen?"

"I've never met him, but I know about Van Kampen Merritt and its history. His firm has sold north of seven billion dollars of Insured Municipal Income Trusts. It's one of the largest firms dealing in municipal bonds. That's not my area of focus, so I wouldn't have any cause to deal with his firm. I focus on foreign exchange, mostly currencies, but also precious metals and commodities. You work for Caterpillar, right?"

"Yes. I'm responsible for logistics."

"You worked for P&G in Cincinnati, right?"

"Yes, I was hired as a logistics expediter right after I graduated from UC. I worked there until we moved to Illinois."

"What year did you graduate?"

"1945. We moved to Illinois in late 1964."

"Dinner is ready," Aunt Wendy announced.

We all went to the dining room table, and my grandmother and aunt brought in the food. In order to not be responsible for creating any tension, I bowed my head when my grandfather said a prayer, but I didn't say 'Amen', and neither did Keiko nor my uncle. The conversation during dinner was cordial, with my grandparents asking questions about me growing up but carefully steering clear of even mentioning my mom.

When we finished eating, we had dessert and coffee, and then my grandparents announced they would be leaving as they had to be up early for church.

"Sometime in August, Keiko and I will have an engagement party," I said to my grandfather. "It's a Japanese tradition and involves the couple's families. Keiko's extended family will attend, and I've invited Uncle Alec and Aunt Wendy, as well as my mom."

My grandfather visibly stiffened at the mention of my mom.

"Let us know the date, please," my grandmother said.

"I will. It was good to finally meet both of you."

I shook hands with my grandfather, said 'good night' to both of them, and they left.

"What did you say to him?" I asked Uncle Alec.

"That he was being rude and obnoxious, and if anyone was leaving, it would be him and his wife, not you and Keiko. I take it you saw his reaction to the invitation once you mentioned your mom?"