Family is Forever (Sequel to Running on Insulin)

Chapter 46

Tyler POV

Samantha was distracted all weekend. We tried to keep her busy going out for dinner or engaging her in other activities. We both thought maybe letting her go to Jill's would be a good distraction too, but we also had to stick to our punishment.

She was quiet but at least was talking. We'd ask what she was thinking and she'd say she was worried about Monday.

She also told us she'd spoken to Sarah about everything, too. So we knew she wasn't bottling things up.

Monday morning she was difficult to rouse and difficult to get going to school. She hadn't slept well the night before. When I'd gone in to check her blood sugar at two, she'd been writhing in her sleep. The nightmares were back.

Once we got her to school, we hoped the day would distract her enough, but when we picked her up at 2:30, she looked completely drained.

"How are you doing, honey?" I asked as she climbed into the back seat of the car.

Tears formed in her eyes.

"I don't want to go," she whispered.

"I know, love " Jenna said. "But the sooner we get there, the sooner we can leave.

Resigned, she sat back and stared out the window, tears falling silently from her eyes.

We got to the lawyer's offices at 3:00, the time we'd been asked to be there, and the receptionist called in to him to tell him we'd arrived.

He opened his office door and Samantha stepped behind me. I put my arm around her.

"Mr and Mrs Joseph and Samantha?" He asked. "Come on in."

He seemed friendly enough. He was a slim man with greying hair, wearing a navy blue suit and a striped blue tie. He had piercing blue eyes that were friendly.

With my arm tightly around Samantha, and Jenna holding her hand, the three of us went into the lawyer's office.

"Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee? Soda?" He asked as he motioned for us to sit in the comfortable looking plush chairs across from his desk.

"A water would be lovely," Jenna said.

"Samantha, can I get you anything?" He asked. She shook her head.

"Are you sure? I have Coke, Pepsi, root beer."

"Do you have anything diet?" She asked, warming up to the lawyer.

"Good question. Let me ask my secretary and she'll bring you something. Okay?"

"Yes, thank you," Samantha said.

I opted for a coffee and he called out to his receptionist who came in a few minutes later with a tray containing a bottle of water and a glass of ice, a coffee and a small pot of cream and a little sugar cube and a can of Diet Coke and a glass of ice.

"Now," the lawyer said. "Samantha, I haven't introduced myself to you. My name is Gerald Whitingham. I was your father's estate lawyer. I've been following the news and so I am not going to offer you my condolences for your loss, because you, and quite frankly the world, are better off without him. I am, however, sorry I didn't know what was going on all these years."

Samantha's jaw dropped. Never had she heard someone even somewhat close to her father say anything against him.

"Oh, I know. Stanley Deitz had a wonderful reputation as a lawyer. He was cutthroat and his clients adored him because he was always able to get them fair contracts."

I frowned, being reminded that he'd been the lawyer when we were negotiating 'Vessel'.

"But Stanley was not a nice man outside the courtroom or outside his clients' view."

Mr Whitingham frowned.

"Which brings us to his will," he said.

Samantha stiffened.

"Quite frankly, considering what has gone in the past, well, 13 years, this will is somewhat surprising. Not entirely, but it is surprising."

Whitingham went through the usual legal mumbo jumbo in a will and then paused and looked straight at Samantha, who stiffened again.

"In the event my wife predeceases me, the bulk of my estate is to be bequeathed to my only child, a daughter, Samantha Deitz. Should Samantha still be a minor at the time of my death, and should my wife have predeceased me, 50% of the worth of my estate is to be held in trust until her 18th birthday, 25% shall be held in trust until her 25th birthday and the remaining 25% shall be bequeathed to her through her guardianship, whomever that may be.

Should my daughter be a minor at the time of my death, I relinquish all rights and set forth on this day that Samantha shall be put up for adoption and a suitable couple found to attend to her education and her needs. Of the 25% of my estate that is to be bequeathed to Samantha in this will, it is my intention that money be used by her guardians to cover the costs and burdens of raising a child. The discretion of the use of those funds lies solely on Samantha's guardians.

Upon reaching the age of 18, 50% shall be made available to Samantha's, with the remaining 25% given upon her 25th birthday.

These funds shall be held in a high interest savings account or fund."

I looked over at Jenna who looked as stunned as me. Samantha looked like she was about to pass out.

"So, Samantha," Whitingham said. "Today I can present you, well, actually your parents, a check in the amount of $250,000."

"I'm sorry, what?!" I exclaimed.

"Through savvy investments, Stanley Deitz was worth 1.5 million dollars in cash. Plus whatever the property he owned is worth. This check is the initial 25% minus my fees."

"What's the catch?" Samantha asked.

"None. I've been through this will backwards and forwards. The only stipulations are that you can't access the next check until your 18th birthday and the rest on your 25th."

"No," Samantha said. "There has to be a catch. Like he has some guardian in mind that aren't the Josephs. Or some relative I have to go live with."

"I promise you, Samantha, the only thing left in this will to discuss is your father's house. As a minor it can't be turned over to you but it can be held in trust by your parents, and you can direct them on what you'd like to do with it. Although I suggest selling it, and placing the proceeds in with your trust."

The three of us sat in silence. With everything he had put us and especially Samantha through, this couldn't be real.

"You're sure there isn't some catch? Some loophole? Some... I don't know, stipulation?"

"Nope. It's a pretty cut snd dry. Like I said. Somewhat surprising, given how he's been portrayed in the media."

I looked at Samantha, who was still clinging to me. Her eyes were wide and he jaw looked unhinged.

"Are we done?" She asked.

The lawyer nodded, proffered the envelope with the check in it and had us sign for it, plus gave us a copy of the deed to Samantha's old house and a key.

"When you're ready to sell, if you choose to, contact my office. I'd be happy to help you out. Those fees have already been paid."

We thanked the lawyer who walked us out of his office.

None of us said anything on the way to the car.