Ride to Restoration (Ride Series Book 2) (39 page)

Chapter
76

F
inally
in the comfort of my truck en-route to the Plaza Hotel, I envisioned Major
calling my name, possibly using a litany of four letter words. Again, I had
pawned him off to strangers. At least this time it was only for three days, not
six weeks like before. I called the Plaza, confirmed my room for the night and
asked them to notify the kennel that I was on my way to retrieve the dog.

Using
Candi
’
s
iPad the day before, I found waiting emails from Jim, Victoria and Greg. I didn
’
t open them, but I would
tonight. Over the last three days I welcomed a brief respite in the drama I
’
ve come to know as my life.

To
my delight, Major was bathed and brushed, and sporting a blue bandana around
his neck when I arrived. The tech confirmed all his shots were current, his paperwork
up to date. Major could travel anywhere with me in or out of the country,
including Hawaii.
“
Thanks for taking care of it. With my travel plans
continuously in flux, Major will be happy to know he can go anywhere the wind
blows.
”

I
checked into the hotel, took Major to the room, stopped by the bar and snagged
two Sams on the way to the business center. The first email I read was from Jim
asking me where I was and to let me know all was quiet on his end. I skipped
Victoria
’
s and opened Greg
’
s next. He wanted me to know
that Missy was responding exceedingly better than expected in the trials. The
whole town was grateful, so much so, they asked him about having a Candice
Parker Day. And if so, would she come? Note to self ... I should ask her.
Lastly, he wanted me to know he booked a trip to Hawaii and all the islands for
the entire month of December, after hunting season. Of course you did. I
laughed.

Saving
the best for last, I opened Vic
’
s email.

“
Asshole
”
... she began.
...
“
Why
haven
’
t
you contacted me? It
’
s
been days! Where are you? How are you? When can I go home? I have a new phone,
just for you. Here
’
s
the number
—
use it. Hugs.
”

I
put her number in the iPhone, hit send, then end to save it. Draining the last
of Sam number two, I stopped by the bar, ordered an avocado burger platter,
plus a side of green beans and had it sent to the room. Taking the bartenders
last cold six-pack under my arm, I hurried back to the room where I had a long
overdue date night planned with the D. O. G.

Twenty
minutes later, I was nibbling at my burger, while he feasted on lamb and rice
mixed with southern style green beans and a handful of crinkle fries. Moving to
the balcony, watching waves crash on the beach at high tide, I downed another
Sam in thirty-seconds flat
—
mostly for courage. Then I called Vic.

“
Asshole.
”

“
Guilty, as charged,
”
I confessed.
“
Good evening to you,
Victoria
.
”

“
It
’
s good to hear
your voice. It means you
’
re
alive. I was worried you might have been involved in that shootout in Illinois
last week
—
the one involving the U.S. Marshals. You did hear about it,
didn
’
t
you?
”

I
paused.
“
No, Victoria.. ... I didn
’
t read about it. Haven
’
t paid much attention to the
news since I left Sioux City.
”

He
’
s lying; I
know it.
“
D,
let me rephrase the question. Is it possible you didn
’
t read about
it because you were the one making the news in Illinois last week?
”

Astute,
isn
’
t she?
“
You do an excellent cross,
counselor. Let
’
s just say I once again resemble that remark and leave it
at that.
”

I knew it
—
ha! I won
’
t
press him. He
’
ll
tell me when he can.
“
D,
when can I go home?
”

“
Sunday soon enough?
”

“
Yes,
thank you.
”
I don
’
t
want to go there, but I will.
“
Have
you worked through your issues with Candi?
”

“
Not yet. We
’
ve made great strides. Much has changed since Calgary, Vic.
I won
’
t
lie to you. I
’
m trying to work through them as best I can.
”

“
How
can I help?
”

That
’
s what I was waiting on
—
her offer to help.
“
I
’
m glad you asked. Get a pen
and paper, please. Let me know when you
’
re ready.
”

I
rummaged around in my purse till I found a pen,
“
Go ahead.
”

“
First, I want you to create a blind trust for the property
in Tennessee, transferring it to my sons equally. It can
’
t be sold and is to be used
to watch their kids and their kids grow up appreciating nature. Then, calculate
how much money it will take to maintain it for the next fifty years. We
’
ll set that money aside.

“
If per chance, none of them want anything to do with it,
then transfer the control of it to The Wounded Warrior
’
s Project, where soldiers
suffering from PTSD will have a place to heal. But, before that happens you
’
ll need to make a run to
Tennessee and retrieve two wooden crates and deliver one to Second Harvest Food
Bank of East Tennessee, the other to The Wounded Warrior
’
s Project in Nashville. You
’
ll need the code to the
safe. If you
’
ll look inside the second to last page of your passport you
’
ll find it.
”

“
Clever
... When did you put it there?
”

“
I don
’
t remember, maybe while we were at Greg
’
s. Which reminds me,
according to Greg, Missy is responding better than expected to treatment. Looks
like she
’
s probably going to make it. Mistatim even wants to
celebrate with a Candice Parker Day.
”

“
You
tell Candi that? Of course you didn
’
t. She doesn
’
t even know
you did it, does she?
”

“
It
’
s not important, Vic. It
’
s the thought that counts
—
that and the fact that Missy will get a second chance at
life. Speaking of Missy, set up a college trust fund that will cover her
expenses all the way through med school. She impresses me as the type of child
who will appreciate all those who have been there for her and will graciously
pay it forward.
”

“
I
haven
’
t
heard those words in a while.
”

“
You
’
re right ... I
’
ve been up to my eyeballs in
alligators here lately. It
’
s been hard enough trying to stay off radar without doing
something magnanimous to bring attention to myself again.
”

“
All
this will take money, D. Do you want me to use what you
’
ve given me to
get this rolling?
”

“
Heavens no. That
’
s yours to use as you want.
Which brings me to my next item of business. Find a no nonsense, no questions
asked, commodities trader who deals in precious metals. He
’
ll need to be bonded, say up
to 20 million and should be able to convert into cash whatever is sent to him
within 48 hours. Once you find him, I will ship you a crate which I suggest you
divide and send him half to see how he performs.
”

“
Crate
—
like the one in the safe at your house in Tennessee?
”

“
Yes. There were ten total holding four 27 pound bars. Which
brings me to my last item of business. I want you to set up a non-profit 501C
in Iowa, complete with a board of directors whose mission is to help people who
have been defrauded by unscrupulous bankers and investors, or as I like to call
them, crooks.
”

“
D,
who needs clients when I have you?
”

“
That
’
s the plan. You
’
ll do great
—
checks and balances, girlfriend. Checks and balances.

“
Finally, I
’
m changing the subject on you. Put down your pen and close
your eyes. I
’
m going to paint you a picture
—
a scenario if you will. Answer truthfully and honestly.
There
’
s
no right or wrong answer here. Let
’
s suppose you were given two
choices on where you could spend your life. One is by far the most beautiful
place in the world. Ideal year round temps, blue waters, waterfalls, lush green
forests in a small town with less than 1200 people, mostly mainlanders looking
to retire in peace.
”

“
Sounds
wonderful, D. ... This is about Mayberry, isn
’
t it?
”

“
It is, but now
—
it
’
s so much more. The second place has mild summers, but
harsh winters. Over fourteen feet of snow a year, blustery cold winds off the
North Atlantic, an abundance of wildlife like moose and caribou and by far,
20,000 of the nicest, most unselfish, giving, genuine people you
’
ll ever meet. Here
’
s my question
—
which place would you choose?
”

“
Hands
down, I
’
d
choose the first one.
”

“
Me, too, because it
’
s almost perfect. Thank you,
Vic. That
’
s all I
’
ve got for now.
”

“
Wait!
Wait! When will I see you? I miss you, D. We had fun, didn
’
t we?
”

“
No promises, Vic. Yes, we had fun, shared many laughs and
shared even more tears. Kindred spirits that we are
—
we
’
ll always have each other to fall back on.
”

Sounds like goodbye. I
started tearing up. Damn, girl, get yourself together. “D, go find your
Mayberry. Call me when you get there. I’ll take care of everything on this end
— checks and balances, I know. I know.” I
pressed end ... I didn
’
t want him to hear me cry ... and cry I did, long into the
night.