Chapter 6

While Mandy was trying to compose herself, still holding onto Jason, Stan strode into the room. Walking up to the pair he extended a hand to Jason. "I'm glad you could make it. We three have to go over Bob's will when this is all over. Can you stay a few days?"

Mandy looked confused, not quite understanding how Stan knew him. Bob had given her very sketchy information about Jason. He'd given her little more about him than he was 12 years older than she was. For some reason he was embarrassed to discuss it and she never pressed him for an explanation.

She did know that he'd tried to get the three of them together a few times but plans just didn't work out. Someone always had plans or changes came up that canceled even specific meeting dates and places.

Jason told Stan he had plans but could stay a few days before he had to travel. "That should be enough time to take care of everything," replied Stan.

"I thought you had an apartment here in the city?" asked Mandy.

"Well, I did until you married dad," explained Jason. "When he got all that money from Mom, she told me she didn't want to live anywhere near here. She applied for an executive position at the home office in Chicago. It wasn't as much money as she was getting here, but because she despised dad so much, it was a natural thing for her to do.

Jason continued by telling Mandy when his mother moved she wanted him to move with her to Chicago. "She made me an offer that was hard to refuse," he said. "She'd found a two family house and wanted me to move with her.

"It was an easy decision for me to make because she promised not to charge me rent. I only had to pay for the utilities for the apartment. It's quite nice and more than half again as large as the one I had here in town. I'd just graduated from college and hadn't started working. It helped me go along with my mother's offer.

"I've lived there in Chicago pretty much since you married dad. Moving so far away was one of the contributing factors keeping us from meeting." Continuing, Jason explained the only advantage of living in Chicago was sometimes he had to travel, almost at a moments notice. "Living at one of the nations largest airline hubs was a drawing factor.

"It wasn't until recently I figured out how devious mom was. She made me the offer so I couldn't develop a relationship with dad. I realize now how big a mistake it was. You see, I'm an HR Consultant. Where I live is inconsequential. All I need is a computer to handle most problems. Now I won't have a chance to get to know him," Jason said sounding rather sad.

As much as Stan was interested in hearing more about Jason, he interrupted him. He reminded both of them that visiting hours would start in just a few minutes.

Mandy took one of their hands in each of hers and looking back and forth between them simply said, "I need both of you to hold onto me. One on each side. I don't know how I'm going to get through this but with your help, I hope I'll make it."

The Funeral Director opened the door and nodded to the trio. Quietly, business associates of both Bob and Stan wandered in. There were some people who Mandy knew and she introduced them to Stan and Jason. The others, Stan knew and likewise introduced them to Mandy and Jason.

Everyone was shocked at Bob's untimely death. It had been sudden and unexpected. "But the autopsy," Mandy and Stan had to explain over and over again, "determined Bob had a congenital brain aneurysm. They often go undetected and when they rupture, they're almost always fatal."

Bob had been on a simple assignment, a short story with just a couple of pictures. Those that were there said, Bob just touched his head, said, "Ow!" and then crumpled to the floor. There was nothing anyone could do or could have done.

The first couple of times Mandy had to explain it, tears traced down her face. She had been prepared for that event and had not worn any eye liner and very little makeup. "Thank God for Stan," she thought to herself. It was his suggestion. He was her guardian angel and it seems he was always working overtime for her.

Jason was prepared too and had a couple of cloth handkerchiefs for Mandy to use to catch the tears. When he took the first one out, he dabbed at the streaks on her face and handed the handkerchief to her. She had looked over at Jason and given him an appreciative smile for that gesture.