by Robert Gonko
“Check with your bank, if you don't believe me.”
Sam did just that and, to his astonishment, the money was really there and available for his use. He ended the phone call in shock. “I don't believe this,” he said.
“You were also left twenty percent of Curtis Enterprises' stock and a seat on the board of directors,” Braddock said. “I brought some literature on the company for you to study, but we can deal with that later. You look like you could use a drink.”
“Bit early for that,” Sam said.
“Never stopped Hank,” Braddock said. “Mr. Harman...Sam...I know this is a lot to take in. But you need to know everything so that you are as prepared as possible for what lies ahead.”
“That doesn't sound good,” Sam said.
“It may be, it may not be,” Braddock said. “It all depends on Hank's family. As you've probably guessed, he was a married man. Sallie's a good woman. I never understood why he cheated on her, but then I've never really understood that sort of thing. I'm kind of surprised you're the only child he fathered out of wedlock.”
“If he knew about me, why didn't he contact me?” Sam asked.
“He didn't acknowledge you while he was alive because Sallie could have devastated his company in a divorce. He wouldn't allow that to happen, so you were kept a secret right up until his last moments on this earth.”
“Does his family know now?” Sam asked.
“Yes, and it wasn't a pleasant scene when I broke the news,” Braddock replied. “Sallie took it pretty well, I think she was half-expecting it, but their three boys...that's another matter. Bill and Jerry are ready to fight you for the company stock. The middle son, Nick, took it better than anyone but he hasn't told me what he's going to do.”
“What does Mrs. Curtis think?” Tracie asked.
“She's the only reason Bill and Jerry haven't already filed a challenge. None of those boys wants to cross her. Like I said, she's a good woman, but you don't want to get on her bad side.”
“Great.” Sam said.
“Don't worry, son, I think she'll like you,” Braddock said, offering a sympathetic smile.
“What are we supposed to do now?” Tracie asked.
“Hire a lawyer,” he continued. “And not just any lawyer, either, but one who's experienced in complicated financial matters. You'll have to come to Houston and file your claim under the terms of the will. The actual probate process will depend on how much trouble Bill and Jerry stir up. We'll have to wait and see.”
“Would...would you excuse us for a moment?” Sam asked. Without waiting for an answer he led his wife into the kitchen.
“I think I'm going to pass out,” Sam said, sitting down at the table.
“Me too,” Tracie agreed, taking the seat next to his. “What are we going to do?”
“I haven't the slightest idea.”
“I'm waiting for the catch. There's always a catch.”
Sam had an idea. He took out his cellphone and made a call. “Steve? Sam. I need a favor, and its a big one. Wait until you get a load of this.”
After Sam explained what he wanted, he and Tracie went back into the living room, where Braddock was on his cell phone. “All right,” he said. “We'll be there as soon as we can.”
He put the phone back in his pocket. “How would you like a limo ride, Sam?” he asked.
“Depends on where I'm going.”
“To the Fairmont Hotel,” Braddock said. “Sallie and Nick Curtis just checked into the Presidential suite. They want to meet you.”
THREE
Their regular babysitter lived next door and was available, so Sam and Tracie were able to make the trip downtown together. Sam Jr. protested loudly against being left behind and having his visit with his friend canceled. Sam wanted all three kids in the same place while this was sorted out. His eldest son angrily slammed the door to the room he shared with Noah. Marcie, their sitter, was left in charge.
Once they were on the road, Sam had more questions for Anderson Braddock. “What about my birth mother?” he asked. “Is she still alive?”
“I don't know,” Braddock replied. “Hank always said that subject was off limits. I didn't even know her name until I saw that birth certificate. I can look into it, if you like.”
“Actually, I'd rather handle that myself,” Sam said.
“Whatever you want,” Braddock said.
The limo passed the Downen & Lowe Mortgage building on its way to the hotel. Sam realized that a long held-dream might well be about to come true. He'd worked at D&L since shortly before marrying Tracie. He hated the job. If this really was on the level, he was going in Monday to clean out his desk and to heck with giving two weeks' notice. The thought brought a smile to his face. Maybe he could hire the limo for the occasion.
The Fairmont was the most expensive hotel in Port Mason. Sam had brought Tracie here for their first anniversary. After seeing the bill, they never came back. Concerns like that, Sam mused, might soon be a thing of the past.
The Presidential suite took up nearly half of the 38th floor. The living room looked bigger than the entire first floor of Sam and Tracie's house. An elderly woman and a man who seemed just a bit older than Sam were seated on a sofa. The man got up and came over to shake hands with Braddock. “Mr. Braddock,” he said. “Thanks for bringing them.”
“Nick, you are a grown man,” Braddock said. “And have been for a long time. Call me Anderson.”
“I don't know if I can,” Nick said. “You'll always be 'Mr. Braddock.' You're just going to have to deal with that.”
Nick turned to Sam and offered his hand. “I'm Nick Curtis.”
He seemed friendly enough, but Sam was so nervous about this whole thing that he was still wary. “Sam Harman,” he replied. “My wife, Tracie.”
“This is my mother, Sallie,” Nick said.
Sallie Curtis looked just as ancient as Braddock, Sam thought, but there was something about her that suggested she possessed greater strength than anyone in the room. “Come on boy, I don't bite,” she said.
Sam shook hands with her. “Oh my” she said, staring at him intently. “If seeing you don't take me back...I guess there ain't any doubt now, is there?”
She opened her purse and withdrew an old photograph, which she gave to Sam. It was of a much younger Sallie, who had been a real beauty, and a man who looked so much like Sam that it was scary. Tracie gasped when she saw the photo.
“Sit down, sit down,” Sallie said.
Sam and Tracie sat on the sofa across from her. “This shyster tell you everything?” Sallie asked, gesturing to Braddock, who laughed.
“Sallie's been calling me a shyster for sixty years,” Braddock explained. “She won't admit that she's secretly in love with me.”
“You should be so lucky,” Sallie shot back. “Well boy, can't you talk?”
“Sure,” Sam said. “I just don't know what to say. It's all coming at me pretty fast.”
“Life's like that,” Sallie replied.
Sam's cell phone rang. He exchanged a few words with the caller. “Okay,” he said to Tracie. “He says it's legitimate.”
“You had us checked out?” Braddock asked.
“Sure,” Sam said. “What would you do if complete strangers showed up at your house and told you you'd inherited three billion dollars?”
Braddock nodded in approval. “Exactly what you did,” he said. “That was good thinking. Private detective?”
“Yes,” Sam said. “And my best friend.”
“People like that can be useful,” Braddock said. “Just be careful that they don't try to take advantage of your friendship for their own gain.”
“Steve will never do that,” Sam said.
“When Hank made his first million, we found out who our real friends were,” Sallie said. “You'd be amazed how many people will come to you with their hands out.”
“Oh, crap, Becky!�
� Sam exclaimed.
“And your cousin Ted,” Tracie added.
“Ted shouldn't be a problem,” Sam said. “I can handle him. Becky...”
“Your ex-wife?” Braddock asked.
“How did you know?”
“Hank kept an eye on you,” Braddock explained. “And he was always ready to intervene if you ran into any trouble you couldn't work out yourself. He was proud that you always managed to land on your feet.
“Your ex-wife is one of the reasons you'll need a good lawyer,” he continued. “And you might want to consider reaching out to her first.”
“I don't want anything to do with her,” Sam said vehemently.
“Honey, we'll deal with her together,” Tracie said. “I think Mr. Braddock's right, you'll have to get in touch with her.”
“I'll think about it,” Sam said. “Maybe...maybe we shouldn't take the money.”
“Don't be stupid boy,” Sallie said. “It's rightfully yours. You'll take it and that's that. Don't bother arguing with me about it. Anyone will tell you I'm not the type to take no for an answer.”
Sam believed that wholeheartedly. “Mr. Braddock told us that two of your sons are ready to fight the will,” he said. “What about the two of you?”
“I'm not fighting anything,” Sallie said. “As mad as I've always been about Hank's fooling around, at least he did the right thing by you. I'm going to do what I can to help. You're going to need it.”
“I appreciate that Mrs. Curtis,” Sam began.
“Call me Sallie,” she said. “We're going to be friends.”
“Sallie,” Sam said. He turned to Nick. “What about you?”
“I don't know,” Nick said. “This whole mess has