Page 93 of So Much More
“True, but not old.”
She nods. “We had a really good time. I enjoyed getting to know them better. They’re a lot alike in many ways, but very different in others.”
“Yeah, they’re an interesting pair. Tonya often acts more like the youngest child than Sonya does. She’s more impulsive and adventurous, while Sonya is more steady and introspective, though not nearly on the scale Ash is. But when they’re together, Sonya feeds off Tonya and is spunkier.”
“Don’t take offense at this,” she says, “but it seems like you and Ash are kind of like that, too.”
“Yeah, he seems more like the oldest, more responsible child who was born to be a leader, while I’ve always been more irresponsible and less likely to take the lead in anything other than getting into trouble and screwing things up.”
forty
“Is that really how you feel about yourself?” I ask Randall. “Do you think you’re an irresponsible screwup who’s not a good leader?”
“Sometimes,” he readily admits.
“I disagree.”
His hand halts as he reaches into the pizza box for another piece. “You do?”
My heart goes out to him. It’s no wonder he doubts himself, considering the way his father has always treated him. “I do.”
He finally grabs his slice of pizza, and he doesn’t look at me when he says, “Even after what I did?”
“Yes. Have you made irresponsible decisions? Of course. We all do. But that’s not who you are. You aren’t an irresponsible person—you simply sometimes do things that are irresponsible.”
He chews a bite of pizza as he thinks about what I said. “That’s an interesting way of looking at it.”
“It’s the right way of looking at it. You wouldn’t have made it through an elite prep school, college, and law school if you were irresponsible. George wouldn’t have hired you if he thought you were irresponsible. You’re not who your father has led you to believe you are, Randall. You’re a smart, strong, caring man.”
With a quick glance at me he says somewhat accusingly, “But you said Ash is more like the older brother.”
“I did, but I didn’t mean it in the way you took it. Ash is more structured and controlled and focused on achievement, like oldest children typically are, whereas you’re more social, adventurous, and charming. Neither is better than the other. The two of you are simply the opposite of most sibling pairs. That’s all I was saying.”
“Oh.”
I reach over and take his free hand in mine. “As for your leadership abilities, I saw them when we were working on the proposal for the Diego Sanchez Foundation. It seemed like Ash took the lead on that, and in the most obvious ways he did, but you had a knack for making suggestions and observations that gently steered us in the right direction at the right time. I don’t think you realized you were doing it. I know Ash didn’t realize it, but I think George did. I’ve also seen you doing it at Carter-Jenkins, and I believe that’s the sign of a true leader—guiding people where they need to go without them knowing it.”
“And without me knowing it either, apparently.” He shoots me a wry grin. “Thank you for helping me see that.”
“You’re welcome.” I squeeze his hand and let go of it.
He tilts his chair onto its back legs. “How’d you learn so much about all this stuff?”
“I work in PR. It’s my job to understand how people tick and why they do what they do, and to pinpoint the things that make them unique and attractive to others. And I’m not talking about physical attractiveness.”
Randall smirks at me. “But if you were going to talk about my physical attractiveness …”
I roll my eyes at him.
“Come on, now,” he prompts. “Don’t hold out on me.”
“Are you seriously fishing for more compliments from me?”
“How about if I start?” He links his hands behind his head.
“Start what? Complimenting yourself?”
He shakes his head. “Start by talking aboutyourexquisite physical attractiveness.”
