Chapter 62
It was already dark when Mrs. Peterson drove up in a rented sedan. Dad let her in, took her coat, and introduced her.
“Kids, this is our family lawyer, Debbie Peterson. Debbie, this is...”
He stopped dead in mid-word, not sure how to describe the relationship. My son, Cory, and his wife, my daughter Jessie?
He settled on, “These are the kids. Thank you for dropping everything to fly here on such short notice.”
“I was in New York, and ended up flying back to Detroit a day early. Your timing was perfect.”
“Would you like some coffee?”
“Yes, thank you Mike.” She sat on the couch. “I’m really happy to meet you two. I feel like I’ve known you my whole life. I met your Mom when she wasn’t much older than you are now. She was a wonderful person, and I’m sorry that you lost her so young. On a happier note, I hear that congratulations are in order. I assume your father has explained why I’m here?”
We nodded.
“I suppose you’re anxious to hear the details?”
“Actually,” Jessie said, “Can you tell us about our Mom? What she was like? You’re one of the only people alive who knew her then, one who might talk to us, I mean.”
“Oh, well, of course. Aren’t you sweet? Most people just want to hear about the money. Well, I only met her that one time. I was twenty-six and she’d just turned twenty-one the day before. My Grandfather was a lawyer and I had just started in his practice. We visited her at her apartment. It was small, but very clean. I remember that the only thing on the wall was a photograph of your dad when he was a teenager, held up with a pin.
“Your mom was a beautiful young woman, almost as beautiful as you, Jessie, but in her own way. She was wearing a uniform from the restaurant where she worked, and she was tired because she’d just gotten home from a long day. When we told her why we were there, we thought she’d be excited, but she didn’t seem to care much. She mostly asked my grandfather about her dad, the Captain, just like you’re doing.
“She knew nothing about him. No one had ever told her, not even your Grandmother Sophia. Emma was fortunate that my grandfather knew Cornelius for many years. We stayed and the two of them talked for hours. When we finally had to go, she told us to keep the money safe. She said that she’d given up a son for adoption, and she wanted whatever there was for her child, or children if she ever had another.
“She said that Cornelius wouldn’t want your grandmother to have a penny, and that she’d – and I quote – ‘Do without a dime as long as that bitch draws breath.’ I’m sorry, Mike. That was probably inappropriate.” Dad had come in with two mugs of coffee.
“Oh, no, Debbie, please don’t apologize. When she recalled the story to me, her language was considerably harsher.” He handed Debbie a mug.
“I’m sorry that I don’t remember much of what my grandfather told her – it’s been a long time. I wish now that I’d thought to have him write to you about Cornelius and his life. My grandfather passed away almost ten years ago. I’m afraid that’s about all I can tell you.”
“We appreciate it, Debbie. Thank you.”
“Okay, then shall I tell you about your inheritance?” We all indicated our enthusiasm. She looked at her notes. “Jessie, your grandfather’s estate was worth almost three hundred thousand dollars.”
“That’s a lot of money,” Jessie breathed.
“Yes, it was a lot of money in 1953. It would be like having a million dollars today.”
“He left us a million dollars? Wow!” She turned to Dad. “That means you won’t have to work anymore!”
Debbie interrupted, saying, “Wait a minute Jessie. That was just a comparison. The principal was invested conservatively, and earned interest and dividends... it has accrued, built up, over the last thirty years, though inflation has eaten away at its value...”
“I’m confused,” Jessie said. “How much is it right now?”
“Well, it isn’t like a big pile of dollar bills. It’s invested in several instruments; many aren’t liquid – immediately accessible. An exact current value is hard to determine, as the markets fluctuate every day.” Debbie looked up to see three pair of expectant eyeballs.
“By my best estimate, just under two point eight million...”
Jessie let out a whoop. Dad looked so relieved that I thought he’d float right out of his chair.
“No wonder Grandma wanted it so bad!”
Debbie moved to the table, where she examined a photocopy of our marriage license. I was worried that by marrying each other we might have messed up the trust.
“It’s fine, Cory. Your father checked it out with me before the wedding. It’s a very strange arrangement, but there’s nothing that prohibits it.”
We all signed what seemed like hundreds of papers. In between signings, we chatted excitedly about our plans.
Dad explained how it sounded like a lot, but it had to go a long way. “A lot of it will go to taxes. If we leave the principal alone, and live off the interest, it’ll be several times what I make now. Things will be a lot easier, financially.
“But it’s not living rich that’s important; it’s living well,” he added. “It means that, yes, I can quit my job, and we can move wherever you want, Bug. Back where you can wear your rings on your hands, tell everyone you meet that you’re married, and even smooch in public – within good taste, of course.
“I can home school you there, and bring in the very best tutors. Or you can attend any public or prep school you’d like. Then you can attend any university you want. That’d make me very happy.”
At last, Debbie was done.
“Now, nothing can actually happen until I receive the official copy of the marriage license. But I have your signatures on everything, so it can happen pretty fast after that.”
“We can’t thank you enough.”
“It’s been a pleasure. Now, I have a little private business with your father. Could you give us a few minutes?”