John

by

Delph
(dolfins@worldnet.fr)

Maxwell burst out of his office with a huge grin on his face, and walked towards the kitchen, holding a paper in his hand.

"Niles!... Niles!" He banged the swaying door open. "Niles, John is coming to visit us from Japan!"

At that moment, Miss Fine stepped down the back stairs. "Another handsome millionaire is coming to visit us Mr. Sheffield?... May I know who is John?"

Max looked skywards at her first comment, but when his eye caught sight of her outfit today, every thought of scolding her simply vanished, and he answered, smiling: "John is my brother-in-law Miss Fine, and he also appears to be my best friend... He was my first friend in wild New York when I first came here, he helped me setting up my business, and he made me meet his sister Sarah..."

"Oh! Great!..."

"Don't get overexcited Miss Fine, he's living in Japan where he married a Japanese girl, and he's here on business... Although this time he managed to make his trip coincide with the anniversary of Sarah's death..." a shadow passed through his eyes.

"How long will he be staying Sir?" Niles asked.

"Three days. Will you go and prepare the guest room old man?"

"Of course Sir..."

"Miss Fine, you know it's generally a tough time for us, and... I would appreciate if you could keep your usual energy and brightness down for these few days... It's a favor I'm asking you..." he added with a tender smile.

Fran chose not to be offended. "Of course Mr. Sheffield... I know how to behave...!" She came to squeeze his hand and then she was off the kitchen, Max' eyes following her, and remaining fixated on the door, although she had long been out of sight. He sighed and turned towards his butler, only to find him staring at him.

"What?" he asked Niles.

"Nothing Sir... I was just amazed at how Miss Fine has grown up these last months. I mean some time ago, she would have screamed and yelled at you for being so rude, but there she just smiled and walked out of the kitchen..."

Maxwell suddenly realized how insensitive he had just been. "Oh Niles!... How could I..." He stopped, looking back towards where Fran had disappeared, then back at his butler again. "... Yes she has grown up, hasn't she?..." he added with a gentle smile.

Niles gave him a knowing look. Just then, C.C. stepped into the kitchen. "Hello, hello!"

"... And there comes Frankenstein's bride..."

"Oh sod off, you decayed idea of a man... Maxwell, you're never going to believe who I stumbled upon when I came here!... The composer of the French musical 'Notre Dame de Paris'!... I saw this show when I was in Paris last year, remember, and it's terrific, I took it upon myself to arrange a meeting next week..."

Maxwell started towards the door, C.C. fast on his heels. "Oh yeah?... that's good C.C..."

"Good?!... Maxwell, that's terrific!... It's a guaranteed success if we manage to get him choose us to be the producers of his musical, this will beat out Andrew Lloyd Webber for sure!" Her voice trailed off as the banging door finally shut.

Niles shook his head, wiped his hands on a towel, and went upstairs to prepare the guest room.

***

John arrived 3 days later. Maxwell had sent the limo to pick him up at the airport, and Niles greeted him.

"Good afternoon Sir!... How was your flight?... Mr. Sheffield should be here shortly, he had some important things to fix at the theater, but he said he would be here by the end of the afternoon..."

"Thank you Niles Old Man!... How are you doing?! Oh it's so good to be here again after so many years!... This house sure brings back good old memories." He said with a smile, shaking Niles's hand.

Fran chose that moment to come from the kitchen, were she had been chatting with Val on the phone a few minutes before.

Niles was hanging John's coat in the closet. He turned as he heard the typical tapping of Miss Fine's high heels on the floor.

"Oh my! Who is this delightful lady?!" Said John enthusiastically, reaching for Fran's hand?

From the pictures of Sarah Fran had seen, she had no trouble finding out who this man was: John was the exact male copy of his sister.

Niles smiled. "That's Miss Fran Fine, she's been the children's nanny for over five years now..."

"If you excuse my saying so, they are very lucky chaps to have such a wonderful woman to take care of themselves!"

Fran laughed wholeheartedly. "Thank you!..."

John turned to Niles. "Where are my nephews by the way?" then he turned back to Fran "... Or maybe I should ask you?"

Fran chuckled once more. "They're at school till three..."

"Well that will give us time to know each other a little then!"

"Of course!... Niles, will you join us for a cup of tea?"

"As soon as I have carried our guest's luggage upstairs, thank you Miss Fine."

"I'll bring the tray here..."

When Niles had finished, the three of them started talking animatedly. John explained that he had created a broking company back in Japan, and was on business here to close a merger between two big media companies. But he had chosen to come a few days earlier, and spend sometime with his brother-in-law, and his children, wanting to be with them for once, on this special occasion.

The next few hours were filled with boisterous good mood and happiness, as the kids came back from school and chatted happily with their uncle, and then Maxwell who shared good old memories with the rest of them until dinner.

The kids finally excused themselves and went upstairs to finish their homework before going to bed. Only Fran, Maxwell and John, remained amiably chatting around a cup of coffee. Then Fran, wanting to leave both men some privacy, excused herself too, and went to her room.

"What do you say we go to our favorite Irish pub and talk about the good old times?" Maxwell said.

"I'm your man, buddy!"

Both men exited the dining room, took their coats, and went out.

The pub resonated with Irish music and male voices. Max and John were sitting at a table in a corner, occasionally laughing, and obviously enjoying being one with the other after so many years.

Several pints of beer later, the good mood of the beginning of the evening, had slowly decreased, and a feeling of nostalgia emanated from the conversations...

"So Max... Tell me about Fran..."

Maxwell chuckled.

"Good God, prepare for the long story!... Where shall I start?... I hired her totally by accident, but although I came close sometimes, I've never actually regretted it. She's lively, sensitive, she loves the kids,... She gives them everything Sarah would have given them..."

"Max I was not talking about the kids... They obviously love her, and I think she did indeed a great job with them... I'd never think Maggie would become such a beautiful and opened young lady, Brighton is a brilliant lad, and Gracie so smart, it's amazing... I was talking about you... Obviously, there's something more than a boss-to-nanny relationship between you two."

"Is it that obvious?"

"Oh man!... Only a blind-deaf-and mute-person wouldn't see it, and I still doubt it!... When we were talking together this afternoon, the conversation would always end up on you, how you did this, or that, how she thought you had changed in the years she's been there, yadda-yadda-yadda... And the way her eyes simply beamed every time she pronounced your name... And I know you enough to know you're not insensitive to her charm either..."

Maxwell chuckled, and took another sip of his beer.

"The thing is I don't know what to do... I guess I've been in love with her for a very long time now, but I just can't bring myself up to telling her..."

"Max, I'm sorry to bring that out this way, but has Sarah's death taught you nothing?"

"It taught me that losing someone you love is extremely painful, and that's probably the main reason I can't tell Fran I love her. What if I lost her?... I couldn't bear the pain again, I couldn't bear seeing the children in pain..."

"You took the wrong part Max... What it should have taught you is 'seize the day', 'carpe diem', as some would put it... Analyze the situation Max... She may not have a high education, but she has a very good heart, and she's a very sensitive person, but when she told me about you, I could trace some regrets in some of the things she said. She may leave you tomorrow you know. Although I doubt it, she could, and you would lose her the same way... "

"I know John, but what if I married her, and something terrible happened to her?!"

"Max!... Hear me!... What I'm trying to tell you is that if you keep the situation like that, as soon as the kids are old enough to fly by themselves, you'll lose her. She's not going to wait on you forever. I've met her only 6 hours, but I guess I know her as if we had been high school buddies... We don't know what tomorrow can be like, but if you don't do something right now, you'll lose her for sure. If you decide it's worth the try, the only chance you're taking, is to have a very happy life with the woman you love, and who loves you back... Don't you think Sarah would agree?"

"Don't you dare bring her out!" He shouted, standing up. Then realizing, he sat down sighing.

"I'm sorry John..."

"No worries old man..."

"It's just that..."

"What?"

"How do I know she's the one?..."

"How did you know Sarah was the one?... You don't know Max... I didn't know what I was doing when I married Shumiko 6 years ago, now I know... Besides, it's not as if you were throwing yourself into unknown territory Max, you've known her 5 years, you've seen what a wonderful woman she is with you, and the kids... if I were you, I'd go buy 10 dozens of red roses, a diamond ring, and I would marry her right on the spot..."

Max chuckled. "OK, I get the picture... No matter what I say, or try to find as an excuse, you've decided to play matchmakers for Fran and I, right?"

"I haven't decided Max, it's so incredibly obvious that both of you are missing the one chance to be happy..."

"Thank you for being such a good friend John..."

"Will you think at what I said?"

"Yes."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Good, because I'd hate seeing my favorite brother-in-law missing a chance at being happy..."

"What favorite, you only have one!"

"That's why you're my favorite!"

Both men chuckled, paid their beers, and finally went home.

The next day, they all went to the cemetery, and paid Sarah their homage, Fran standing a little behind as usual, to allow Max, John, and the kids, some privacy.

The rest of John's stay was filled with heated games of Monopoly, passionate debates about greenhouse effects on the future of Earth, daring bets about Niles and C.C.'s relationship, and relaxing family time... Unfortunately, time flew by, and John had to leave, promising that he would do his best to come to New York more often, and bring Shumiko and their soon-to-be-born child along with him.

Maxwell and Fran stood by the threshold, waving John goodbye. It was chilly outside, and Fran shuddered, crossing her arms to keep as much warmth as she could. Maxwell noticed this, and came behind her, enveloping her with his arms to warm her up a little.

The limo departed, and they went back inside.

Fran was about to leave on one of her errands, but Maxwell held her hand gently.

"Miss Fine... There's something I'd like to discuss with you in my office..."

Fran looked worried all of a sudden.

"I haven't done anything wrong, have I?"

He chuckled. "No, don't worry... In fact, I have..."

"Oh?"

He led the way to the office and shut the door behind them.

"Mr. Sheffield, don't you have some work to do?"

"C.C.'s taking care of something for me right now. Niles is out driving John to his meeting, and then has some shopping to do, the children are at school, that'll give us time to talk..."

"Oy! That must be serious!"

"Miss Fine... Fran... John and I discussed a lot about certain things, and he made me open my eyes...' He paused "He was damn right I must admit..." he said, half for himself. "Fran, I did something wrong when I took back "the thing", I did something wrong every time I hurt you, and for this, I want to apologize..." He checked his watch. "but most of all, I did something wrong when I realized I was falling deeply in love with you, and I did not marry you right on the spot..."

Fran couldn't believe her ears. She had expected him to make his move one day or another, but not this way. At that moment, the door bell rang.

"Right on time!" Maxwell said, leading her back to the lounge.

He opened the door to the delivery boy, who started putting bunches of red roses all around the lounge, in front of a most astounded Fran. Max gave him a few notes, and closed the door.

"Mr. Sheffield... What's this for?"

Max smiled and took her left hand, producing a small purple velvet box from out of his pocket at the same time.

"This is my last apology for being such a fool all these years, and the prefect scenery I hope, to ask you to be my wife..." He slipped the diamond ring to her left finger. "I love you Fran"...

She raised her hand in front of her face, almost unable to fully realize what was happening. Then suddenly, reality hit her, and she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him as if her life was depending on it. "Oh Mr. Sheffield!... Max!... You don't even have to ask me! I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you and those three wonderful kids you have!"

He kissed her very gently, and lovingly.

"What do you say we prepare a new one, Fran?" he murmured sensuously into her ear.

She smiled broadly, and replied... "Do you think I'm an easy girl?"

Maxwell looked at her a tad concerned: they both knew very well they had wanted this to happen for a very long time...

She smiled crookedly at his cocked eyebrows, and murmured "I'm not an easy girl at all Mr. Sheffield, but I've wanted to do this for five years, so I think it's a good time..."

He smiled, then kissed her wantingly, carrying her to his room...

Upon entering the meeting room, John thought he heard Sarah giggling, and knew he had done a good job...

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