LOVE FOR LIFE AND BEYOND
Chapter Fifteen
Jack and Rose stood at the door of the
Langley and Co. law firm. Rose looked up at the enormous building with
apprehension. What awaited them?
She turned to Jack. "There’s no point in
delaying this matter. We’d better go in."
Jack nodded. He wanted to fix up the matter
as quickly as possible and skedaddle. They entered the building and walked
across the marble foyer to the receptionist’s desk, where Rose asked about the
location of the office of a Mr. Saunders.
"Second floor, third office on the
right," said the receptionist curtly.
Jack and Rose scuttled across the foyer and
took the elevator up to the second floor. They walked over to the third office
on the right and Rose knocked at the door hesitantly.
"Come in," said a voice.
Jack pushed the door open tentatively and
entered the office, Rose following closely behind.
The lawyer, whom they assumed was Mr.
Saunders, looked at them for a few moments and took a deep breath. "I
suppose no one’s told you why you’ve been summoned here?"
"No," said Jack and Rose in unison.
"I see," commented Mr. Saunders
dryly. He turned towards Jack. "You are Jack Thomas Dawson, aren’t
you?"
Jack replied in the affirmative.
"Very well, then. I regret that it is my
duty to inform you of the death of your uncle, Mr. Henry Peter Dawson, six
months ago. He has bequeathed you—"
Jack cut in at this point, asking in an
incredulous tone of voice, "Uncle Henry? Dead? He couldn’t have left me
anything—he didn’t have a cent in the world!"
"I’m afraid you’re mistaken, Mr.
Dawson," continued Mr. Saunders. "Your uncle has bequeathed
you...just under a million dollars."
Jack shook his head. "Not Uncle
Henry...no." Tears came into his eyes as he remembered Uncle Henry’s
stories of far-off places and marvelous adventures. He had given Jack his dream
of seeing the world—a dream that had brought him to Rose. Jack sat there for a
few minutes, trying to collect his thoughts. Until now Rose had sat in silence,
barely listening. At Mr. Saunders’ last comment though, for the third time that
week, she fainted.