Two Letters

Chapter Three

The following morning when I woke up I saw that it was still snowing, but not as hard. After showering and shaving I dressed in some sweats and walked into the little kitchen. As I made some coffee I thought about what Susan had told me the night before. One thing stuck out in my mind. She hardly ever mentioned 'I' or 'me' in her conservation. She was totally different from Carol who always talked about herself as if there was no one else in the world as important. That was just one of the things that impressed me about her.

About thirty minutes later I heard stirring from her room so I called room service and ordered breakfast for two. Just as it arrived she emerged from her room.

"Oh, how thoughtful. I'm starving," she said.

After we finished eating she continued where she had left off the night before. She told me about going to nursing school at UF. She really wanted to be a doctor but couldn't afford to pay for the additional schooling. Then she told me about her boyfriend, Paul, Paul Morgan. He had gone to LA to try to break into the film industry as an actor. He asked her to come with him. At the time she thought she was in love with him and agreed.

After several weeks he began to change. Staying out late, coming back to the apartment after drinking with his friends. Then he stopped looking for work altogether and relied on her salary from the hospital where she had secured a position as a trauma nurse. Twice he had hit her but offered a half-ass apology, promising never to do it again. Then when she found him with another woman she knew it was time to severe the relationship. When she went to the bank the following morning she found out he had emptied her savings and checking account and had almost maxed out her credit card. She just had enough left on her VISA card to buy a ticket back to Florida.

When I heard this I was furious. It was then I decided to make things very, very uncomfortable for this guy. Excusing myself for a few minutes I went into my bedroom and made two calls on my cell phone. When I returned Susan, again thanked me for everything I had done for her.

"With only twenty dollars in my purse I was desperate." She said. "And then I met you, my knight in shining armor. You allowed me to stay in your hotel suite. You fed me and most importantly you listened to me. I will repay you as soon as I find job when I get home. Believe me, please."

We spent the rest of the day talking, using the hot tub and relaxing. At dinner time we went downstairs to the hotel's dining room for an excellent meal and afterward spent some time in the lounge and shared a few dances. About eleven we went back to the suite and went to our separate rooms.

Chapter Four

The next morning our transportation to the airport was right on time. The main roads had been cleared but a lot of snow still remained on the side streets. The airfield was back up and functioning and as promised our flight on the private business jet left around 10AM.

When we arrived in Jacksonville later that afternoon we were met by my Uncle Jack and another man he introduced as Mike. They brought me a rental car and Mike would be driving Uncle Jack back to the office in his car.

Uncle Jack took me aside and told me that the situation I called about the previous day had been resolved.

"Your buddies said to call them and they would fill you in on all the details." He told me. "Here take this." Thrusting an envelope into my hands. "It's her bank statements as of 2:00p.m. this afternoon. I would recommend that she change her on-line passwords today. I put a laptop with 4G connectivity in the rental. She can use it while you take her home."

As we rejoined Mike and Susan he asked me about Carol. I took her letter out of my jacket and handed it to him. After reading it and handing it back he said, "Your Aunt Beth never really liked her. She found her shallow and too self-centered. You are better off without her."

"I know, Uncle Jack, I know." I replied. Placing the letter back into the envelope I ripped it in half and then in half again before dropping it into a nearby trash container. As I did it I couldn't help but notice the smile that appeared on Susan face.

Grabbing both our suitcases I placed them in the rental car Uncle Jack had secured for me. Turning to him I embraced him and said. "It's great to be home again. Thank you for everything."

Patting me on the back he responded. "Your grandmother was very, very proud of you. Come by and see me tomorrow at the office."

Turning to Susan he said. "I am so glad to meet you. I hope we get to see more of you. I know Beth would love to get together with you." Nodding toward me he continued. "Rick bring her over to the house on Friday evening around seven for dinner. OK?" With that he and Mike were off.

After settling Susan in the rental car I got in and asked for directions to her parent's home.

"Just take I-295 south to exit eleven and then go north past the Naval Air Station into Orange Park."

I gave her the envelope from Uncle Jack. She opened it and quickly scanned the contents.

"How . . . how can this be? I don't understand. I have all my savings and the money in my checking accounts back. More, in fact."

"Two of my team members paid him a visit and he was given an attitude readjustment. Let's just say that Paul Morgan had a change of heart after their little talk. But right now you need to change your account passwords."

"May I use your cell phone? I would like to call my parents and let them know what's happening."

During the conservation she told them everything that had occurred over the past 72 hours.

Twenty-five minutes later we entered an older neighborhood just north of Jacksonville Naval Air Station. Her mom and dad's house was surrounded by other well maintained homes. Their home was nestled in amongst several large oak trees.

Walking her to the front door, wheeling her suitcase behind me, we were met by her mother. Susan was immediately embraced by her mother and her father had his arms around both of them. For several moments no one spoke, there was just tears.

Finally, Susan was able to break their embrace and turning toward me she said, "Mom, Dad this is Rick, my knight in shining amour. Rick, this Patrick and Maureen Riley, my parents."

Her father looked at me in my uniform and a huge smile broke out on his face. "Commander, please come inside. Welcome to our home. Please just call me Pat."

Taking her suitcase from me he said, "I cannot begin to tell you how much my wife and I appreciate all you have done for Susan."

He led me into a sunroom overlooking a screened-in pool. "Can I fix you a drink? I have everything . . . bourbon, scotch, gin you name it."

"I'll have whatever you're drinking," I replied.

"Great. 'Wild Turkey 101' over some ice coming up. How about you girls, white wine?"

I settled into a comfortable rattan love seat and Susan promptly sat right next to me. We chatted about this and that for a while and then Susan and her mother, Maureen, excused themselves and left us.

As soon as the women were out of the room he leaned toward me and asked. "How did you manage to get that asshole to return her savings and checking account money?"

"Well, I phoned one of my former SEAL team mates and told him what had happened. When I mentioned that he also had hit her a couple of times . . . "

"What! He hit my daughter. Wait until I get my hands on him. I'll kill that son-of-a-bitch!" He exclaimed.

"That might not be necessary." As I continued. "My buddy and a couple of his shipmates paid him a visit that night. I know them all pretty well and they most likely 'touched' him up a little bit. Well, maybe not just a 'little' bit." I said with a grin on my face. "Anyway, Mr. Morgan decided it was in his best interest to comply with their suggestions regarding her money."

Draining his glass, he asked. "How about a refill?"

"I'd better not. Haven't had much to eat today and I still have about a half-hour drive home. Thanks anyway."

As I stood to leave Susan reentered the room. "You are staying for supper." She stated, twirling the car keys to the rental on her finger and tucking them in the pocket of her apron. "Mom and I prepared one of her special dishes for us, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and apple pie."

"Since you have my keys I guess I'm staying and I'll take you up on the offer of a second drink, Mr. Riley."

"Please, it's Pat." He said again, returning with another drink.

Twenty minutes later we sat down to one of the best fried chicken meals that I could remember.

Later that evening after saying good-bye and expressing my thanks for a truly great meal Susan walked me out to my car.

"You know they really, really like you. I've never seen daddy take to one of my boyfriends so quickly."

"Ahh . . boyfriend?"

"You better believe it." She said throwing her arms around my neck and giving me a long, lingering kiss. "I plan on us seeing a lot of each other."

"Whew." I said gasping for air. "I could get use to this real fast . . . girl friend. How about tomorrow night for dinner? I'll pick you up around seven and dress casual."

"I'll be ready." She answered, kissing me again.

I drove to my grandmother's house a large two story home with wrap porches on both levels. Located on four acres of land that abutted the Saint John's River the house needed renovation and upgrading. Unlocking the front door I stepped into what had been the place where I had spent some of the happiest years of my life. It was then that I knew what I wanted to do.

The following morning I had several errands to run. Driving to my Uncle Jack's office I stepped up to the receptionist's desk, told her my name and asked to see Mr. Jack Reynolds.

"Do you have an appointment?" She asked. "Without an appointment, I'm afraid it will be impossible to see him."

Just then my Aunt Beth walked up to me. Throwing her arms around me and hugging me tightly for several moments telling how sorry and devastated she was with the death of my grandmother, her long time friend.

Turning to the receptionist, she said sweetly. "Sally, this is Marie Hauff's grandson and he never needs an appointment to see Mr. Reynolds. Please call Jack's secretary and tell her we're here." Two minutes later we found ourselves in Uncle Jack's office.

He quickly brought me up to speed on what was happening. The will had been filed and he expected it to clear probate in a matter of a week or two.

"You are the sole heir to your grandmother estate and just as soon as we clear any and all claims against the estate I see no reason why you cannot legally take control of her bequest. As you know Beth, your Aunt Beth, was your grandmother's financial advisor and she will be able to give you a ball park estimate of Marie's holdings."

Aunt Beth opened her briefcase and withdrew several documents. Glancing at them she said to me. "Right now, and I haven't finished tabulating all of your grandmother's holdings, I would estimate that her liquid assets to be in the neighborhood of 150 to 160 million dollars. The house, land and other tangible properties add approximately another twenty to thirty-million to that figure."

Sitting back in my chair I took a large breath and exhaling slowly I asked. "Can you repeat those numbers, please?"

Aunt Beth replied. "One hundred and fifty upward to one hundred and sixty-million dollars plus the real estate and other tangible properties. I may have been her financial advisor, but I must tell you Marie was a wizard when it came to investments. Everything she touched turned to gold. For example, she bought Apple at twenty-five dollars a share and sold it at over fifteen hundred dollars a share. She invested wisely in real estate and made a killing, selling out just before the bust. She was a truly amazing women. I learned a lot from her."

I sat in my chair trying to come to grips with what I had just been told. "Why didn't she spend some of this money on herself? I mean we were comfortable, I never wanted for anything while I was growing up, but . . . . . "

"She did it all for you, Rick." Uncle Jack replied.

Taking all this in all I could do was sit there and try not to cry. Grandma, Oma Marie, meant everything to me. Now that she was gone I realized just how much I meant to her. I resolved that I would do everything in my power to keep her memory alive.

"Now this girl you met, Susan, have you told her anything about this?"

"No, she thinks that I'm living off the remainder of my trust fund and mustering out pay. I don't think she is anything like Carol."

"Well, sooner or later you are going to have to tell her." Aunt Beth said. "I would recommend sooner rather than later."

"I know, I know." I replied. "I just don't when."

Returning the rental car was the second on my to-do list. I then walked across the street to the Ford dealer and looked at their offerings. The Mustang GT was a sweet looking ride and I was sorely tempted. Then I saw a F-150 XLT super crew cab. It would be the practical choice for the plans I had in mind.

Ninety minutes later I drove away from the dealership in the F-150. On the drive back home I began to make a mental list of what I wanted to do with the house.

Up graded electrical service with solar electrical capability, new energy efficient air conditioning and heat, new plumbing fixtures, complete new kitchen, additional insulation in the attic and walls, restore all the wood floors through out, and the list went on and on.

I would put the degree in building construction I earned in college to good use. I planned on subcontracting out the work I couldn't perform.

When I arrived home I sat down at my computer and committed all my ideas and plans to writing. Around four o'clock I started getting ready for my date that night with my new 'girl friend'. Leaving a little after six in my new truck I drove to Pat and Maureen's home to pick up Susan. With the afternoon traffic it took me almost fifty minutes to make the trip.

When I rang the doorbell it was six fifty-five. Pat welcomed me at the door and explained that Susan would be ready in just a few moments.

"Where are you heading? If you don't mind me asking?" He said.

'I thought we would go to Joe's Crab Shack. It's on the ocean at the end of Beach Boulevard." I answered.

"I know it well. 'Reen' and I both like eating there. It's not fancy but the food is good and you can actually hear yourself talk without having to yell. I would offer you a drink, but it looks like Susan is ready to go."

We ate dinner together, sharing a large order of crabs and two whole lobsters. I began telling her of my plans to renovate a house. I didn't tell her it was mine now after my grandmother's death. She asked a few questions about the house and sounded enthused about my project.

Chapter Five

Two weeks just flew by. The house now had a new metal roof and I had all the windows replaced with high efficiency ones. Right now there was a crew doing lead paint abatement to the interior. They were to finish in a few days then I could start painting and then sand and refinish the wooden floors. Meanwhile the air conditioning/heating contractor as well as the plumbing and electrical contractors were ready to start just when the lead paint abatement crew finished.

Susan had found a new position at Shands Medical Center in Jacksonville as a trauma nurse working in the emergency room. She was on the 11PM to 7AM shift and had to work weekends with Wednesdays and Thursdays off.

I made the adjustment and managed to find the time to be with her those evenings. Somehow she wasn't the same person she had been just a few short weeks ago but I chalked it up to the crazy hours she was working.

When my grandmother's will cleared probate I was called to come to Uncle Jack's office to finalize the terms of her bequest. So on Friday morning I went over to his office to sign the necessary documents. Aunt Beth was there with the final tabulations of my grandmother's estate. After taxes I stood to inherit over one hundred and seventy-five million dollars. This included the liquid assets as well as the real estate and other tangible property. I was flabbergasted with the news and couldn't wait to share it with Susan and her parents.

As I walked from the office Uncle Jack and Aunt Beth accompanied me to the parking lot. Aunt Beth told me they were leaving for the airport right then to start a long extended vacation in Europe.

I told them I was finally going to 'come clean' to Susan and disclose my true financial position. Also, I was going to 'pop' the question to Susan that afternoon. Giving me a big hug and a pat on the back they extended me and Susan their congratulations and best wishes before getting into their car.

Checking the ring box to be sure everything was in order I left for Orange Park.

As I drove down her street I noticed that Pat's SUV was not in the driveway. An old beater Chevy Vega, with a California plates, was parked along the curb in front of the house. Pulling behind the Vega I walked to the front door and, finding it unlocked, went inside.

Standing in the living room were Susan and a man locked in an embrace kissing each other. A half-filled bottle of champagne with two empty glasses was on the coffee table. The top of Susan's scrubs lay on the floor and her bra, while not off, was opened in the back. I turned and walked out of the house. As I headed back to my truck I was met by Pat and Maureen just returning home.

"Hi Rick." Maureen said. "What are you doing here on a Friday afternoon?"

"Nothing now." I replied handing her the ring box. "I won't be needing this anymore. Tell Susan that I hope she's happy."

I left them both standing there with a look of puzzlement on their faces as I got in my truck. Leaving I drove around aimlessly for a couple of hours trying to put everything into perspective before heading home. My cell phone rang once and seeing it display the Riley's home phone number I turned it off. As I drove over the St. John's River I lowered the passenger side window and threw it out. It hit the top of the guard rail before continuing its journey into the water.

For the next three months I threw all my energy into completing my grandmother's house . . . . my house now. The days were fairly easy to get through without thinking about Susan. Working with the subcontractors and doing much of the painting and refinishing of the wood floors myself took my mind off things. But the nights were horrible. I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes the replay of that afternoon swam before me. When I did manage to fall asleep the nightmares kept waking me up. I was lucky if I managed three or fours of sleep a night.

Finally, everything was completed. The new kitchen cabinets, marble counter tops and new stainless steel appliances had been installed the week before. The punch list of little odds-and-ends to be corrected was finished. The only thing left was to have grandmothers antique furniture brought back from storage. I only kept the best of her things. The rest was donated to the Salvation Army, Wounded Warriors and Vietnam Vets.

New furniture for my office, bedroom and the remaining bedrooms would be delivered the next day same as Oma Marie's antiques. Her bedroom with its antique furniture would remain the same as when she left.

Rising well before dawn, after another sleepless night, I carried all of my personal items, desktop computer, scanner, printer/fax machine and other electronics to my new home from the trailer. My metal desks, filing cabinets, draftsmen table and roll away bed I was giving to the guy who rented me the trailer. He was to come by and pick it up early that afternoon.