Page 25 of Finding Parker

“Do you have things you regret or wish you could change?” I asked as I looked up from my glass of tea.

“I suppose my knee-jerk response should be yes, but it’s not going to be my answer. There are probably a good handful of people that would look at my past and say I had quite a bit to be either ashamed of or without a doubt regret,” he paused and began to shake his head again slowly.

“I have no regrets. To regret my past would be to admit I am not satisfied with who or what I have become. Everything I have accomplished and all I have been exposed to – good or evil – has created what sits before you. If I look solely at the reflection I make today, I stand proud. So in short, no Parker, I don’t have things I regret,” he grinned softly as if satisfied with his response.

“I’m sure sometimes I think of events of my past and feel sorry for myself. Not something I do often, but it does happen. Overall, I think I’m happy with who I am and what I have accomplished so far. I’m self-driven to succeed, I guess that’s a good thing,” I said as I looked down at my glass of tea again, realizing my response wasn’t nearly as uplifting or full of emotion as Downes’.

“I imagine it would be difficult to come to terms with losing both parents at such a young age. Feeling sorry for one’s self would probably be quite common,” he said softly and almost apologetically.

“It’s something I think about more often than you think,” I responded, still staring at my glass of tea.

“Wait a minute. How did you know?” as I asked, I realized Katelyn may have told Kenton during my half hour of subconscious Kaetlyn-less bliss.

“Mr. Ward’s background investigation of your past revealed it,” he responded.

“Background investigation?” I sat up in my chair and became a little more focused.

“You didn’t think Mr. Ward would have offered you such a position without knowing anything regarding who you are, did you? And, it’s public knowledge – anyone can find out. You realize that, don’t you?” he stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

I felt proud and ashamed at the same moment. Part of me felt proud that Kenton had performed a background investigation on me, and still had interest in me working for him. I had nothing to hide, and I am quite proud of everything I have accomplished. Additionally, I felt ashamed I didn’t realize this was something he had done. It was a surprise, and I now felt foolish.

“I guess I never really thought about it. It’s probably common for an employer employee relationship like this one, I suppose. To do a background investigation, that is,” I became a little more comfortable as I spoke, realizing it wasn’t anything grotesquely uncommon for an employer to do.

Downes leaned forward again, resting his massive forearms into the edge of the table, “I would say in a situation such as this one, it would be mandatory. At any rate, were your parents a portion of what you were dwelling on in the last few days?”

“Yes sir. I suppose so. That and recollections of my grandmother’s wisdom. It’s depressing thinking about being alone. You know, without family,” I said sadly.

“Your grandmother passed as well, if I remember correctly,” he said, raising his eyebrows slightly.

I didn’t like admitting it, but she was gone. She had passed the summer of my junior year of college – of breast cancer. Something she had fought for years and didn’t bring to my attention. I didn’t like being reminded of it, and in fact, preferred denying she was gone. I looked up and did the only thing I felt I could without losing my composure.

I nodded my head.

“Well, for what it’s worth, you can always look at Mr. Ward and me as being family. Now and always,” he said, turning his palms upward and smiling as he finished speaking.

“Thank you. But one day this will all end. This job won’t last forever,” as I responded I began to feel a little more hollow and alone.

“Quite the contrary. Mr. Ward doesn’t nor has he ever allowed a friend to slip from his grasp. In fact, he has very few people he considers friends. I would venture to say you, me, and Mr. Astur would satisfy the list entirely,” he nodded his head slowly as a form of reassurance.

“Really?” I sat up in my chair, astonished at what he had said.

“Do you really think he considers me a friend?” I asked.

“Mr. Bale, I don’t think he does, I know so,” he responded.

“But. Well, he hasn’t known me for long. It just seems like he’d be more inclined to get to know who I was and in time,” I paused and raised my index finger to my lips.

“In time he would develop a friendship with me. Or. Well, I don’t know,” I began to feel satisfied Downes statement was an accurate one.

“Mr. Bale, Mr. Ward selected you from a large group of people. The factors which played the largest part in his decision making were who you are. You’re an impressive individual, Mr. Bale. Very much so,” he reached for the pitcher of tea and poured himself another glass.

“If I remember correctly, there were twelve applicants. It was an exciting meeting for sure,” I grinned, recollecting Kenton’s intimidating demeanor during the meeting.

“Mr. Bale,” Downes shook his head as if in disbelief, “at that juncture, there was only one applicant. Only one.”

I sat and stared, trying to decide what it was Downes was trying to say. To the best of my ability, I attempted to recall the conditions of our first meeting. Was it possible Kenton investigated me prior to my having met him? Had he made the decision to hire me before we had even met?

Highly unlikely, I decided.