Chapter 4: Negotiations 2
Summary:
San Diego, California
"I'm here, I'm here, son." It's nice to be able to say it, say it to Jake, "I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to apologize for. I robbed you of the opportunity to make eleven calls like this. I'm the one who owes you. I promise it won't happen again. Okay?"
Tom smiles, excited by the promise but unable to tame his strategist side.
"Don't promise things you can't control. You'll be a dad in less than a month, and your time will no longer be yours."
Jake giggles.
"I notice you are very excited about the prospect of becoming a grandfather, Admiral Kazansky."
Salt Lake City, Utah
"Mr. Lennox called us today at eight," Elul reports, sounding disgruntled. "After a nearly fifteen-minute tirade, in which he told us, in much more detail than we've told you, about his experience last night, he asked when we could close the deal."
"Close the deal? You mean the adoption?"
"Yes." It's clear the lawyers also understand the inhumanity of the term, but they prefer to focus on the benefits for their clients. "He said he'd sign anything you wanted on one condition: that Dunia never return to Utah."