Greg smiled, uncommonly proud at hearing this.
Jeff spread his hands around in the air, gesturing at the apartment. ‘All this didn't happen overnight, and this is not why I went into trading. I did it because I loved it, standing in the pit, the excitement the panic, the joy on my customers’ faces when I made a good deal … ’ He glanced over at the flowers. ‘The rest just happened to be a perk, and – well, back when I was on Wall Street – your mom always said she didn't care what I did or what we had, as long as I could provide – for you of course!’ he playfully pointed a finger at Greg. ‘That's what love does, you know,’ he added softly. ‘Everything is more bearable with two. And speaking of which, what does Karen think of it all?’
Greg grimaced a little. ‘Well, let’s just say that she is still getting used to the idea.’
‘Oh?’ Jeff queried. ‘She’s upset with you for leaving?’
‘I guess you might say that,’ Greg replied, trying to choose the right words. ‘But it’s my own fault, really. In hindsight, I know I should have given her more of a heads-up, whereas instead I kind of just sprung it on her. I honestly thought she would be happy, but she just seems worried.’
Jeff eyed his son, the wheels in his head obviously turning. ‘Worried about what?’
‘Well, I suppose that she is just a little intimidated by me going off on my own and her being the only one with the dependable, pensionable job. I told her I have a plan; I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t, but, you know, she is my partner in all of this, in life. I’m probably the bad guy for not telling her before I pulled the plug.’
Jeff laughed. ‘Well, most women can be uptight when they worry about the bills.’ He paused. ‘You aren’t, are you? Worried about the bills?’
Greg smiled and shook his head. Leave it to his father to still think he was an eighteen year old who needed to be bailed out. ‘No, Dad. Trust me, I’ve been responsible. I’m not coming to you for a cheque.’
‘Ha! You thought I was offering! You know, that time I quit my job before going out on our own, your mom was scared too, at first. We had just bought this place and the mortgage was hanging over our heads. But she eventually came around. And when I opened up my own firm, that risk paid off. I’m sure the same thing will be true for Karen.’
Greg nodded, and hoped his father was right. But while he thought about it, he decided he might as well get his input on one other matter that had been playing on his mind.
‘So, I was thinking … ’
‘Yeah? Well, that makes a change,’ his father joked. It was hard to find Jeff in a bad mood; he was always jovial.
Well, almost always.
‘Dad, I’m serious,’ Greg chided.
‘OK, OK, so what is it?’
‘Well. I’m thinking of asking Karen to marry me. I think it will help us get past this place … this problem, and refocus our relationship. And I suppose I wanted your blessing.’
Jeff looked at his son thoughtfully, all joking now set aside. ‘My blessing? Shouldn’t you be asking forherfather’s blessing?’
‘Her father passed away a couple of years ago, remember?’ Greg stated quietly. ‘And she’s not really that close with her mother. I just felt that I needed to talk to someone about it.’
Jeff nodded. ‘I see. Do you feel it’s right?’ he asked point blank.
Greg thought for a second and shook his head in the affirmative. ‘Yes, I do. I love her more than I have ever loved any woman. And I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I want a marriage like yours and Mom’s - the romance, the sparkle, the love. Everything that happened during the good times. I want that, with Karen.’
His father paused and looked away, out of the windows that let in a spectacular view of Central Park. The snowflakes hit and melted against the windows.
‘You even willing to deal with the stuff that happens in the bad times?’ he asked bluntly, causing Greg to shift in his seat.
‘It’s a part of marriage, isn’t it?’ he replied gently.
Jeff swallowed hard. ‘Yep. As they say, for better or worse. Marriage is like life; no one ever said it was easy. And it’s just … if this is what you want, then I say go for it. Karen’s a smart girl; she’s driven, talented, beautiful. The whole package, right?’
Greg laughed at the confirmation of his own perception. ‘Yes, she really is the whole package.’
Jeff smacked the armrest of the chair he sat in. ‘Well, I hope you have something special planned. Have you been thinking about how you are going to pop the question?’
Greg let out his breath and ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Yes, I think I have it planned. I want to do something special, something really memorable.’
‘Something that’ll blow her socks off?’
Greg smiled, unable to remember the last time Karen had worn socks, if ever. She seemed surgically attached to her skyscraper heels.
