A Family Affair(11)

“I’m surprised by the wording,” Anna said. “Right before leaving on his trip, I told him we should discuss separation when he got back. I haven’t mentioned that to the kids. And apparently he changed his will before I brought up separation.”

“He mentioned there was a bit of a kerfuffle between you,” Larry said.

“Kerfuffle?” she barked out, laughing.

“Look, you and Chad logged on...what? Thirty-five years? There had to be at least once every five years you thought you were down for the count, yet worked things out and put it back together. If Chad hadn’t died, this might have gone the same. I’m sorry, Anna. And yet, doesn’t this represent a typical marriage? A few ups and downs, a few close calls? How many perfect unions are you aware of?”

She gave a huff of laughter. “That’s your explanation? Or is that an excuse?”

“I’m just saying, of all the possibilities, this is hardly the worst case I’m aware of.”

“Do you know who it is?”

“I do not,” he said. “I told him how to put together an anonymous recipient.”

“Did you ask him?”

“Yes, and he said, ‘Then it wouldn’t be anonymous, would it?’ I was given the impression that it’s the choice of the heir. This doesn’t necessarily mean he has done something underhanded. It could be a charity. Or some otherwise needy individual.”

“Unless you consider the fact that he’s kept a secret from his wife, who also contributed to those retirement accounts this unknown person is receiving. And that it cuts into what my children receive. I expected better than this from you, Larry. If you can’t be more honest with me, you should at least have tried to talk him out of this course of action. What if I sue?”

“Please don’t do that, Anna. Remember, it’s his money to do with as he pleases. He was of sound mind when he made up this final will, which isn’t very different from the last will. Maybe he owed a debt and didn’t want the family to know. Maybe it is a house for homeless cats. Let it be. And for your information, I did try to talk him out of taking this action.”

“Oh?” she asked, lifting a brow. “Now why did you do that? Because today you’re championing his actions.”

“Because secrets fester,” Larry said. “And I told him that it’s been my experience that nothing good comes from secrets.”

“You got that right.”

It took roughly ten days to get the financials together and that was all. Chad had only been gone a few weeks and the late-April sun was warming the air and bringing out new blossoms, giving a feeling of renewal to the land. The accountant and the fiduciary who managed Anna and Chad’s retirement and investment funds were working with the estate attorney to calculate the sums so they could move the money around and the inheritances could be paid out. Anna had already signed her documents approving the transfer of funds and now there would be similar paperwork for her kids. They would have to identify the means by which they would receive their funds.

Jessie had established an account for her retirement, savings and investing. Mike said he didn’t have enough money to worry about such an account, and Bess said she was ready to do so and wondered if Anna’s financial planner would take her on. They learned they each had an equal percentage that was just over a couple hundred thousand and of course they were very grateful and thrilled, but certainly would rather have their father.

“We last discussed this a couple of years ago after Bess graduated and what your father and I were concerned about was how difficult it might be for you to get into a home of your own. Of course, what you choose to do with the money is entirely up to you, but your dad wanted to make sure you could buy a home if you wanted to. But we never considered the possibility of your father’s untimely death. We were thinking by your late thirties... And I’m well aware you all have issues other than houses.” Jess, for example, had some medical school debt, Mike had been living on a shoestring and had maxed a charge card and Bess...? Bess had started law school. The cost was staggering and she was managing on scholarships.

Anna had expected this meeting to turn into a circus but it was calm, quiet and somewhat melancholy. The only one who showed a threat of tears was Mike. He was so lost without his dad.

Larry explained what would happen. “Your father had a list of items he had special homes for, just a few. His car to his brother, his collection of antique books to his sister, his golf clubs and sporting gear to his son, his other book collection to his daughters and everything else to be dealt with by Anna.”

“If there’s something of your father’s you want, just let me know. Take your time and think it over. I packed up his clothing but I haven’t delivered it to a shelter yet. I just can’t imagine you wanting any of his clothes, but if there’s anything...” Anna said.

“Am I reading this right?” Jessie asked, holding up a page from the will. “You have sixty percent and we each have ten percent?”

“I guess that’s right.”

“There seems to be ten percent missing. Where is it?”

Larry cleared his throat. “Ten percent is to be paid to an irrevocable trust and the trustee is an attorney. I don’t know the recipient and your father didn’t name one. Just the trustee. It could be anyone or anything. It could be an undisclosed charity. It could be someone in need your father wanted to help. I honestly have no idea. This sort of thing isn’t that unusual.”