"Yeah, I think Calista''s definitely the better fit," Eamon said, nodding in agreement


    with Ss.


    Since Ss seemed to favor Calista, Eamon didn''t see the need to argue.


    "Gideon''s got a lot of issues, honestly. He''s just not right for thepany."


    "So what do you think we should do?" Ss asked. "Should we just give him some


    cushy position?"


    Ss knew that, at the end of the day, Gideon was Eamon''s grandson. If Eamon


    wanted to look out for him, Ss would go along with it, but only if that''s what


    Eamon asked for.


    But Eamon shook his head. "No need. If he''s not a good fit, there''s no point


    keeping him on the payroll. He wouldn''t contribute anything useful anyway, right?"


    Ss nodded in agreement.


    "If he''s got any drive at all, maybe this is his chance to prove himself out in the


    real world," Eamon continued. "If he''s happy just sitting around collecting a


    paycheck, then he really doesn''t belong here anyway."


    Eamon was clearly disappointed in Gideon. When Ss first put him forward,


    Eamon had hoped Gideon would step up, maybe not match Ss, but at least not


    fall too far behind. But in just a few months, Gideon had changedpletely, and


    not for the better.


    Eamon was done making excuses for him. Ss wasn''t the type to y favorites


    for no reason. If Ss said Calista was the better choice, then that''s how it was.


    Gideon didn''t need a spot at thepany anymore. Eamon had more than one


    grandchild, after all. If the older one wasn''t up to the task, then the younger one


    could take a shot.


    Whatever path Gideon chose from now on was up to him. If he made things hard


    for himself, that was his own doing.


    "Don''t worry about me,” Eamon said.


    "Just do what you think is best. I told


    you thepany''s yours now, and


    it''s going to stay that way. If you


    ever want to hand it off to someone


    else, that''s your call."


    Eamon had no intention of interfering anymore. Ss was in charge now, and


    these sorts of decisions were his to make.


    Ss nodded. "Alright, I''ll handle it the way I see fit. But if you ever have any


    concerns, please let me know."


    "Sure," Eamon replied. "But I doubt I''ll have much to say. I trust your judgment


    and your integrity."


    Ss and Calliope spent the rest of the morning with Eamon. After lunch, Ss


    and Calliope left the old family home and got into the car.


    As they drove off, Ss turned to her. "Earlier, you mentioned there might be


    something wrong with Gideon''s baby. Is that really true?"


    Calliope nodded. "Based on what I''ve seen, there''s a pretty good chance, like


    eighty or ny percent that Yvette''s baby will have some kind of defect."


    "What kind of defect?" Ss asked, frowning.


    "Could be intellectual, could be


    physical, Calliope replied. "I can''t


    say for sure, but the odds aren''t


    good. Unless they do some


    thorough testing, they might be in


    for a tough time."


    Ss''s expression darkened. "But they won''t listen to you, will they? They''re


    determined to go through with it anyway."


    He was clearly frustrated. Bringing a


    child into the world under those


    circumstances would be a burden


    on the whole family, and the child


    wouldn''t have a happy life either.