"Little" Sister Pt. 02

Another picture was of an oriental man, labeled Danny Ngo -- Lawyer 1. A Slavic looking man was labeled Tigran P -- Lawyer 2. Sheila did not tell us why she had pictures of lawyers, but the Board of Directors has need to know, I had been briefed. Sheila showed us a picture of Sean with a fish as long as Francine is tall, with lots of teeth. Sheila produced a few of the teeth in a baggy. Then she rubbed her stomach and said they ate it.

I took the stomach rubbing to mean she was full and the food was good, but Christine's eye got wide. She looked at Sheila, who fought to keep a smile from her face. I swear those two are telepathic. Still, it did not take a genius to figure out that Sheila was expecting. Correction, Sheila thought she might be expecting. That is why we have pregnancy tests and OB/GYNs. I cocked my head. Sheila shrugged and said, "We can stop at Walgreen's on the way home." Everyone cracked up at the reference to Maria. Sean wanted to know what the joke was. Sheila kissed him and said, "Girl stuff."

Sean looked like he caught the reference, which was good for a guy. Then it hit me. I was one of the girls. I had never been included in this sort of conversation. Christine wrapped her arms around me. Did I mention she was telepathic? If I had not met Lars, I would be tempted to marry Christine. I asked her if she wanted to help me move back up to Hanover. Christine checked with Sheila and I had a plus one. I did not look forward to telling Elspeth.

The trip home was interesting, mostly because there were men in tow. JFK is well south of Manhattan. You take the Belt Parkway to the Narrows Bridge, across Staten Island, then Elizabeth. Our route went past everything that had happened the week before, except the party at Civitano's. As we passed The Crow's Nest, I told Sean that Francine owned the restaurant and club next door. Christine turned red and Sheila turned white. There is no way Sean missed that, but he said nothing.

Something must have occurred to Sheila, because she pulled her phone out. After a quick talk, she told Russell to head for downtown Elizabeth. It was late Saturday, but Julian was willing to open his shop. Surprisingly, Sean needed no explanation. As we pulled to the curb, Julian came down to meet us. He led Sheila down to the workroom. I led Sean up to the waiting area. Maggie was there. I never saw where Christine went, but she was not with us.

Maggie said, "Well Miss Siobhan, when Julian said Miss Sheila was comin', sure I was that ye would be comin' as well. And lookin' fine if I'm sayin' so me'self. But, who'd ye bring with ye? Is this himself? Aye. It must be. I c'n see the family in ye both." That was a first. "Where's the wee miss? Nay. Don't ye be tellin' me. She be down in Julian's place without a bye 'is leave, the scamp. They be right along. 'Tis nothing but takin' what's already been fixed.

"We be seein' your pictures in the press. 'Tis right handsome ye looked in that suit. And the merry-wheel. I'd a not thought o' that. Was that your idea, or was it this fine man here?" I knew Maggie was at least a bit lesbian. Now I could see she was bisexual and a flirt.

I said, "Magdala, may I present Clarence Sean Richards, head of the Richards/Sparks/O'brien clan of New Jersey. Sean, this is Maggie. She is the one to talk to if you want anything from Julian. I doubt that will be soon." Maggie's hands rushed to her mouth. I continued, "At least nine months, unless I miss my guess."

To my surprise, Sean was laughing. I turned to glare at him, but he waved it off with, "'Girl stuff', indeed. You need to be either more candid or more circumspect. Unless I miss my guess, Julian already suspects it. I doubt he comes down here on Saturday for most people. Am I wrong, Maggie?" Sean can be a real stick when he wants to.

Maggie's reply was cut off by the door opening. Before we left, I told Maggie I would want at least one more corset, for a Boston blue blood. That pricked her interest, but I left her to it. The ride back to the House was quiet. In Union, I saw an ice cream store, but Sheila wanted none. That would change in the months ahead.

Chapter 9 -- Another Party

I may be gullible. I had Sean and Sheila at the airport, thenall the way home. Nothing tipped me off. Christine was also on the drive home, but she lives to keep secrets. In any event, we piled out of the cars, grabbed luggage and headed into the house. Not unexpectedly, George shouted for me to come to the pool room. I dropped Sean's suitcase in the hallway (he and Russell carried the footlocker). It was not til I saw George's grin that I knew something was up. A heartbeat later, he yelled, "Surprise."

It was not my birthday yet. That was on June 6^th, Wednesday the next week. I can forgive that, because the opportunity was so perfect. They got me, though Christine could have managed better. I'm quite sure my surprise had started to fade before the phones and cameras started clicking. My initial shock paled beside the list of people attending. All nine of my grad students had either stayed or returned. Mimi was there from Boston. Also, "So, Frau Doktor. We meet again."

Mimi attending forced me to reconsider an earlier thought. I said I left no friends in Boston. That was not true. Rather, I did not recognize when Mimi became my friend. I am unsure if I introduced her to Lars or her to him. Regardless, both were putting faces to names they already knew. Funny that. With Lars, I was not surprised he had checked my past.

I did not know that Mimi cared enough to bother. Under the circumstances, I could only do one thing. I gave her the full just-for-family hug. Do I need to mention that Christine was nearby? I introduced them, then went to talk to Lars. They might have had a difficult conversation, but maybe not. Christine listens well and Mimi reads faces for a living.

Regardless, they got on well. Lars and I, not so much. His English was better, but I was completely tongue tied. Eventually an unlikely reprieve came. My bother George wanted to meet Lars. Siemens does a lot of data handling, for automation and such. George wanted to get some information on specific issues concerning transatlantic protocols.

In less than a minute, PDAs came out. Before much longer, the conversation was over my head in two languages. I'm not sure Lars recognized when he lapsed to German. I'm very sure George never noticed. I glanced over, to find Christine quietly laughing. I had to join her. Having a much smarter brother is often a pain, but there were times I was glad to be the slow sister. Christine mimed shooting pool, so I picked a cue and racked the balls. For someone with no formal instruction, she was pretty good.

Toward the end of our second game, Sean and Sheila came in. Sean watched me line up a shot, while Sheila hugged Christine. I dropped the eleven and fifteen, then lined up on the eight ball. Sean was thinking that my game was much better and that he should not play me for stakes. Then he laughed. I didn't catch much of his next thought, except Sheila's name. It was enough. I motioned Christine over and told her to have Jerry teach Sheila the game. Christine's whole face crinkled with laughter, but not a sound came out.

The rest of the party was a success. Sheila thanked each of the nine grad students and submitted to a picture, taken by Christine. Naturally, Sheila would do the processing. That would become part of the story. I could easily imagine some future Antiques Roadshow appraising a framed picture of, say, Sheila and Elspeth. For provenance, there would a set of the local paper, NY Times Magazine and Unique Bride issues containing the wedding coverage. That was very easy to believe. Harder was the thought that a picture of Elspeth and I would also be in the collection. Christine hugged me. She often does when I feel unworthy.

The star of the night, surprisingly, was Mimi. I had worried she might feel out of her depth. Instead, she was a minor celebrity, thanks to my dissertation. I was beginning to wonder how many people had actually read the thing. The only exception in the room appeared to be George. That was so wrong. No one reads dissertations, much less mine. Christine said, "...because it's yours." That made me feel more inadequate. Heroes have no flaws.

That was my mood when Mimi looked up and waved me over. With her were Elspeth, Evaine, Conrad and someone I did not recognize. I gave the woman my once over out of reflex. Young, well dressed but not flaunting money, professional, but dressed casually, attentive, poised. It pointed to a high level bureaucrat, here to see me. It came as an almost physical jolt. This, yet unnamed, woman was here to see me. She was keeping company with Elspeth and Evaine, which likely meant something to do with the Amish.

I was out of time. Turning to Elspeth, I nodded. She said, "Senator Robertson, may I present Dr. Siobhan Richards. Jo, State Senator Morgan Robertson." Two last names.

That was funny, so I used it as an ice breaker. "Excuse me for laughing. I was just noting that I have two first names, while you have two last names. Perhaps we could swap one. Then again, Richard Morgan does not suit me either. Would you want to be Siobhan Robertson?"

She tried not to laugh. She tried hard, turning red in the face. When she broke down, we all laughed with her. It took a full half minute for Senator Robertson to return to speaking composure.

She said, "You're good. I was warned that you might be a bit much to take, but not that way. I was expecting massive, face piercing, punk, lesbian bull. I am pleased to be misinformed. What?" Everyone had become very still.

I said, "Christine, show the Senator one of my before pictures. Senator, I had a major makeover last week. This should give you a baseline for comparison."

I should note that I had no idea where Christine was when I started speaking. I still had no idea til she held out a PDA, presumably with my image showing. Sean says that you need to assume your people can do their job. Christine's job was to be ready when I needed her, and invisible the rest of the time. It was a job I could not come close to doing. Regardless, my ploy had the desired effect. Senator Robertson fought to keep her jaw from dropping. I gave her points for managing.

The Senator and I looked at each other while she processed the information. I had been in her shoes, metaphorically speaking. It never helped when someone demanded attention. Besides, it usually does not take long to reach a decision and it did not.

Senator Robertson extended her hand, "Perhaps we can start over. I'm Morgan, no nicknames. It seems we will be working together. I am recently come to the opinion I'd not wish to be working against you."

I took her hand. "Call me Jo in public. Siobhan is reserved for people that pronounce it correctly. My friends are willing to learn."

With that I had a political ally in Concord. She would be a matron at my wedding and become my Chief of Staff when I moved to Washington. I reintroduced her to Elspeth as my aide and Evaine as researcher. Only then did I learn the gist of the proposed center. It reinforced a lesson—know your people first, then get to the details. Even allies of convenience need to be trustworthy in their sphere.

The proposal was for a half-way house. Many such houses existed for people trying to readjust to life after drug rehab or prison. This one was for entering life in the USA after life in a third world country. Everyone was in favor, but no one wanted to fund it. Conrad had encountered the proposal during his thesis research. That made Evaine's presence obvious. It could also serve as a halfway house for Amish on Rumspringa. Possibilities multiplied, but it was not time for anything more concrete.

I had something better—Sean, the Chairman of the Richards Foundation. In practice this would likely mean Sheila, so Senator Robertson had come to the right place. I looked around til I spotted Christine—three feet away, naturally—and sent her to get Sheila. Morgan looked after her with interest.

I said, "Christina Renée Collingsworth, with a "g". She prefers Christine. You will also encounter the last name shortened to Collins. She would be the perfect aid and troubleshooter if she were not already attached. She is fetching my sister-in-law. You know her from the green dress at the merry-go-round wedding. In case no one told you, we have been cleaning up from that wedding all week.

"The period theme and lawn party were Sheila's idea. The merry-go-round and Amish carriages, not to mention the dress, came from my brother Sean." Senator Robertson's eyes were big and her mouth opened in an "O". I continued, "Don't look so shocked. I haven't mentioned Francine Martel, Angela Molinari, Edith Dryden, Susan Farwell or Lisl Rhinehardt. If you know anything about theater, Pedro de la Garza calls her diosa, goddess."

Obviously Morgan Robertson was a theater buff, because she started at Francine's name and her mouth fell open over Pedro de la Garza. I could not say anything more, because Sheila was there to speak for herself.

She said, "I see Siobhan has been playing jokes. She's bad that way. Almost as bad as Christine. I am Sheila Richards—it still seems odd to say that. How can I help you. Christine was short on details."

I stepped in, just as I had at Civitano's. "Sheila, allow me to present the Right Honorable Morgan Robertson, State Senator from New Hampshire." Sheila nodded and they shook hands. "This is properly an issue for Sean, since it involves the family charitable foundation, but I have a feeling he will delegate that role to you. Tell me I have that wrong."

Sheila laughed, "No. You know your brother. Anything with a business aspect would be up his alley. This smells more of politics. So, Senator, what can the Richards Foundation do for you?"

The conversation went on for an hour. Morgan laid out the basic idea, then added the recent modifications. Evaine explained how this would be an asset for the Amish who were looking to expand their horizons. Sheila nodded and said nothing til the informal presentation was complete. She took no notes, but I would lay tall money that Christine recorded everything, not that it mattered. Sheila would not forget anything important.

Sheila's first question to Morgan was a doozy, "How much difference would it make if you only needed to supply maintenance money?" Morgan's answer was written on her face. Sheila turned to me, "That makes your job clear." Damn straight. Sheila said her partings and went back to Sean.

Morgan asked, "What just happened?"

I had to laugh, "Welcome to the wonderful world of Sheila. Gerald, who has twenty years as an officer in the Army, says Sheila can deliver a thirty minute briefing in fifteen seconds. You just received a sample. When she talks to Christine, sometimes words are omitted entirely. I have a story for another time.

"The unpacked version is that the support of the Richards Foundation is pledged for the fund raising stage. Actual money may come at some point, but that is down the road a ways. The basic plan is for you to go back to Concord and start promoting the—there's no name. Try Beacon House—as a going concern. My job is to do start up funding and supervise construction, as well as liaise with Dartmouth."

Looking at Conrad, I said, "The Social Sciences departments can help in several ways, for example volunteers and university staff on loan. It will be a great place to get dirt under your nails. Research possibilities abound." Conrad and Elspeth were both nodding. I nodded to Evaine, "For example, an outreach to the Amish and similar closed communities." Evaine smiled back.

Turning back to Morgan, I continued, "Conrad can return with you." He nodded. "I will follow in a few weeks, as official representative of the Richards Foundation, among other hats. Something tells me I have been appointed project supervisor while I was doing something else. Elspeth can be my personal liaison. Did I forget anything?" Christine smacked her forehead, which made everyone laugh.

That gave me a chance to go pry my future husband away from my two brothers.

Chapter 10 -- Loose Ends and Split Ends

One of the reasons my engagement to Lars went smoothly was that he got along with both my brothers. This was no small feat. Sean liked having him as a business contact for Germany. Richards Enterprises deals more with personal property than industrial equipment, but both need to know the regulatory landscape. Lars relationship with George was pure geek to geek. Over time, Lars taught George to seek advice on presentation, meaning Sheila.

It does not hurt my pride to say that Lars and George would both have married Sheila if Sean had not been there first. I felt the same way. Because of that, it is a source of pride that Sheila relies on me as a buffer. She is so smooth and so knowledgeable that it is easy to miss how private she is. Shy even. She does not deal well with pushy idiots or noisy crowds.

I have the size and demeanor to deal with both. God help them if we need to resort to Christine. You may have seen the video she posted of Howard Jones saying Sheila was an airhead bimbo. Alongside, Sheila was telling Winifred Smith how learning hurt, because of the loss of innocence. Howard Jones ran from town with his tail shoved up his ass. I'm not sure Sheila knows that Christine posted that one, but I do. Do not fuck with Christine's people. Just don't.

All that said, Christine is quiet to the point of disappearing. I cut a big silhouette. It used to be with my nipple rings showing through a thin shirt and punk fashions. More recently, it was power suits and posture. Either way, no one misses my presence. What makes me a better deterrent is that, when push comes to shove, I can get down and dirty. Sean does the same thing in his large sphere of influence, but he lacks my pass to the women's room. Gerald has a Sean-ism on his wall. We protect those who serve.

My services as guard dog were quickly necessary. Sean was doing a massive upgrade of net access to the House. It started as a home office for Sheila. That evolved into a 24/7 executive suite for the whole corporate structure. If either Sheila or Sean did not need to press flesh, they could stay home with no loss of functionality. For Sheila, this played to her shy/private nature. For Sean, it was a command center that did not require a drive into town.

All this required people setting things up. Sean and Lars were helpful, but there was only so much they could do from their workplaces. Sheila was solid with security and also very good with tech, but she is misplaced in a conflict. George could handle the technical questions, but he was hopeless with construction or security concerns. Once again, I was project leader by default. Someone had to have the last word.

If it sounds like chaos, you have a small taste. The first major issue was where and how to run the trunk line. Security, correctly, assumed it would be to their existing office. What they did not anticipate was that this would effectively evict them. Gerald set the example by giving up his office. Locations for servers and state of the art image processing soon took over the security suite. The pool tables moved into the smoking parlor. George moved back into his room in the old house so Gerald could have an office.

On the side, I started my own small fiefdom. I was going to spend most of my time in New Hampshire, but it made sense to set up a base of operations while everyone was setting up theirs. One of the small guest rooms was converted into an office. I had Harlan Lipton set up two companies, one nonprofit and one for profit. If you ever wondered about the FD in FD Consulting, it stands for Frau Doktor. I was a lobbyist before I went into politics. Beacon Light Services is the nonprofit on the other side of a computer firewall. All the office furniture is the same.