An Inconvenient Marriage

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  “Nothing. Go to Richmond and have a great time. I’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone.”

  He decided not to press the issue and went home. He groaned when he saw another bouquet of flowers.

  “The delivery man said it was from her brother-in-law,” Lydia quickly said when he was ready to throw it out.

  Jake stopped on his way to the trash can and read the card. Dear Sue, Forgive the delay in sending these flowers to congratulate you on your direction of Trevor’s play. It was a delight to watch. My warm regards to your husband. Donald Cline.

  “Alright.” He put them on the table by the front door. “We can keep these.”

  Lydia smiled as she held her son in her arms. “You have to start reading the cards before you throw them out. Not everyone is out to steal your wife from you.”

  “Apparently not. While Sue and I are gone tomorrow, why don’t you and Ralph take the day off? There’s no sense in being here if there’s no work to do. Next week, we’ll be in New York from Friday to Sunday afternoon, so you should take next weekend off.”

  “That is very kind of you, sir. If you don’t mind my making an observation, it’s nice to see you include her in your world.”

  He shrugged. “She likes symphonies and plays. What am I supposed to do? Leave her alone while I run off to have all the fun?”

  “If that’s the way you reason it, then that is fine.”

  He ignored her and went to the den where he kept his safe, which was behind the painting of the Roman Coliseum. He used the combination to open it. He always kept some extra cash in it for emergencies. He also kept his will and paperwork that proved he owned the bank in it. In the back was his father’s will and other items that Mr. Barnett felt necessary to give him after the funeral. He hadn’t bothered to look at the folder before, but ever since Daniel Riley’s visit and his questions regarding his father’s will, he felt it was necessary to go through it, though he dreaded it. He hated to have any reminder of his father in his house.

  He walked over to the desk and threw the folder on it. “Might as well get this over with,” he muttered as he sat down. He opened the folder. He was already familiar with the will, so he set it aside. In an envelope was a letter his father had written to him one week before his death. In another envelope was a newspaper article he hadn’t read yet. He ripped the first envelope open and took out the letter. He read it:

  To Jake,

  I know you have every right to be mad at me for abandoning you and your mother when you were ten. I have lived with the regret of that decision for many years. I understand that you may not want to read this letter, but it’s very important that you do.

  Jake rolled his eyes.

  There are things I have done in my past that may come back to haunt you. I have accumulated most of my wealth through honest means, but a substantial portion of it was gained illegally when I robbed jewelry stores across several states. As with all thieves, I was dishonest with my partner. I hid a bag of jewelry worth half a million dollars in a trunk in the basement of the cabin I used to take you and your mother to before I left. It is secluded and my partner doesn’t know about it. I was supposed to give him half of the jewels but I didn’t because I was selfish. This trunk is under the floorboard in the corner by the wobbly shelf. You remember that shelf. You knocked it down a couple of times. I bought some dynamite and put it in the closet of the basement in case I ever got found out. My plan was to blow the place up before the cops or my partner could find me. I confessed that I stole the jewels and the police got them but my partner came by my hospital bed last night. I told him I turned the jewelry in, but he doesn’t believe me. He doesn’t know the location of the cabin. I had the police keep that information confidential since I didn’t want my partner coming after you to get to it. In the other envelope is a newspaper clipping about the police “discovering” the missing jewels. I wanted to prove to you that I have turned my life around. I cannot undo the past of what I did to you and your mother, but I was able to get honest at the end of my life. I hope that this will help you know that I did get right with the Lord and maybe you can forgive me.

  Your Father

  P.S. Don’t make the same mistakes I did. Live right while you are young and you won’t have any regrets.

  Jake took the envelope and opened it. He read the newspaper clipping which related the police stumbling upon jewels worth half a million dollars. They didn’t give the location of the hiding place but said the jewels were returned to the rightful owners. He put both items back into the folder and put them back into the safe. He didn’t know why his father felt it was so important to confess his crime to him. He closed the safe. He didn’t want to think about it. He turned back to his desk and took out some documents he would fill out for work. Work was the way he coped with unpleasant issues in his life. He found a sense of purpose and serenity in it.

  An hour later, Sue came home and brought the flowers into the den. He glanced up from his work.

  “Did you see these?” she asked, obviously pleased with them. “Donald sent them. Wasn’t that thoughtful?”

  “I thought you hated flowers,” he stated, surprised that she was excited to get them.

  “I like flowers in a vase. They brighten up the room. But I don’t like them on my clothes or blankets. They don’t go well with this room. Maybe I’ll put them in the parlor.”

  As she left, he wondered about her comment. What else does she like that I don’t know about?

  ***

  The next day, they took the train to Richmond. He was glad she could join him. His trips were usually boring, though he spent most of his time reading. It was nicer to have her to talk to. She hadn’t been on a train before and he grinned at her enthusiasm for the experience. With her, this was a new world. She was used to the farm and the library, but outside of that, her life had been limited. What would it be like to take her to Europe? What would she think of seeing Greece in person?

  They reached Richmond in good time, and he took her to lunch before his business meeting at Brother’s Bank. He didn’t feel like parting from her but reminded himself that he would see her in a couple of hours.

  “I’ll be at the library. Do you want me to come back here or will you stop by to get me?” she asked him.

  “Why don’t you do some shopping before you read a book? Buy yourself something you like.”

  “Well, I can’t really think of anything to get.”

  “Is there nothing you wish for yourself? You spend so much time thinking of everyone else. Why not do something for yourself for once?”

  “I am. I’m going with you to the symphony tonight.”

  She definitely isn’t with me for the money. She really does enjoy my company. “Alright. I’ll meet you at the library.”

  She nodded and he left the buggy and handed the driver the money and tip for taking her there.

  When he entered the bank, he saw George Leroy there as well. “It’s a small world,” he politely stated as he shook George’s hand. “How is your bank doing since your father retired?”

  “Not too bad,” George stiffly responded. “Of course, you did take some notable clients.”

  “Did I? Or was it your doing?”

  “You married her to gain sympathy for everyone in town. You saw how the wives were attracted to her and thought if you struck up your business arrangement with her, she would sway some people over to your side.”

  “If that’s your take on the events, so be it.” He wasn’t going to argue with his competitor. He didn’t realize George would be vying for an agreement with Mr. Brothers.

  Mr. Phillip Brothers, the owner, walked out of his office and came up to greet them. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am pleased to meet with you,” he shook their hands. “This is a bit unusual for two different banks to be in such close proximity to each other. I hope you understand I will only be able to choose one of you to do business with.”

  “Certainly,” George said.

/>   “Of course,” Jake agreed.

  “Very well then. I will show you to the meeting room and bring in the board members. They will be instrumental in voting for which one of you to go with.”

  After Jake sat across from George at the large marble table that seated ten people, they sat in silence for a minute.

  “I won’t let you bring my bank down,” George said.

  Jake raised his eyebrows. “The first rule of business is to be calm. If you begin to sweat, you lose your credibility. I can already see the beads of sweat on your brow.”

  “I’m not as weak as you imply.”

  “I never said you were weak. I just told you to relax. Your desperation is showing, and Mr. Brothers will smell it a mile away.”

  “You always thought you were better than me.”

  He decided not to justify that statement so he kept quiet. He didn’t like George, so why was he letting the man get under his skin? There’s venom in his bite. He recalled Sue’s comment. He shifted uneasily in his chair. He breathed a sigh of relief when Mr. Brothers brought in seven board members and made the introductions.

  “I hope you don’t mind that I brought my son, Todd, in with us,” he said. “He will inherit this bank one day, so I think this experience will greatly benefit him.”

  Jake glanced at the boy. He couldn’t have been more than seventeen or eighteen years old. Jake recalled how unsure he had been of his future at that age. The poor boy looks like he’s walked into the most boring event of his life.

  When Mr. Brothers began talking, Jake turned his attention to the meeting. Jake and George presented their folders to Mr. Brothers and answered all of his questions in an orderly manner. Jake had to hand it to George who could brown nose when he needed to. But Jake was determined to succeeded based on his ability and experience rather than flattery. Overall, Jake thought the meeting went well. He glanced at the boy a couple of times. He doesn’t want to be here. His father must be running his life.

  Jake didn’t want to get involved in someone else’s business but as he was ready to leave the bank, he noticed the boy looking at some pictures. He sighed. It really felt like the Lord was tugging on his heart to speak to the youth. Lord, I better not be out of line here. Give me the words You want this boy to hear.

  “What did you think of the meeting?” Jake asked.

  Todd looked up from the black and white pictures and quickly set them in his drawer so he could stand up. He adjusted his tie. “I’m sorry, sir. What did you want?”

  “I wanted to know what you thought of the meeting.”

  “It was alright,” he replied with a shrug.

  Jake grinned to himself. “What did you think of the theory of increasing interest rates on investment accounts to attract more business?”

  “It makes sense as long as you can keep profits up.”

  Jake allowed his smile to show. “No one mentioned interest rates. You weren’t listening in there. Your mind is on something else. Do you mind if I ask what it is?”

  He glanced at his desk uncertainly.

  “Look, I had a controlling father who even now is running my life. I am thirty-five and can help steer you in the right direction if you let me.”

  Todd looked at him again but hesitated to say anything.

  “It’ll be our secret.”

  He nodded and took out his pictures. “I don’t want to work here. This is what I want to do. It’s a farm out in North Dakota.”

  Jake took the pictures and looked through them. “Why do you want to farm?”

  “I can’t get it out of my mind. I have a friend whose relatives tell me all about it, and the more I learn, the more I’m interested in it.”

  He chuckled. “She’s not a farm.”

  He blushed. “She’s just a young lady I know.”

  “Very pretty. Does she have a name?”

  “Ann Statesman. But she’s not mine. She belongs to him. He’s Kent Ashton.”

  Jake glanced at the other boy who was standing by his father who was conducting business with a teller. “So why do you have her picture?”

  “Hope.”

  “Who knows? You might end up with her if you tell her how you feel.” He gave him the pictures back. “If farming is what you have a passion for, then you should pursue it. You can’t confine yourself to a profession you can’t get excited about. I love banking. I wake up every morning and want to go to work. You should have the same experience. Life is too short to waste on something you can’t enjoy.”

  “I try to tell my father but he pushes the issue away.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Seventeen.”

  “Well, you’re almost an adult. You’ll have to start making adult decisions. You can’t let your father run your life for you. You’ll end up miserable if you do. And he doesn’t have to know your plans. Soon you won’t be living under his roof anyway. As for the girl, tell her how you feel. She might want to be with you. Oh, I do recommend hiding those pictures. There’s no sense in starting a fight over something that is ultimately your decision.”

  “Thank you, sir. It’s strange that I had just been praying for guidance. It looks like God used you to answer me.”

  “I had the same sensation. It must be from God, so you know what to do. I’m glad I could help.”

  Todd nodded and sat back down as Jake got ready to leave the bank.

  “Oh, Mr. Mitchell,” Mr. Brothers called out to him. “Will you please come back here?”

  Jake turned around and walked over to the president’s office. “What can I do for you, Mr. Brothers?”

  “I didn’t want to say anything when Mr. Leroy was here, but the decision is already made. This bank will work an arrangement with your bank. Your customers can do business here when they are in Richmond and our customers will do business at your bank when they are in your town. Will you sign this contract before you leave?”

  “Yes, I will. Thank you, Mr. Brothers.” He was pleased that the decision had been so easy.

  He went over to a desk in the lobby to fill out the necessary paperwork. The boy named Kent sat in a couch close to him. Though Jake had his back turned to him, he could hear Kent talk to the young lady sitting next to him. The girl in Todd’s picture wasn’t the same girl who was talking to Kent.

  “Why do you insist on marrying Ann Statesman instead of me?” the girl asked.

  Jake rolled his eyes. It was one of those discussions.

  “Ann Statesman comes from one of the wealthiest families in town,” the boy replied. “She has a considerable dowry.”

  Jake focused his attention on the conversation. It sounded oddly familiar to what he overheard from someone in his past.

  “But I thought your affections were for me,” she argued.

  “They are, Rebecca.”

  “So why don’t you court me? Who cares about the money?”

  “It’s a lot of money we’re talking about. I want to do some traveling and entertaining. Her money will provide for that and more.”

  Jake quickly finished signing the contract after he read through it and walked by Todd’s desk. He leaned over the desk and looked at the startled boy. “You do realize that if you give up this job and go farm, you’ll have to give up a lot of money.”

  “Yes, sir,” the boy said. “I have considered that.”

  “And what of the girl you care for?”

  “She would have to make do without a lot of money too. That’s one of the reasons I don’t think she’ll go with me. I couldn’t buy her the things she’s used to.”

  “You really love her, don’t you?”

  He nodded.

  “Even though she wouldn’t bring any money into your marriage?”

  “If I cared about money, I wouldn’t want to farm.”

  Jake was satisfied with his answer. “Tell the girl you love her before you go, even if you don’t think she loves you in return. Take the risk.”

  Todd nodded again, his eyes wide.

/>   Jake went to Mr. Brothers and handed him the contract, which Mr. Brothers signed and notarized. As they shook hands and took their copies of the contract, Jake said, “I commend you on raising a fine son.”

  “Why, thank you, Mr. Mitchell,” he replied, pleased.

  Jake nodded and left the bank. He shook his head in disgust. People like Kent really bothered him. Any marriage built on the basis of money wasn’t going to be a happy one. He found a driver to take him to the library and got out when the buggy stopped. As he was about to turn to the library, he sighed. He turned his attention to the driver.

  “Do you know a man by the name of Mr. Statesman. He has a daughter named Ann?” he asked.

  “Yes, I do sir. He works down the street.”

  “Do you mind stopping by there on the way to the restaurant?”

  “I can do that, sir.”

  Just as he was ready to go into the library, Sue came out to greet him. “That is a gorgeous library,” she said. “They are doing some great things in there that I think Mrs. Walker would like to incorporate into her library. I can’t wait to tell her about it.”

  She’s so beautiful and she doesn’t care a thing about my money. He took her in his arms and kissed her.

  She blushed. “Jake, we’re in public. People will stare.”

  “Let them stare.” He shrugged and smiled at her. “I got the contract and wanted to kiss you to say that I’m glad you came with me today.”

  “Oh, well that’s nice.”

  I caught her off guard. He led her to the buggy and sat next to her. “I wasn’t sure about marriage but you have made it something I actually enjoy. You’re a wonderful friend.”

  “I feel the same way about you,” she shyly replied.

  “I know and that’s why I appreciate you so much.”

  “To Mr. Statesman’s office, sir?” the driver asked.

  Jake blinked. He hadn’t been aware that the driver was waiting for his instructions. “Yes, please.” As the driver got back into his seat, he told her, “I hope you don’t mind if I make one stop before we eat dinner. I have to warn a father that her daughter’s beau isn’t who he appears to be.”