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.She wound it down."Do you know you're in a restricted area, ma'am?" Yes," replied Florentyna.-I'm afraid it's going to cost you ten dollars.""Twenty-five thousand dollars and a six-month suspended sentence.It could have been worse," said George in the car on the way back to the Baron."Don't foiget that I lost Poland," said Abel, "but that's all history now.Purchase those two percent of Lester's shares we need from Parfitt even if it costs a million.That will make up the eight percent of Lester's that I need to invoke Article Seven of their bylaws and then I can slaughter William Kane in his own boardroom." George nodded sadly.A few da~s later the State Department announced that the next American ambassador to Warsaw would be John Moors Cabot.18THE MORNING AFFER Judge Prescott had given his verdict on Florentyna's father, the second event occurred.The extension of the apartment phone rang in the shop and because Nancy was removing the summer clothes from the window, replacing them with the new autumn collection, Florentyna answered it."Oh, I wondered if Mr.Kane was in," said a lady's voice.She sounded a long way off."No, I'm sorry, he has already left for work.Would you like to leave a message? It's Florentyna Kane speaking." There was no immediate reply and then the voice said: "It's Katherine Kane.Please don't hang up." "Why should I do that, Mrs.Kane?" said Florentyna, her knees feeling so weak that she sank into a chair beside the phone."Because you must hate me, my dear, and I can't blame you," Richard's mother said quickly."No, of course I don't hate you.Would you like Richard to call you back when he comes home?" "Oh, no.My husband doesn't realize that I'm in touch with him.He would be very angry if he ever found out.No, what I was really hoping for will finally depend on you." "On me?" "Yes.I desperately want to visit you and Richard and see my grandson-if you'll allow me." "I'd like that very much, Mrs.Kane." said Florentyna, not sure how she could sound more welcoming."Oh, how considerate of you.My husband is going to a conference in Mexico in three weeks' time, and I could fly out on a Friday Only I would have to be back first thing on Monday morning." When Richard heard the news he went straight to the re- 176The Past: 1934 - 1968 177ftigerator.Florentyna followed, bewildered.She smiled as he slipped the gold foil from Claude's bottle of Krug and began pouring.Three weeks later Florentyna accompanied Richard to the airport to welcome his mother."But you're beautiful!" were Florentyna's first wQrds as she greeted the elegant, slender lady who showed not the slightest sign of having spent the last six hours on a plane."And you make me feel terribly pregnant." "What were you expecting, my dear? An ogre with red horns and a long black tail?" Horentyna laughed as Katherine Kane put an arm through hers and they walked off together, temporarily forgetting her son.Richard was relieved to see how quickly the two of them became friends.When they arrived back at the apartment, Katherine reacted in the time-honored way when she set eyes on her first grandchild.1 do wish your father could see his grandson," she said."But I fear it's now reached a stage where he won't even allow the subject to be discussed." "Do you km)w any more than we do about what is happening between the two men?" asked Richard."I wouldn't have thought so.Your father refused to let the bank support Davis Leroy when his hotel group collapsed and Florentyna's father therefore blames my husband for the subsequent suicidu of Mr.Leroy.The whole unfortunate episode might have ended there if Henry Osborne hadn't come on to the scene." She sighed."I pray to God the problem will be soiled out in my lifetime." "I fear one of them will have to die before the other comes to his senses," said Richard."They are both so confoundedly obstinate." The four of them had a wonderful weekend together even if Kate's grandson did spend most of his time throwing his toys onto the floor.When they drove Katherine back to the airport on Sunday night, she agreed to come and see them the next time her husband was away on business.Katherine's last words to Florentyna were "If only you and my husband could meet, he would realize immediately why Richard fell in love withYOU." As she tumcd to wave goodbye, her grandson repeated his one-word vocabulary: "Dada." Katherine Kane laughed."What178'NE PRODIGAL DAUGHTERchauvinistk men are.That was also Richard's first word.Has anyone ever told you what yours was, Florentyna?"Annabel came screaming into this world a few weeks later, and her parents held a double celebration at the end of the year when Florentyna's delivered a profit of $19,174.Richard decided to mark the occasion by spending a small part of the profits on a dual golf membership at the Olympic Club.Richard was given more responsibility in the overseas department of the bank and started returning home an hour later.Florentyna decided the time had come to employ a full-time nanny so that she could concentrate on her work in the stores.She realized she would never find a Miss Tredgold, but Bella recommended a black girl named Carol who had graduated from high school the year before and was finding it hard to get a job.Their son threw his arms around Carol the moment he met her.It brought home to Horentyna that prejudice was something a child only learns from its elders.19"I CAN'l BELIEVE IT," said Florentyna."I never thought it would happen.What wonderful news.But what made him change his mind?" "He's not getting any younger," said Katherine Kane, her voice crackling over the phone, "and he's frightened that if he and Richard don't patch up their differences soon, he will retire from Lester's without a son on the board.He also believes that the man most likely to succeed him in the chair is Jake Thomas.Mr.Thomas is only two years older than Richard and he certainly won't want a younger man-especially a Kane-in the boardroom." "I wish Richard were at home so I could tell him the news.But since he's been promoted to head of the overseas department, he rarely gets back before seven.He'll be so pleased.I'll try not to show how nervous I am about meeting your husband," said Florentyna."Not half as nervous as he is about meeting you.But have no fears, my dear, he's preparing the fatted calf for his prodigal son.Have you heard anything from your father since I last spoke to you?" "No, nothing.I fear there's never going to be a fatted calf for the prodigal daughter." "Don't give up; something may yet arise to make him see the light.We'll put our heads together when you come to New York." "I would love to believe it was still possible for Papa and Mr.Kane to be reconciled, but I've almost given up hope." "Well, let's be thankful that one father has at least come to 179180THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTERhis senses," iaid Katherine."I'll fly out to see you and fix up all the details." "How soon can you comc9" "I could get away this weekend." When Ri(hard came home that evening he was overjoyed by the news and once he had finished reading the next chapter of Winnie the Pooh to his son, he settled down to listen to the details of his mother's news."We could go to New York around November," said Richard."I'm not sure I can wait that long." "You've waited for over six years." "Yes, but that's different." "You always want everything to have happened yesterday, Jessie
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