In the dim restaurant, some animation came back to the three cousins. They were out of the rarified atmosphere of the lawyer’s office.
Lee said, “This is nice. It must be an expensive restaurant. Just look at the paintings on the walls and the table settings.”
Clifton said, “Well, we’ll take care of the bill. Don’t worry about it”. He was beginning to understand how Cassie thought.
Derek leaned back comfortably and looked at Lee, “So, you’re still going to follow through with the nursing degree?” The waiter was pouring him a glass of beer.
“Of course! It’s my dream.”
Cassie added, “And I’m going to be a real librarian instead of an aide! I can’t think of anything better.” She looked at the sparkling glass of wine before her.
Clifton Montville lifted his glass of wine and toasted them. “Bravo. You proved Everett Woodson’s premise. There’s fine stuff in his grandchildren. We had quite a few discussions on the subject of character. It takes a special person to appreciate what is really important in life.
“And I agree.”
They all turned to the entrance at the sound of a new voice.
A distinguished looking elderly man walked towards their table. Cassie wondered if he was the restaurant owner. If so, this was really an upscale restaurant because that suit had cost a fortune.
Clifton stood up and turned to him, “May I present your grandfather, Everett Woodson?”
Derek stuttered, “I thought….”
Everett Woodson said, “That I had died? Well, not exactly.” He took an extra seat at their table. There were still two left as it was a large table. “I was very ill for a long time. My doctors had told me I only had a few months left. So I made my preparations – and my will. But I’m not the kind to take no for an answer. I found a new doctor and he managed to find what was really wrong with me. So I think I have a few good years left yet. While I was sick, and thought it was the end, I came up with this idea because I was worried about what was going to happen after I died. You probably heard I’m a recluse. That’s true, I don’t go out much at all. I always tracked your activities, though. I thought you would be best left to make your own lives so you would know the value of money when I finally left this world. I wanted to see how you handled this challenge. I’m happy to say, I was pleased with the results.”
He waved over to Clifton. “My right hand man. I know he’s had some problems with an employee, and it turned out to be my second wife’s child. That I regret. I never knew she had the child. I might have been able to do something for her.”
“Nevertheless, I’m glad I came up with this idea. As Clifton can tell you, my first idea was to provide a successor for my estate as I believed I only had a few months left to live. I was going to name one of you to be this person. However, it looks like I’ll be around for a while yet. Since my illness, I’ve come up with a new project. I’m using my money to create a foundation to provide grants for medical research. And when I do go, I’m going to set it up so you have the right to work in my foundation. If you want to. There’s no obligation to do that, but Lee, you might be interested in the subject.” He smiled over at her. “I think you’ve all earned the right to do what is most important to you. Now I know who you really are. And that’s important to me.”
Cassie said, “So there is no “final payment? Not that I need it, you know. I’m grateful for my education. You have no idea!” She laughed.
Clifton looked at Everett Woodson. “If I may?”
The old man nodded. “Go ahead.”
Clifton cleared his throat. “I will be in charge of a special fund. I’m authorized to make you any loan you need for any of your projects. But the terms will be very lenient. Your grandfather would like you to learn the ropes of business as he knows them and therefore, he wants you to be on the board of his foundation because some day it will all belong to you. I’m afraid he doesn’t believe in what he calls “handouts.” There will of course be a salary for sitting on the board.
Everett Woodson nodded. “That’s right. In spite of reports to the contrary, I’m not Scrooge. I do like to give gifts once in a while. So that’s why I’m giving you all $100,000 each. I think that should get you started.” Then you will receive good compensation for serving on the board. He suddenly smiled and Cassie for a moment remembered her mother’s smile. Her eyes filled with tears. She looked over at Lee and Derek, who were gaping at their grandfather.
Clifton went on, “Now, there’s just a couple of people we’d like to have join us.” He raised his voice, “Would you come out, please?”
Cassie gasped to see Rob, Colleen, and a little boy emerge from the shadows.
Her heart skipped a beat. Who was the child? Whose was he?
Rob stepped over to Cassie and sat down opposite her. “Hi, Cass.”
“We wanted to have him join us as he’s been such a good friend to you two.” Clifton smiled over to Lee and Cassie. Cassie was beaming at Rob, but she still glanced curiously over at the child. She suddenly thought of that five years Rob had been away at college and working before he came back. She knew nothing of his life then and he had never discussed it. Colleen followed Rob and sat down. The little boy shyly sat between them and looked at all the strangers with wide eyes.
Everett Woodson looked at the newcomers. “I’ve already met this charming lady. Colleen, do you want to say something?”
“Yes, I may as well come out with it. Derek, this is my boy and yours, too.”
Derek stared at the child, who, he now realized, had dark brown hair and blue eyes much like his own. “How could that be?”
Colleen laughed. “Even you must know the basics of reproduction. Remember when I was Callie? When we were in Texas? I left when I realized I was pregnant. I didn’t think you were ready for a child. My mother’s been raising him for me in Boston. That’s one reason I’m there so much.”
She came over to stand beside Derek. “You don’t have to take me with the package, but Ricky needs a Dad.”
Derek stood up, went around the table and clumsily put his good arm around her. “But I want you. I know that now, Callie. I don’t deserve you, but if you want to take a chance on me, well, I promise I won’t let you down again” He bent down to the child and reached out his hand. “Hi, pardner.”
Cassie looked across at Rob. He said, with raised eyebrows, “You thought he might be mine, didn’t you?’
“No, I never did.” She stared at him as though she had never seen him before.
He came around to her. “If it’s time for revelations, I’ve got one too. The only one I’ve ever wanted was you, Halfpint.”
Cassie tried to speak but couldn’t. Rob came close. “ Shut up and kiss me properly.”
And she did, to the applause of the whole table, Derek whistling and banging on the table to the delight of little Ricky who joined in. Derek noticed the kid really seemed to have rhythm. Chip off the old block.
###
Thank you for reading
Other Titles Available on Smashwords, by same author:
Deep Blue Murder
Point and Shoot
http://murderinthepicture.blogspot.com
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Dangerous Inheritance Page 19
