{"id":342,"date":"2016-09-10T14:16:44","date_gmt":"2016-09-10T18:16:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.herbheineman.com\/?page_id=342"},"modified":"2024-07-26T09:54:08","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T13:54:08","slug":"chapter-35","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/herbheineman.com\/Eden\/edensgarden\/chapter-35\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 35: Uncertainty"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

PART III<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The poet and the preacher looked, stony-faced, over the heads of the two young men seated in the statue garden.<\/p>

\u201cRemember,\u201d the preacher said, \u201cit is I who guided their ways.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cTrue enough,\u201d replied the poet, \u201cbut I shaped their dreams.\u201d<\/p>

Calvin and Josh couldn\u2019t have cared less who got credit for their transformation; they cared only that it had happened. Two days after Christmas, they were meeting for the third time. Three meetings; three seasons; one place. Calvin had suggested a conference room in the hospital, but Josh was afraid to entrust his fragile optimism to that house of painful memories. The denizens of the statue garden, faithful companions on their difficult journey so far, would see them safely to its end.<\/p>

\u201cI had this idea,\u201d Josh was saying. \u201cIt\u2019s probably too farfetched, but I\u2019ll let you be the judge.\u201d He drew a breath, but Calvin interrupted him. \u201cThere\u2019s something I have to tell you first. They\u2019ve got me down for deposition next month. Their lawyer \u2015 maybe Mrs. Avery herself, for all I know \u2015 gets to cross-examine me. The hospital lawyer, a guy named MacAdoo, is going to coach me. Wants me to make it look as if I did nothing wrong.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cThat\u2019s the way it works, isn\u2019t it? Wouldn\u2019t you expect them to put up a fight?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cThey can put up whatever they want, as long as it\u2019s honest. If they make me take an oath, I\u2019ll tell the truth. But obviously that isn\u2019t what MacAdoo wants to hear.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cFacts are facts. How can they make you lie under oath?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cThey\u2019ll do it in a way that nobody can prove I\u2019m lying.\u201d Calvin told Josh of Shaw\u2019s letter and MacAdoo\u2019s defense strategy.<\/p>

Josh whistled softly. \u201cWell, he does have a point, doesn\u2019t he? I mean, legally.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cFor all I know,\u201d Calvin said, a trifle impatiently, \u201cMacAdoo can make the jurors believe the Brooklyn Bridge is up for sale. As he says, the truth is what they decide it is. That\u2019s why the so-called truth depends on who\u2019s got the better lawyer. But I have a more na\u00efve definition of truth, namely, what happened.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cYou mean, you\u2019re just going to give them the answers they want \u2015 the Averys?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cWanting has nothing to do with it. I\u2019ll tell the truth. What\u2019s so strange about that? I don\u2019t want to go through with this at all, but they\u2019re making me. Not that I\u2019m afraid; I have nothing to hide. What I don\u2019t like is this whole thing being decided by the lawyers. It\u2019s a contest over how much money changes hands. What does Eden have to do with any of that?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cShe\u2019s their excuse for holding the contest. . . . But let me tell you what I\u2019ve been thinking.\u201d He described his dream.<\/p>

\u201cIncredible!\u201d Calvin pounced on it. \u201cWhites versus blacks. Doctors versus lawyers. That\u2019s the symbolism, isn\u2019t it? And they end up dancing together because the spirit of a girl on skates intervenes. What a beautiful concept! . . . Ah, but from there to real life . . . ?\u201d<\/p>

Josh told him about his idea for changing the rules of hockey. \u201cIt\u2019s all fantasy, I know.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cYeah, but let\u2019s start with a general principle. We want to see the lawyers and the doctors dance instead of fight. Fair enough?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cFair enough.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cWell, right away we do have a big, big problem. The very idea means revolutionizing the way doctors and lawyers deal with each other. You\u2019re talking about threatening an entire industry. Even in that little corner of the world called Cresheim Valley Hospital, you can\u2019t do that sort of thing without clout. Of which I have less than none.\u201d<\/p>

A gust of wind blew a sheet of paper in front of their bench. Chasing it was a man carrying an open briefcase. With an alacrity born of years of practice, Josh trapped the paper with his foot, picked it up, and gave it to the man. \u201cThanks,\u201d the man said. \u201cYou must be a soccer player! I\u2019d hate to have to prepare that thing all over again.\u201d He laughed and went on his way.<\/p>

Calvin had watched Josh\u2019s athletic performance with detachment, his mind elsewhere. His gaze idly followed the paper into the briefcase. The man\u2019s remarks went over his head.<\/p>

Josh watched the man go. \u201cMust be a lawyer. Our favorite kind of people.\u201d<\/p>

Calvin caught his breath, his mouth ajar. \u201cWait a minute. Who says I don\u2019t have clout?\u201d<\/p>

Josh turned to him. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>

Calvin\u2019s expression hardened. \u201cThe deposition. I\u2019m not as powerless as I thought.\u201d<\/p>

Josh didn\u2019t follow. \u201cHow does your deposition give you clout?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI don\u2019t cooperate,\u201d Calvin said, his tone suggesting the answer was obvious.<\/p>

Josh\u2019s expression said it wasn\u2019t obvious to him.<\/p>

\u201cLook,\u201d Calvin said, \u201cif I insist on telling the truth, I\u2019ll be an embarrassment to them, won\u2019t I? And just imagine if I did the same thing in court! Right in front of the jury!\u201d<\/p>

Josh\u2019s frown relaxed. \u201cGo on,\u201d he said. Calvin drew a deep breath.<\/p>

\u201cOK. So, if I don\u2019t say what he wants me to, he won\u2019t want me to testify at all. Right?\u201d Josh agreed. \u201cSo what\u2019s his alternative?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cAn out-of-court settlement?\u201d Josh ventured.<\/p>

\u201cExactly. Now, if I were the Averys\u2019 lawyer, and I knew MacAdoo didn\u2019t dare to have the jury hear McCrae\u2019s testimony, I\u2019d make my demands so high the hospital would never agree to pay. So MacAdoo\u2019s in a squeeze. That\u2019s clout, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>

Josh\u2019s frown was gone. \u201cI see what you\u2019re getting at,\u201d he said admiringly. But Calvin\u2019s triumph was short-lived. \u201cIt still doesn\u2019t amount to a hill o\u2019 beans if the Averys won\u2019t listen to me. Don\u2019t you think, Mr. Rabin, that they\u2019d want<\/em> to do something in their daughter\u2019s name?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI don\u2019t know. I\u2019ve never heard them say so.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI just have to think they would. And how great it would be if I could be part of it. . . . I hesitate to ask this of you, Mr. Rabin, but, as you know, Doctor Avery hung up on me. I know they\u2019ll listen to you. Would you be willing to help me talk with them?\u201d<\/p>

Josh thought for a moment. \u201cI don\u2019t know how they\u2019d react. They don\u2019t know that you and I\u2019ve been talking. Give me time to think. Right now I don\u2019t know what I\u2019d say. But I\u2019ll try.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI can imagine, just hearing my name would make them angry,\u201d Calvin said. \u201cThen, they have their lawyers too. She is<\/em> a lawyer. It would be a miracle.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cMaybe there\u2019s a chance. I\u2019m not connected with the lawsuit, just a friend. There\u2019s no reason for them not to talk with me.\u201d With a laugh, he added, \u201cNot till I open my mouth!\u201d<\/p>

\u201cYou\u2019re my only hope. Whether you succeed or not, I can never thank you enough.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cYou may not realize it,\u201d Josh said slowly, \u201cbut this is now my cause as well. I never thought anything could be salvaged. Eden\u2019s gone, and I have a life to live. But I\u2019d do anything to make some good come of her death \u2015 as you say, to give meaning to it. We\u2019re coming from different directions, but we\u2019ve arrived at the same place.\u201d He took a deep breath. \u201cMaybe we should be less formal. So don\u2019t call me Mr. Rabin; I\u2019m Josh.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI don\u2019t do that lightly. I was brought up to treat people with respect, which meant calling them by their last name until invited otherwise. But I\u2019d be honored to call you Josh if it means that we\u2019re friends. And I\u2019m Calvin.\u201d<\/p>

The handshake was worth more than a blessing from the Pope.<\/p>

~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>

Calvin\u2019s deposition was set for Friday, January 13. On December 28, this event was the topic of discussion in Bobbie\u2019s office. \u201cWhose bad luck will it be?\u201d Karen asked.<\/p>

\u201cI\u2019m being kind to him. If he falls on his face, he can blame it on the date. Anyway, I\u2019m not sure I want to embarrass him, just see how I can use him against the hospital. Can you persuade Alan to be there? He absolutely does not have to say a word.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI won\u2019t build up my hopes.\u201d Next day Karen asked him. He said he had too much work to sit around intimidating a witness. In truth, he had no illusions about intimidating anyone. When Karen had shown him Shaw\u2019s letter, he\u2019d waved it off. \u201cJust what you\u2019d expect.\u201d But Shaw\u2019s comments about the knee had struck home. He saw himself again on the stand, only now Shaw was whispering cues in defense counsel\u2019s ears. How had things come to this? He\u2019d agreed to have the chart reviewed; now he was trapped in a lawsuit. He\u2019d given an inch and she\u2019d taken a mile. With a sickening feeling he realized what was in store. The phone rang.<\/p>

~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>

Josh got home from his riverfront meeting with good intentions but no plan. Maybe he should consult his mother. She had solutions for problems like that. But no, this was his job. Next morning he decided that all options began with a visit to the Averys.<\/p>

Karen met him at the door. \u201cDoctor Avery\u2019s in the living room. I\u2019ll join you in a minute.\u201d<\/p>

\u201c\u2014snowed in yet?\u201d Alan was asking as she entered the living room, carrying a tray with tea, mugs, and a plate of cookies.<\/p>

\u201cNo, just a couple\u2014\u201d Josh stopped and moved the newspaper aside to make room on the coffee table. Karen sat down behind it on the sofa. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see you,\u201d she said.<\/p>

Josh\u2019s voice was firm, thanks to rehearsing at home. \u201cI don\u2019t know how you\u2019ll react to this, but it\u2019s best that I don\u2019t beat about the bush. I\u2019ve been talking with Doctor McCrae.\u201d<\/p>

He studied their faces, which had turned blank. \u201cActually, I\u2019ve met with him three times.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cAnd we\u2019ve seen you once,\u201d Karen said softly, handing him a mug. \u201cTake anything?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cSugar, please. I\u2019m really sorry. I know I\u2019ve been neglectful, but not because of Doctor McCrae. I didn\u2019t call him; he called me. My first impulse was to have nothing to do with\u2014\u201d<\/p>

\u201cWe do have something to do with him,\u201d Karen said coldly, \u201cbut I doubt it\u2019s along the lines you have in mind.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cThe first time he called I was at work with Dad. That was in August. I couldn\u2019t imagine what he wanted and I didn\u2019t really want to return the call. But Mom persuaded me.\u201d<\/p>

Surprise lit up the two faces. \u201cYour mother said to call him back!\u201d Alan said. He himself had hung up on Calvin. What business was it of hers? He saw the same question mirrored in Karen\u2019s face. Karen was unable to restrain herself. \u201cWith all due respect, Josh\u2014\u201d<\/p>

\u201cNo, she didn\u2019t say to call him. She asked what I thought Edie would do.\u201d A mistake.<\/p>

Karen lost her patience. \u201cThis is too much! Are we expected to sit here and agree that Edie would have wanted you to talk to this man? I don\u2019t mean to be unkind. I know what she meant to you. But it\u2019s one thing to have fond memories, quite another to deal with reality.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cYou could be right, Mrs. Avery. If Edie were able to speak to me now in the flesh, maybe she\u2019d be sensible and say exactly what you\u2019re saying. I\u2019m not trying to prove I did the right thing, just telling you what made me do it. I thought of her as I remember her \u2015 I think of her all the time \u2015 and I thought that was what she\u2019d want. She once said to me, if you really, truly love someone you can\u2019t at the same time hate anyone, because your world then is full of love. That\u2019s why I couldn\u2019t turn Doctor McCrae away. It would have been an act of hate.\u201d<\/p>

Karen shook her head, eyes downcast. How could she answer him? Even if she disregarded his feelings, how could she deny Edie\u2019s message of love, which was more real to him than the \u201csensible\u201d words she might utter? Alan broke the silence. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cWe met on Kelly Drive. His conscience was bothering him and he needed to find a way to make some sort of amends. He was actually looking to me<\/em> to help him<\/em>. I pretty much turned him away. Still, he thanked me for listening. Said \u2018God bless you,\u2019 when he left.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cRidiculous!\u201d Karen snorted. Alan said nothing.<\/p>

\u201cI was confused when it was over,\u201d Josh went on. \u201cI talked about it with my parents\u2014\u201d<\/p>

\u201cAnd with Edie?\u201d Karen even surprised herself with her sarcasm.<\/p>

\u201cPlease, Karen,\u201d Alan said, \u201clet him speak.\u201d<\/p>

Karen regained control over herself. \u201cI don\u2019t mean to be facetious, but didn\u2019t it occur to you that he might be worried about a lawsuit and was trying to feel you out about our plans?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI told him I had no idea what you planned, and I didn\u2019t want to think of lawsuits when I thought of Edie. I told him I had nothing to offer. But he wasn\u2019t thinking of lawsuits\u2014\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI should think not.\u201d Karen could take only so much provocation.<\/p>

\u201cPlease, Karen, let him speak.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cHe said if he got drawn into one, he\u2019d tell the truth no matter what the lawyers said.\u201d<\/p>

Karen was ready with another remark about Josh\u2019s gullibility, but had second thoughts. She looked away, so as not to reveal her changed expression. This is useful information, she thought. Wait till Bobbie hears about it.<\/p>

Alan was on another track. \u201cThat\u2019s quite a confession. Do you think he meant it?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI was skeptical at first, but I\u2019ve become convinced of it since.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cWhat convinced you?\u201d Alan had now taken over the conversation. \u201cFor that matter, what made you get together again? I thought you\u2019d rebuffed him.\u201d<\/p>

Josh laughed nervously. \u201cI\u2019m embarrassed to say it, but one day I just had the feeling, so I called him from Ithaca Sunday before Thanksgiving, and we talked again that weekend.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cDid you know he\u2019d called me direct?\u201d Alan asked. \u201cSaid he wanted to speak with me. Of course, I turned him away. Lawyer\u2019s instructions. I\u2019m sure by now you know there\u2019s a suit.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI didn\u2019t know he\u2019d called you till Thanksgiving. Something about him then convinced me that he really meant it. He\u2019s determined to own up to what he\u2019s done. He knows we should be angry with him. But he thinks anger\u2019s making things worse for you as well. He was looking for something to give meaning to Edie\u2019s death. To \u2018fill that gaping hole,\u2019 is how he put it.\u201d<\/p>

Karen, having stored her golden nugget, was ready to rejoin the conversation. \u201cAnd I\u2019d say that\u2019s pretty presumptuous. Who in the world is he to fill anything? To pontificate about our anger? If he\u2019s not manipulating you, he\u2019s either incredibly arrogant or incredibly na\u00efve.\u201d<\/p>

Josh nodded. \u201cConsidering all you have to go on is what I\u2019ve told you, that\u2019s reasonable.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cWhat else is there? What do you know that we don\u2019t?\u201d Alan asked.<\/p>

\u201cI\u2019ve met him. I\u2019ve heard his tone, seen his expression. I can\u2019t reproduce that for you. And I\u2019ve had a few months to think about it. Maybe I\u2019m being na\u00efve too, but I believe him.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cEven if we were willing,\u201d Alan asked, \u201cwhat would you want us to do?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI\u2019m not willing to do anything,\u201d Karen said.<\/p>

Alan backed off. \u201cWe\u2019re not making any promises.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI don\u2019t know what I can ask of you,\u201d Josh answered. \u201cBut I wanted you to know what McCrae said. In the lawsuit he\u2019s your adversary; in private, I honestly think he\u2019d like nothing better than do something to help.\u201d<\/p>

Karen passed the cookies. \u201cJosh,\u201d she said, not unkindly, \u201cmaybe you\u2019ve been taken in, maybe not. But you can afford to indulge your feelings because you aren\u2019t involved in a legal action. We are. If it\u2019ll make McCrae feel any better, it\u2019s the hospital we\u2019re suing, not him personally. But he\u2019ll be called to deposition and possibly trial. So any dealings with him, except in the context of the suit, are out of the question. Now, as long as you\u2019re home for the holidays, why don\u2019t the six of us get together for dinner? I\u2019ll call your mother.\u201d<\/p>

The conversation was over. \u201cThanks so much for listening to me. I really appreciate it. Good night.\u201d Just what Calvin would have said, he thought, except for God\u2019s blessing.<\/p>

After he left, Karen returned to the living room. \u201cHow gullible can you be?\u201d she asked in disbelief. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t put it beyond MacAdoo to stage the whole thing. McCrae can\u2019t be sophisticated enough to think up something that fiendish himself. And he was probably lying about admitting to everything. That was just to throw Josh off guard. Wait till I tell Bobbie!\u201d<\/p>

\u201cYou could be right.\u201d Alan scratched his head. \u201cBut suppose he really meant it.\u201d<\/p>

Karen was firm. \u201cI don\u2019t believe for a moment that he did. And more to the point, so what if he did? If he wants to give away the store, we\u2019ll take it. Bobbie may be disappointed that she has no challenge, but she\u2019ll get over it. And it could save us months of legal wrangling.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cYeah, our broker will make a commission and we\u2019ll see monthly statements. Our quality of life won\u2019t be affected one iota. Or maybe you want to buy a house in the Virgin Islands?\u201d<\/p>

Karen faced him, hands on hips, face red. \u201cWe\u2019ll decide that later. Now, do you want to make those incompetents pay for their incompetence or let them off the hook \u2015 just because McCrae feels sorry for himself? Tell me. Because I\u2019m quite clear on what I want.\u201d He didn\u2019t answer. \u201cOr,\u201d she continued in a cold, quiet voice, \u201care you still afraid to go through with it? Because, so help me, if you don\u2019t, I\u2019ll do it on my own.\u201d She stared into his eyes just long enough to drive home her point, then turned to finish cleaning up.<\/p>

He went into his study and quietly closed the door. Automatically looking out the window, he said to himself, yes, I am afraid. I\u2019m beyond denying it. I don\u2019t want the humiliation, and it isn\u2019t worth the money. Who needs it? Why is she so driven?<\/p>

Karen was more determined than ever. So what if he does lose a few patients? What, for that matter, if he has to relocate? We\u2019ll get enough money to tide us over comfortably. As for disrupting his career, let him see for himself what it feels like. She slammed the wall cupboard shut, then had to open it cautiously to catch the cup she\u2019d knocked over.<\/p>

They spoke no more about it, and little about anything, that evening and next morning.<\/p>

On arriving in the office, Karen immediately walked in on Bobbie and told her the whole story, including her quarrel with Alan. \u201cFascinating,\u201d Bobbie said of Calvin\u2019s stated intention. \u201cYou\u2019re right to be suspicious. I\u2019ve never heard of anyone doing a thing like that. But I\u2019m going to prepare for the deposition as if he were the toughest witness ever. Do you know that Shaw has never \u2015 and I mean never \u2015 testified for plaintiff? His bias is so blatant, it isn\u2019t even funny. On the other hand, if Calvin decides to turn soft, so much the better.\u201d<\/p>

Karen\u2019s expression had changed. \u201cSomething\u2019s bothering you,\u201d Bobbie said.<\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s Alan. I told him if he was afraid to be involved I\u2019d do it on my own.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cYou told me he didn\u2019t want to.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cNothing\u2019s changed.\u201d<\/p>

Bobbie was frowning. \u201cThe more I think of it, the more I agree with you that there must be more to it than fear of losing his practice. Regardless of the old boys\u2019 network, the staff at Cresheim have to realize he\u2019s right. And even if they did close ranks against the average joe on the street \u2015 with the help of stooges like Shaw \u2015 that doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019d gang up on one of their own. Besides, the perpetrator\u2019s an intern, not yet exactly a member of said network. On the contrary, those same interns are screwing up their patients too. You see what I mean? They should be on Alan\u2019s side, and he should know that.\u201d Karen nodded.<\/p>

\u201cHave you and he talked about that at all?\u201d Bobbie asked.<\/p>

\u201cNo. The whole darn thing\u2019s so sensitive, I daren\u2019t ask him.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cYou know, Karen \u2015 and I hate to sound like I\u2019m lecturing you \u2015 he made medical decisions. Just because the outcome was bad doesn\u2019t mean they were wrong at the time.\u201d<\/p>

This was hardly news to Karen. Still, coming from Bobbie . . . \u201cYou don\u2019t talk like a plaintiff\u2019s lawyer!\u201d<\/p>

Bobbie didn\u2019t laugh. \u201cDo you know why this firm is so successful? Because we don\u2019t try to pin blame where there isn\u2019t any. But that\u2019s beside the point. What I\u2019m saying is you don\u2019t know<\/em>. And it might be better for both of you if you gave him the benefit of the doubt.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cAre you suggesting I drop the case?\u201d Karen asked.<\/p>

\u201cNo, of course not. Just whatever you do, do it together.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cMeaning that if he absolutely refuses, then I should go along with that too?\u201d An angry tone crept into her voice, and Bobbie realized she needed to be careful.<\/p>

\u201cThink, my dear friend, think. We all know that what happened at the hospital isn\u2019t the only issue. For you it\u2019s the frustration, the career thing, all that stuff we talked about. Now he\u2019s got something pulling him in the other direction. I don\u2019t know what it is; maybe you do. Are you willing for him to be hurt just because you were? Is he<\/em> responsible for your<\/em> loss? \u00a0In your case, what\u2019s happened has happened. For him, there\u2019s still a choice. I don\u2019t know whether or not the suit will hurt him professionally. As I said before, I doubt it. But that\u2019s not really for me to say, and maybe not for you either. The question is, is it worth the personal risk? Your marriage is a precious thing. Take it from someone who knows. I\u2019m not saying cave in, just let him have a voice. Hear him out. Invite him to share his concerns.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cWhat do you suggest?\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI\u2019m not a therapist. Whatever I say, you have to judge by the criterion of common sense, nothing else. But if you\u2019re right about him being afraid to talk to you, maybe you could say something to him to make him feel safer. Maybe there\u2019s a gentle way to ask him whether there\u2019s something else you should know. It might actually help him to share his secret.\u201d<\/p>

Karen nodded, but she knew that such a conversation could bring them perilously close to things best left untouched.<\/p>

\u201cAnyway,\u201d Bobbie continued, \u201cregardless of what I said, I\u2019ll do whatever you want me to, and I\u2019ll do it right. Just let me know.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cHow about Frank? Wouldn\u2019t he be shocked if we ended up not going through with it?\u201d<\/p>

Bobbie shrugged. \u201cPerhaps he would. But remember, you\u2019re the client. In this matter he works for you, not the other way round.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<< Chapter 34<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Chapter 36 >><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PART III The poet and the preacher looked, stony-faced, over the heads of the two young men seated in the statue garden. \u201cRemember,\u201d the preacher said, \u201cit is I who guided their ways.\u201d \u201cTrue enough,\u201d replied the poet, \u201cbut I shaped their dreams.\u201d Calvin and Josh couldn\u2019t have cared less who got credit for their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":21,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-342","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/herbheineman.com\/Eden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/herbheineman.com\/Eden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/herbheineman.com\/Eden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herbheineman.com\/Eden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herbheineman.com\/Eden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=342"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/herbheineman.com\/Eden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/342\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":873,"href":"https:\/\/herbheineman.com\/Eden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/342\/revisions\/873"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herbheineman.com\/Eden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/herbheineman.com\/Eden\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}