A Winter Dream

Chapter


Thirty


Life relishes irony. Only in losing my home have I truly gained it.

Joseph Jacobson’s Diary





That evening I took my brothers to one of my favorite restaurants in the city, Keens Steakhouse. I shared with them all that had happened after I left Denver. Not surprisingly, they wanted to meet Leonard and beat up Potts.

My biggest surprise of the evening was learning that just five months after I left Colorado, Ashley had married Chuck Teran, the fifty-two-year-old owner of UpHill Down. In fact, she had convinced him to drop our agency—just before moving with him to Palm Springs. I was truly in my brothers’ debt.

Rupert and Simon flew home the next morning. I made them promise not to tell my father about me. We would tell him together when I came out to close on the purchasing of the agency. I thought it would be best that way.



Ten days later, only a week before Christmas, I flew home to Denver. Seeing the snow-capped Rockies out my airplane window sent a rush through my body. I can’t describe the happiness I felt to be home. Even the Blue Mustang didn’t look quite so demonic.

An hour after my return, I met up with the rest of the brothers. Rupert and Simon had already told them about our reunion, but I sensed they didn’t really believe them until they saw me with their own eyes. I hugged each of them. It really was good to be home again.

Rupert and Judd brought my father down to the agency under the auspices of meeting “Mr. Joseph.” My hair was still long and I was wearing my New York wardrobe, but my father recognized me immediately.

“Joseph,” he shouted. He rushed forward and threw his arms around me and kissed my face. “You’ve come home,” he said. “My boy has come home.”

“I’ve missed you,” I said, tears running down my cheeks. “Every day I worried about you.”

“Every minute I worried about you,” he said. “Every single minute.”

The brothers stood watching the reunion—silent, astonished and ashamed. When the climax of our reunion had died down some, Rupert and Simon stepped forward. I had never seen either of them so anxious. Rupert said, “Dad, it’s time you finally knew the truth about what happened.”

My father turned and looked at him. “I already know, son. I’ve known the whole time.”

“You knew we sent him away?” Rupert asked.

My father nodded. “Yes.”

“I don’t understand,” Simon said. “Then why didn’t you send us away?”

My father grew emotional. His eyes welled up with tears and he struggled to speak. “Because I was also to blame for what happened. I was careless with your feelings, and that too is a sin. I had already lost one of my sons. I didn’t want to lose any more of you.”

Ben looked at him sorrowfully. “You knew what I did?”

My father turned to him. “Yes.”

“Why didn’t you punish me?”

“You needed to learn that others will be hurt by your actions. You haven’t gambled since Joseph left, have you?”

“No, sir.”

“You owe your brother a huge debt of gratitude.”

“I know,” Ben said. His eyes filled with tears. He threw his arms around me. “I won’t let you down again. Ever.”

“I know,” I said. “I’ve missed you.”

Ben put his head on my shoulder and wept. After a few moments we parted. I said to my father, “Do you think I could have my jacket back?”

My father smiled. “I’ve been saving it for this day. It’s at home. But I think you’d better see your mother first.”