The father's decision

The father's decision
He only needed two days to think it over. He really didn't have to dwell on the matter so much, because if the marriage still ended, the Taylors would come out ahead, right?
So, what was it that troubled Mr. Taylor so much?
He had several pieces of evidence that this could work, but he was already coming to terms with the fact that it wouldn't be the case with young Alice, why? Mr. Taylor was unaware that Alice was in love with someone else. He didn't know. And that's why he didn't understand how, in a year, nothing had worked out between Alice and Robert Graham.
Robert wasn't in love with someone else, so why wouldn't he fall in love with his daughter? She was a beautiful, intelligent woman, and she... had she not said she was going to put her part into making things work?
'No, it can't be just that.' Mr. Taylor thought.
'Robert Graham isn't in love with someone else, why can't he fall in love with my daughter? She's a beautiful woman, intelligent, and she...didn't she say she was going to make an effort to make things work?'
Mr. Taylor had been wondering about that for some time.
He was wondering if it was possible for love to develop between them.
What about time? Was a year not enough to see if it would work? It was the same amount of time Mr. Taylor was willing to give them to see if it was.
But after the loss of baby Ethan, Mr. Taylor decided to give them more time, but his daughter's words made it very clear that she had no intention of trying. And if Alice wasn't going to try, then it didn't make sense.
Why continue with something she had already declared a failure?
And it was the second time his daughter had told him she wanted a divorce.
'Dear,' he called his wife, who was cutting some flowers in the garden while Mr. Taylor was sitting in the sun with a glass of lemonade.
His wife left everything at hand and approached her husband, intrigued by the response he would give, two days having passed since Alice's visit.
'Henry, what have you decided?' His wife hadn't said a word to him about her conversation with their daughter, not wanting her husband's decision to be influenced by it. It was better for him not to know, at least not at the moment. In those two days, they hadn't talked about it, it was her husband's decision, he was the one who had decided to marry her.
'Whatever it is, and before you tell me, are you sure about your decision?'
'Yes, I assume I was wrong, that didn't work out. It's time to end it, and it's what she wants. I admit it's not worth trying, Alice won't do her part, she made that very clear.'
'Sofia, you gave her more time,' his wife interjected. Sofia was always the proof that a marriage could indeed rise from the ashes because it had been a total mess, and then... it worked. Not by magic, but because love was born.
'Sofia was driving that poor man crazy, she wanted him to at least feel sorry for her, but she enjoyed it so much that she didn't realize she was in love. A child didn't unite Robert and Alice; it distanced them even further. And to top it off, the baby died. There's nothing to be done, they should go their separate ways.'
'So that's your decision, to support her in getting a divorce. That indicates it will be the first divorce in a long time. How long has it been? It will be one of our girls, and the youngest one at that. Alice will be happy,' she said bitterly. 'She did it.'
'I hope so. Don't take it personally; I know you were fond of her mother, but Tom Graham also knows that business is business. He took a risk and lost. I warned him that things wouldn't work out with Alice that way, it's too late to try to rectify something now.'
'So the Grahams...'
'That's right, they lose the company because of the loan they can't repay. Because as soon as the marriage doesn't work, the loan has to be paid off, and... the amount is enormous, enough for the Grahams to lose their company, which will become Taylor's.'
Graham Group would no longer exist.
'Damn... This didn't go well at all.'
'I'll talk to her father, then I'll talk to Robert in person. But first with Alice. I'll go to her house to tell her myself.'
'Isn't there anything we can do?'
'I'll offer the same position to her son when the company is no longer theirs, which will happen after the divorce. I can't offer them anything more.'
'And will you tell Alice about the loan to the Grahams?'
'It was something between Tom and me. If his son knows, he can be the one to tell Alice. Keep tending to your flowers; you look beautiful.' He kissed his wife with the taste of lemonade, and she went back to cutting her flowers.
She was worried about her daughter after the divorce; she didn't know who the man she said she loved was, she didn't even know if those feelings were real. But she did know that the Grahams would lose everything because of that divorce.
(...)
She arrived a few minutes before Sofia at the meeting place. She had talked to Alice the day before, and after that, Sofia called her to meet there the next day.
And there she was, waiting for her.
She had sat facing the door to see her arrive, but she didn't imagine that Sofia would also come with Alice.
She ran ahead to greet him with a kiss on the lips, more than happy, eager to tell him that she would divorce Robert Graham, and since her sister would give her a job, he could be with her, both of them together.
Jared's conditions were going to improve dramatically.
'Alice!' he said, happy to see her. 'I didn't know you were coming too. How are you?'
'I'm too good.' Her sister arrived, and Alice refrained from explaining it to her at that moment. They would let them talk about work first.
'Do you want to order something?' he asked after greeting Sofia.
'I'll have sparkling water,' the older sister ordered.
'I'm good,' Alice said. 'I'm fine,' she said. Sofia wanted to know more details at that moment because her sister was being sincere, but she wanted to know more about it. 'Alice told me you wanted to change jobs, Jared. Has something happened in your current position at Graham Group?'
'No, nothing important.'
'And why do you want to change? I understand you've been there for at least five years since you graduated?'
'Yes, since I graduated, Robert talked to Mr. Graham, and they hired me. That's been my longest job related to my career. I have no complaints about the place or what I do, but from time to time, my friendship with Robert mixes with his role as boss.'
'I understand.' Alice hadn't given Sofia more details; she had only asked her husband to give him a position in her company. But
 now that Alice was getting a divorce, it was best for Jared not to work in the same company as Robert, especially not being his boss, because it would be very uncomfortable when he and Alice were together. Sofia fully supported them if they decided to have a relationship and considered it a great triumph that her sister managed to get the divorce.
'I haven't talked to Simon yet because I wanted to chat with you first to know the reasons. But if you want a position, I'll let him know right away. I'll call you tomorrow, or maybe you'll receive an email with all the information. I already have your data; it won't take long. You should start resigning; it will be very fast.'
'Thank you very much, Sofia.'
'It's been a pleasure.' All three stood up, but Alice had no plans to go back with her sister, Sofia knew that. 'Can we talk for a moment, Alice?' She took her hand and led her away from the table, walking together slowly toward the exit. 'Are you going to tell him about the divorce?'
'Yes, I'll tell him. I'm so excited. With my divorce and her new job, I think things will be perfect.'
'I'm happy for you, but remember, you're not divorced yet. Does Robert know? How did Dad agree to it?'
'This was never going to work; we don't love each other.' She told her sister. Sofia looked into her younger sister's shining eyes. She kissed her cheek and approached to hug her, touching her beautiful hair.
'I love you very much, Alice. I hope you're at least a little happier now.'
'I already am.'
'It seems like it.' When Sofia left, Alice returned to the table with Jared. 'Now I will! I'll tell him!'
'I didn't think it would happen so quickly, Alice. I have to make a lot of arrangements and...tell Robert. Are you okay? You seem strange. Is everything okay?'
'Me...I'll get divorced. I talked to my parents a few days ago, and they told me they would support me in getting a divorce. It's a fact now! And if my parents agree, Robert can't refuse.'
That news left Jared speechless for a few seconds.
Would it really happen? So quickly and easily?
The Alice he saw in front of him was not, for a second, the woman in bed, broken and destroyed, the woman he had in front of him was strong, smiling, happy, too cheerful.
Alice was very, very happy.
Jared was happy for her.
'It's great news! I was very worried that you might back down later or, worse, that they wouldn't grant you the divorce, but this...amazes me! It's incredible!'
'It's fantastic news, Jared. I've been too happy since I found out. Now I feel like I can breathe, Jared.'
'Robert didn't want anything good for you. He just wanted to use you.'
'I know he hates me, which is absurd because I've never done anything to him. It feels good to know that we will no longer have anything to do with each other, and besides... I think that after that, you could tell him, Jared, Robert. I wouldn't like it if you say again in front of him that you don't love me, that I'm just a friend. I don't want to hide what I feel from Robert or anyone.' Jared still felt bad about what happened that time; he had apologized, but he couldn't erase the moment, so he decided to lean over the table and reach Alice's lips, leaving a tender kiss on them. Alice closed her eyes, even after he finished the kiss because Jared's hands delicately caressed her face. She couldn't resist kissing him again and again in that place, until they both realized they wanted something more when their bodies got too close or their mouths refused to move away.
More than kisses, more than looks, more than words.
They wanted more.
'I won't hide that I love you again, Alice Taylor,' he said. If Alice would be free, they didn't have to hold back. 'Do you want to go to my house?'