architecture degree and Henry was working his way up to be vice president of a local bank. Henry left to start the Benton Group in ’67. I’d call Henry a venture capitalist; he would leverage other people’s assets and his own to fund projects around the state where he could potentially turn a healthy profit. Henry had one sister—my mother. She taught at the local high school, and my dad built up a successful real-estate business here in town. My parents died in a car accident about a year before I went to work for Henry. Over the last five years, Henry had been slowly handing more and more responsibility for the business over to me as his health failed.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you seeing someone now, Marie? Someone who can help you with this?”
“No. I’ve had other priorities the last few years.” She settled her hands into her jacket pockets. “I admit I’m not feeling much yet. How much money? I think I’m ready for that shock now.”
“A little over thirty million to you; just shy of thirty million to Tracey.”
She blanched. “He was that wealthy?”
“Yes.”
“What am I supposed to do with that kind of money? Thirty thousand I can use, but thirty million—it doesn’t register.”
“You can afford to keep the Denart if you’d like to.”
She laughed, a bit broken, but alive again for a moment. “Thanks, I needed that perspective.”
“Let’s get some coffee. I’m afraid there’s still a lot we’ve got to discuss today.”
“Yes, the coffee would be good now.” She walked back with him in silence, and he didn’t interrupt her thoughts. She sighed. “The press know about this?”
“They’re going to soon. How do you want to tell Tracey?”
“She won’t be as shocked as I was; Tracey is the kind of person who can flow with where life goes. She’s skiing with her boyfriend for a long weekend.”
“We could fly out to meet them tonight for a late dinner.”
Marie shook her head. “Let her stay skiing; they’re planning to come back Sunday night. Maybe by then the worst of the press can be pushed off and I can get past the not knowing what questions to ask. I’ll talk with her by phone and kind of ease into the news of what’s coming.”
“I’m going to enjoy getting to know her.”
“Are you wanting us to be family, Daniel? We can be fine being holiday relations, seeing each other a couple times a year. You’ve got your own life to lead, and we just got dropped in your lap.”
“I’d like us to be family, Marie, in the way the best of family can be. I never had sisters, and I’ll gladly take two cousins and enjoy the time getting to know you both.” He smiled. “It helps that I decided I already like you.”
“Same here,” she replied with an answering smile, and he was relieved to see it.
He held open the door for her. “Let’s talk about the press, security, and how to handle all the friends that are about to show up at your doorstep. Then you can have a couple hours of peace to adjust to this before we plan tomorrow’s news conference.” He laughed at her expression. “Giving back the money is not an option. You’ll get through this fine. I promise you that.”
“And to think I thought just this morning that life was finally so peaceful. It’s not going to be that anymore, is it?”
“Not for a while,” he agreed, understanding the turmoil the change itself was going to cause. “You’ll adapt, because it’s necessary, because it is what is.”
“Yes. I am glad I have more family.”
“So am I.” He was going to like having more family, and it was his nature to want to protect where he could. “Coffee first. Then we’ll talk about details. Have you ever met the police chief? He’s a friend of mine.”
“Am I about to?”
“For dinner tonight, I think; his sister makes a fabulous chocolate cake.”
Chapter Five
SHE WAS RICH.
The thought clashed with years of feeling short of money, and the reality began to take substance
“Thank you.”
“Are you seeing someone now, Marie? Someone who can help you with this?”
“No. I’ve had other priorities the last few years.” She settled her hands into her jacket pockets. “I admit I’m not feeling much yet. How much money? I think I’m ready for that shock now.”
“A little over thirty million to you; just shy of thirty million to Tracey.”
She blanched. “He was that wealthy?”
“Yes.”
“What am I supposed to do with that kind of money? Thirty thousand I can use, but thirty million—it doesn’t register.”
“You can afford to keep the Denart if you’d like to.”
She laughed, a bit broken, but alive again for a moment. “Thanks, I needed that perspective.”
“Let’s get some coffee. I’m afraid there’s still a lot we’ve got to discuss today.”
“Yes, the coffee would be good now.” She walked back with him in silence, and he didn’t interrupt her thoughts. She sighed. “The press know about this?”
“They’re going to soon. How do you want to tell Tracey?”
“She won’t be as shocked as I was; Tracey is the kind of person who can flow with where life goes. She’s skiing with her boyfriend for a long weekend.”
“We could fly out to meet them tonight for a late dinner.”
Marie shook her head. “Let her stay skiing; they’re planning to come back Sunday night. Maybe by then the worst of the press can be pushed off and I can get past the not knowing what questions to ask. I’ll talk with her by phone and kind of ease into the news of what’s coming.”
“I’m going to enjoy getting to know her.”
“Are you wanting us to be family, Daniel? We can be fine being holiday relations, seeing each other a couple times a year. You’ve got your own life to lead, and we just got dropped in your lap.”
“I’d like us to be family, Marie, in the way the best of family can be. I never had sisters, and I’ll gladly take two cousins and enjoy the time getting to know you both.” He smiled. “It helps that I decided I already like you.”
“Same here,” she replied with an answering smile, and he was relieved to see it.
He held open the door for her. “Let’s talk about the press, security, and how to handle all the friends that are about to show up at your doorstep. Then you can have a couple hours of peace to adjust to this before we plan tomorrow’s news conference.” He laughed at her expression. “Giving back the money is not an option. You’ll get through this fine. I promise you that.”
“And to think I thought just this morning that life was finally so peaceful. It’s not going to be that anymore, is it?”
“Not for a while,” he agreed, understanding the turmoil the change itself was going to cause. “You’ll adapt, because it’s necessary, because it is what is.”
“Yes. I am glad I have more family.”
“So am I.” He was going to like having more family, and it was his nature to want to protect where he could. “Coffee first. Then we’ll talk about details. Have you ever met the police chief? He’s a friend of mine.”
“Am I about to?”
“For dinner tonight, I think; his sister makes a fabulous chocolate cake.”
Chapter Five
SHE WAS RICH.
The thought clashed with years of feeling short of money, and the reality began to take substance
Similar Books
