Best Foot Forward

Chapter 19

When Everyone Came

Lawyers, guns, and money – just lawyers, no guns, but it is always about money. Sometimes you only learn they care when they are gone – Uncle Lance’s bequest 1985

Everybody knows you've been discreet

But there were so many people you just had to meet

-- Leonard Cohen Everybody Knows


Best Foot Forward

“Is this the first time back to the city since you came when we changed the legal structure of the business after Christmas, what was that five years ago?”

“Almost, we have so much going on. Now with two boys, life is hectic enough without the hassles coming here.”

“The divorce is finalized September 1st. I do not think there will be any problem. He’s done OK from the agreement. He relies on an image of utopia on the farm so I doubt he will rock the boat. Legally any attorney will tell him he would be laughed out of court to try and break the agreement. Have you spoken to him?”

“No not for over a year.”

“I have heard of an arranged marriage which happens before the marriage. Yours is the only arranged marriage after the wedding, I know of. “

“He wasn’t ever going to live on the farm. He needed the photos, the appearance of a successful organic farm, even though I only do organic when it makes market sense. I was willing to let it be a marriage on paper for a time, not forever. I wasn’t going to allow him access to the assets I’m busting butt to attain. I am risking my money on new ventures to attain more growth. I have two boys to support and educate now.”

“The boys are both going by Parker?”

“It is their legal and given name, a far better name to carry back home.”

“Stephen was OK with that?”

“He cares about book sales, his radio show, his B list celebrity. Being a husband and a father are just not part of his life. He is free to follow his talents, also he has the added bonus of molesting young women. Maybe I am too harsh.”

“Odd clause in your arranged divorce about your offspring totally your responsibility. Known as Parkers and no one else involved. Did Dad write that? It seems very sound, and unchallengeable in court. It also references a sealed document.”

“Yes, he said being a Parker and only a Parker was a good thing. Speaking of being a Parker how are my nephew and niece doing?”

“Tom is working with little computers, micro computing he calls it. Seems like playing with Heathkits to me. He obsesses for hours with whatever he is doing. Katie has a John Travolta poster on her wall. She and her friends were devastated when they found out 13-year-olds were not allowed in clubs; I think she is forming a girl band. Now, our business. “

“Yes, we should finish this, I guess. You called about Uncle Lance’s will is there a problem?”

“No, I am executor of his estate. Everything is in order. I need your signatures and they must be witnessed. It is easier to do it here. Also, you need to know some of the details.”

“He developed an ongoing relationship with that arts and civic center where you arranged his gift sculpture to be put on display. They really have an art and civic complex or something?”

“It is an old movie theater; you remember the Rivoli?”

“Once we went to a movie there when I was little; it had balcony seats.”

“It was built to be a stage for vaudeville and movies, it is restored. They were glad to get the sculpture.”

“Uncle Lance developed a correspondence with them. He helped them purchase an empty nearby storefront to turn into an exhibition and art sales location. There are several works of his being sent to them you’ll have to arrange the transportation once we get them in the U.S. I think there is going to be a ceremony when they go on display. Uncle Lance promised a family member, you, who would attend it. Do you own a formal dress?”

“I can get one, we do have stores within driving distance, big brother.”

“You need to know he told them he had a heart condition and respiratory problems from breathing dust while working with sculpture. This is partly true, he didn’t want them to know he died of the homo disease, it called AIDS I guess. He never said much to anyone, but he started to work on the details of his will with Dad. He had several friends die; he knew he was at risk. Dad, me, and now you, are the only ones who know. The report is he had pneumonia. It was complicated by his heart condition and previous particle inhalation. Our Uncle spent a life away and not letting people know much at home. It doesn’t need to change, now.”

“OK I will just let the details rest quietly.”

“Uncle Lance didn’t have title to the farm, but his contract specified payments. He would also benefit from any appreciation in value of the land. Your Colorado cousins will get the final payment. Lance got royalties on sales of some licensed products he left those to them as well. They are all signed off on the settlement. Uncle Leon didn’t tell them much about the family, they barely knew they had an Uncle Kenny. "

"I barely knew Uncle Leon. I think the last time I saw him was at Grandpa's funeral."

"Leon loved the mountains, but everyone can get caught sometimes. A slide can happen and sometimes a man can’t get away. Leon and the kids were never back to the farm; the money is a surprise and a small windfall. Uncle Lance changed his name, so Lancelot is legal if a little pretentious. Lancelot Parker left the land appreciation to you; it is a significant gift. Dad told me to work out a new ownership arrangement. There are some options, I am going to send you several documents; look them over call me at home tomorrow if you have questions. Come out to the house on Sunday everyone will be there. Dad and Mom sold their house and live in a condo now."

"I knew they moved for less responsibility in keeping up a property."

"They are not too far away from us. You can take a train out and I’ll send Tom to meet you. Maybe you can understand what he is doing, you’re younger than I am. We can discuss everything Sunday. If we are all in agreement, you can sign everything on Monday. You can then get back to your farm and kids. You should have brought the boys; everyone would love to see them.”

“They are small; Ruth Donaldson and her kids are at the house. They love being with each other. It is best to be alone this time; I will see everyone on Sunday.”

On Sunday after they had agreed on everything. Carol, her Dad, and Young Tom were the only ones sitting on the patio. Her Dad had asked about the Donaldson boy, he meant JB. “He seemed rather troubled when I was seeing your grandfather before he died. Is he still living in that house?”

I told him JB’s wife was keeping the kids, “the Donaldson’s have become real partners in the produce and fruit operation. JB hasn’t had a fight or a drink in several years not since he was married. The right woman can sure shape a man up.”

“You couldn’t shape up Stephen I guess, but you seem to manage a good business.”

“Stephen lives in an illusion of life; he spins a good tale. He really couldn’t stand the reality of living on the farm he romanticizes in his books. He is always in pursuit of another woman. He prefers his conquests to be young, usually legal. He’s charming enough to avoid too sticky a situation. He is often violating the policy of the college where he works.”

“It seems you could have seen that in him before marrying him.”

“He had so much scientific knowledge of plants and vegetables. He seemed to have found his lifelong dream. He needs an audience. He found out the farm was about doing, not dazzling lectures. He was handsome, cultured, and educated; I was so hungry for someone like that I ignored the flashing red lights of a charlatan.”

“Well Carol you are success in business, you’re a humanitarian, you’re beautiful and talented, but you are a train wreck in picking out men.”

“I wish I could get angry and argue with you, but I have to agree. Mr. Finn was an excellent negotiator in our divorce contract.”

“Finn said it was the most unusual divorce he had ever handled.”

“At least in this agreement to end a relationship Stephen and I had very common interests.”

“It is good they will grow up being Parkers in a community where there have always been Parkers. I consulted with Finn we agreed we had never dealt with anyone less fit to be a husband and a father.”

“Actually, he had a lifetime of charm, it was just a short lifetime. The lifespan of a grasshopper I guess.”

“We have decided we will come out on the train this Christmas. It won’t be the sun and sand, but our grandsons should make it warm inside.”

“I’m going to get another drink; I am very proud we have made a go of buying our farm and you are doing so well in a new venture. Send more photos of the boys we love to see them.”

After Dad left Tom spoke up, I had forgotten he was there. “Aunt Carol there is a convention of computer and software developers. I want to go I would not be far from the farm. I’ve never been there. It would end the week before Christmas, could I come this year?”

“Yes, but won’t your folks want you here?”

“I’ll be back before New Year’s, and I would like to be there when my grandparents are. I enjoy the stories.”

“Your father and I are becoming co-owners of the farm, you ought to at least see it. At this rate I may run out of rooms.”

Carol sat reflecting. The train is easy, just sit and watch the farmland roll by. She was glad to not be bouncing along all the way to the coast. The boys would have loved the train for 30 minutes. The rest of the ride would have been more challenging. The boys were much safer with Ruth on the farm than in a big city. Now she was an owner of twenty percent of the farm. The family had decided to share an interest in the farm as a whole as opposed to separating out parcels. Her father was gifting a portion of his ownership to her brother and her each year. He said with a 20 percent start; she would always have a controlling interest. Her parents agreed to come for Christmas. Nostalgia was catching up with everyone and loss. Thomas had now lost both parents and both his younger brothers. One to the mountains and one to a virus, possibly both were lost to a lifestyle in some sense. They had decided this train thing would avoid winter driving. Carol had thought her parents would never come to see what she had done with the place, but grandchildren do encourage and motivate. They had usually gone to some sand and sun location but were now willing to risk their comfortable lifestyle. Carol Parker was now twenty per cent her own landlord but one hundred percent the tenant of orchards and produce.





photo Onasill~Bill - 72.3M