Free Love's Paradise by Celeste O. Norfleet Page B

see what I can do. I’d like to also suggest that you contact him,” she added. Sheri began shaking her head. “Just one phone call, Sheri. It’s asking so little to gain so much.”
    Sheri finally nodded in agreement. “Okay, I’ll do it. Thank you, Mamma Lou. Still, I wouldn’t get your hopes up. But of course I appreciate whatever you can do.”
    â€œWell, I’d better get out of here and get busy. We both have a lot of work to do. And if we could have some kind of solution by the sesquicentennial celebration, that would be wonderful.” She stood. Sheri walked her to the door. “Please keep me posted on your progress.”
    â€œI will. Thanks again, Mamma Lou. I’ll talk to you soon.”
    Louise turned in the doorway. “Remember, we aren’t always who we seem to others. Look below the surface and see the man I know is there. Call him. Talk to him. You’ll work this out.”
    Sheri nodded but knew there was no way she and Jordan Hamilton would ever be able to come to an understanding.
    Â 
    Jordan finally caught up with his brother Julian. He needed to vent and Julian was the perfect personto listen. He picked up on the first ring. “Hey, what’s up?” Julian said.
    â€œIt’s been one of those days. How are Dena and Dillon?”
    â€œFine, Dillon’s getting bigger and bigger every minute. I swear he’s amazing. He begs to go to work with me every day and his eyes light up as soon as we pull into the lot. You know he wants his own desk at the office.”
    Jordan laughed. It was the best thing he’d heard all day. “Yeah, now that’s what I’m talking ’bout. Sounds like we already have the next generation of Hamilton Development ready to go.”
    â€œYeah, well, I’m doing my part.”
    â€œAll right, don’t get all Mamma Lou on me.”
    It was Julian’s turn to laugh. “Well, it took her long enough.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Jordan asked.
    â€œYou know she’s had her sights on you and Darius ever since she found out I had two single brothers.”
    â€œNah, I’ve been blocking her for the past five months.”
    â€œShe’s good, man. Trust me. If it wasn’t for Mamma Lou I would have never met Dena. She changed my life and I realized that everything I thought I wanted wasn’t what I needed. I’ve never been happier.”
    â€œAnd I’m happy for you, man, but that’s not me. I’m not the family kind of guy, you know that.”
    â€œYeah, but I remember saying the exact same thing. So, how’s everything going there?” Julian asked.
    â€œThe deadline is going to be tight, but we’ll meet it.”
    â€œExcellent.”
    â€œNow if I can just get rid of the distractions,” he added.
    â€œWhat kind of distractions?” Julian asked. “Now you know that’s never going to happen.”
    â€œI can dream. It seems every other day I get a phone call from a member of the board of supervisors. Today I spent all morning and most of the afternoon listening to a couple of whiny politicians trying to alter my plans and then asking for handouts. Seriously, to hear them talk, you’d think it was their project.”
    Julian laughed. “Come on, it couldn’t have been that bad.”
    â€œTrust me, it was worse. You know the drill, supervisors, board of directors, city hall politicians. They all want something for nothing. Today it was concessions and payoffs in exchange for smoothing the way with utilities, regulators and inspectors.”
    â€œYep, that sounds about right,” Julian said, chuckling. “So, what did these guys want?”
    â€œYou name it, they wanted it. Personal suites inthe resort, lifetime spa memberships, preferential treatment on-site, the works. Oh, wait, and my personal favorite, I’ve been asked if a few of my workers could stop by one of their