Chapter 21

Tuesday morning 9:45 April 18

We had all slept in this morning and was eating breakfast in the Sky Room restaurant, when my phone rang. I could see it was George Hotchkiss.

I answered “Hi George.”

He said, “Hi John, if you are not busy, I agreed to sell for $1,500,000.00, but not with the Crawfords. I made the deal with Choice Hotels directly, they apologized for Crawford and Crawford and flew in their team of lawyers last night and this morning we went to the bank to finalize the transaction. I am pretty sure it is the same bank you use, they told me that the owner died yesterday afternoon in his office, just fell on his face sitting at his desk of a massive heart attack. He was only forty-five years old. He was the sole owner, having inherited it from his father.”

“You’re right George that is our bank, too. I liked him he was a very pleasant man. He helped me out a lot.”

“Apparently, there is a big controversy over the will. It is not even been read yet and all the heirs have not been notified. But his wife got a copy of it and is fuming mad about it. She is not very well liked, anyway. Just thought I would give you the news, since you bank there too.”

“Thanks George.”

“Talk to you later, John.”

Violet asked, “What was that all about?”

“Our bank owner died yesterday and his wife is upset over the Will.”

“Already? Usually the Will isn’t read until all the heirs are notified, that usually takes a few days at least.”

“She somehow got a copy of his Will. George said she is not very popular, around town.”

“Who wants to go with me to get the coach?”

“You can’t, Samantha and Hannah took the Explorer to do research.” Violet said.

“I’ll take a Cab, do you want to go?”

“I think I will go to the fitness room, come down when you are back, it wouldn’t hurt you to workout a little bit.”

“Ok,” I picked up the phone and asked the desk to call a Cab.

They said that the shuttle would take me, anywhere I wanted to go. I told them I was on my way to the lobby.

I went outside and the driver was standing at the rear door of a limo, “Mr Marshall?”

I said “That’s me.”

“Where to, sir?”

“Trailer place, west of here on the same road.”

“I know the place.”

I got in, he closed the door went around to the drivers door and got in and a way we went. Twenty minutes later he drove into the lot. “Should I wait for you sir?”

“No, I am just here to pick up my motor coach. “Oh, where should I park it back at the Hotel?”

“Any place it will fit, but not out front, sir.”

I went to the coach first and got the A/C going. Then went to the shop to see how the work on the trailer was going, the holes for the door and windows were cut in. The bulkhead was built, the murphy bed was detached and lying in a pile, the doorway between the front area and the main area was finished. Looked to me like they were only waiting on parts to finish it off.

The owner spotted me and came over. “How’s it looking so far he asked?”

“Looks, just like I wanted, plus a few things I forgot to specify, like the space for circulation above the bulkhead and the twin passageways around the bulkhead. Are you going to put doors or curtains there?”

“I think curtains would be best or pocket doors, but I lean towards curtains, Too bad you didn’t buy a taller trailer, there would have been a lot more we could have done.”

“It looks like all you’re waiting on is, parts and a few components.”

“You’re right, after we get everything, we can finish up the work, rather quickly. For now we are going to move it outside and tarp it, till the stuff comes in. Right now we are just about to push the deadline.”

“That’s ok, I don’t have to be anywhere, soon. I’ll be on my way now, see you later.”

At about 11AM, on my way back to the hotel, I drove by the bank, just for the hell of it. I spotted Holly, Molly’s mother carrying a box and crying, really crying. I passed her and whipped into the parking lot, put it in park and ran to her and said, “What is the matter, Holly?”

She looked at me, like she didn’t know me. “Oh, Mr. Marshall, sorry I didn’t recognize you.”

“Do you need a ride or do you have a car? What is the matter?”

“Twenty years, no severance pay, no nothing. I don’t have a car, yes I need a ride, thank you.”

I took the box from her and lead her to the coach, up the steps we went. I put the box on the floor and settled her into a recliner. “Where to?”

“I don’t care, any place.”

I drove us to the Marriott and parked near the employee’s entrance. “Now tell me what’s wrong.”

“I was fired after twenty years, no reason, said it was a board decision. No severance pay either, I don’t understand, board decision?”

“What is Molly’s phone number?”

“No, don’t call her, I will talk to her later. You got anything for a headache, I want to lay down.”

I got her two headache pills and a glass of water. Started the generator and shut off the engine. “If you want to lay down, there’s the couch or a bed all the way in the back.”

“Thank you, is there a restroom, where I can clean up a little, I feel so dirty?”

“Come on I’ll show you, then I will have to go.”

“Please don’t leave me, I don’t want to be alone.”

“Ok, I’ll stay here.”

While she was busy in the bathroom, I called Violet.

“Hi, John what do you need, And where in the hell are you?”

“Hi Hun, I’m down here at the Employee Entrance with the coach, I have Molly’s mom Holly with me, she’s a wreck. I picked her up downtown, she was walking, carrying a box, looks like her personal effects from her desk or whatever. She got fired today. I need somebody to get her something to wear. She’s in the back in the bedroom taking a shower, She’s a total wreck, and a little shocky too. So if you can get a hold of Molly, have her come down here and bring her something to wear or you can find something here in the coach for her to wear.”

“I’m on my way Hun, I’ll be there shortly I’m going to just stay on the line. Where would I go to get a hold of Molly?”

“Go to the restaurant to get her number I guess, I’ll just be waiting down here for you.” I instinctively, closed the call.

When Violet got to the restaurant she was surprised to see Molly working and then she realized that Molly was working a double this week because a girl was off, on day shift.

“Molly can you get off, your mom is downstairs in the motor coach with John and she’s all upset, she got fired today.”

Violet and Molly came into the coach, “Well now that was fast. I had just barely hung up the call. And here you are. Molly your mom is back in the bedroom Actually, she’s in the shower. Go find out. What happened, will you?

Violet said “I’ll go find her something to wear.”

“Mom are you okay? I thought you and Mr. Houston were pretty tight. You got fired? How could that happen?”

“He died, honey. And apparently, I don’t know for sure, but his wife had me fired. Does that mean she knows about us? Or she knew about us. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Molly got on her phone right away, “Erika, I need you to come in right away and cover for me. My mom got fired today. She’s all messed up. I, I’m going to be with her. Thanks, honey. I really appreciate it. We’re in the Motor Coach downstairs at the Employee Entrance. Bye.” She looked at me and said, “I have to go, at least until Erika gets here, because it’s busy time. Mom, I don’t understand, what you said about, us.” And she was gone.

Holly comes into the lounge wearing one of the bath robes, and said, “Where did Molly go?”

I replied to her. “She had to go back to the restaurant because this is their busy time right now, but she called Erika and Erika is coming in to cover for her. Now tell me what’s going on or what happened. So we can get to the bottom of this.”

“Well the whole thing started about 20 years ago and maybe a couple of months. I got a job at the bank, working for Mr. Houston the older one. His son, the one that died yesterday. And I had an affair. We we were really in love. But he was married. He’d only been married a couple of years and she was a real bitch. I don’t understand why, he ever stayed with her, but he did. I don’t know if she held something over his head or whatever, but like I said, she’s, she’s a real bitch. I got pregnant. Just like that, you know and I kept the baby, the baby turned out to be Molly. When he found out about it. He made arrangements, for us. He bought a house or the old man did, Molly and I have lived there ever since. We don’t have to pay rent. We don’t have to pay the utilities. It’s a good deal, but I think it’s because of the old man. And I continued working at the bank. Then today the whole damn thing fell apart. Molly doesn’t know a thing about this, she just doesn’t know, he’s her father. She doesn’t know about the rent. She doesn’t know about ... Well, she just doesn’t know about anything. But she’s going to find out now. And I don’t know if we’ll continue to live in that house, or what? It’s, it’s all up to the wife now, I guess. I’m just guessing here, but she is a vindictive person, that’s for sure. Like I said, she’s a real bitch. And nobody in town likes her. Because her husband owns the bank. She’s a big shot and she’s on all the Committees. You know, she’s a you know a real pain in the ass to everybody in this community. And I think she’s going to start being my biggest pain in the ass. Not just me, but Molly too. We’ll have to wait and see. What’s coming down? But yeah, I just hope that somehow in the Will that he left us the house or something. Yeah, I just don’t know. It’s a, it’s a, real mess right now. But, since I haven’t paid rent, for eighteen years and I made a good salary, was frugal, about our expenses. I socked it a way mostly in US Savings Bonds and kept $25,000 in the bank, in a joint account with Molly.”

Molly called and said that Erika was here now, and she’s coming right down.

Time about 1PM.

Molly had just got here and Erika called. Telling her that there was a lawyer and a policeman. Up in the restaurant. Wanting to see her. And herself and she didn’t know what to do. He told her that they needed to have a meeting and it was about Mr. Houston’s Will, and that both girls were in it. And if they felt they needed a lawyer, for the meeting with him. That was ok, but the meeting with him today was informal and just to deliver a copy of the Will. That the official reading of the Will, was going to be Thursday. And he suggested that both girls bring a lawyer with them, then.

Molly says, “Erica if you can get a way, come down here to the motor coach at the Employee Entrance. And bring the lawyer and the cop with you. I have a lawyer down here. She turned to Violet and said “Will you be my Attorney?”

Violent immediately said “Yes, I’ll represent you and Erika too. I’ll get the papers drawn up, what is your full name and Erika’s too?”

“I’m Molly Houston Hastings and Erika is Erika Johnson I don’t know what her middle name is.”

There’s a knock on the door, I answered it, it was Erika and two men, one was wearing a police uniform. “Come in. Have a seat relax, Erika you’re needed in the bedroom right now. Molly was coming out as Erika was going in.

The attorney started right off with Molly by asking what is your full name?

Replied that it’s, “Molly Houston Hastings.”

He said, “Thank you, I have something for you. You’re mentioned in, George Alvin Houston Jr’s last Will and testament. I’m here to present you with a copy of it and inform you that the official reading of the Will, will be Thursday, April 20th, at 8AM. Here’s your copy. Please sign the receipt for it.”

Molly said “I’ll sign as soon as my Attorney, looks at it.”

Violet and Erika returned, Erika said “This is, mine and Molly’s Attorney, Violet Yoss.”

“Glad to meet you, Ma’am. Your name seems familiar.” He then looks at Erika, and says, “Are you Erica? If you are, please state your full name.”

Erika says, “My full name is Erika with a K Houston Johnson.” Molly who was taking a drink of her soda at that time almost, choked on it.

Molly said “Shit! I can’t believe we both have the same middle name.” As she looked at her mother.

He continued on with talking to Erica and said, that his purpose here today. Is to inform her, that the reading of the Will, will be, Thursday April 20th at 8 AM and handed her a copy of the Will. And asked her to, please sign the receipt for it. “He looked at Violet, and said “Did, Molly sign?”

“Yes, she did.”

“That concludes my business for today. I’ll see you all Thursday and maybe by then. I’ll figure out why I know your name. Then he and the police officer left.”

“Follow me Erika.” Violet said, “We’re going to go back to the bedroom where the printer is and we’re going to make some copies.”

“Mom it says here that he’s my father. Why the hell didn’t you ever tell me? Or were you ever going to tell me? Why does it have to be a secret?”

“I wasn’t allowed to honey. I signed an agreement and it said that I would never be allowed to tell anybody who your father was. And I had to name you, what ever I wanted as long as, your middle name would be Houston and last name, Hastings. I never knew of Erica and her mother until just now. I do remember her mom worked at the bank for a short time, but I never knew her to be Pregnant. I’m so sorry, honey that you had to find out about this, this way. I wasn’t allowed to tell you like I said. I mean it wasn’t right, but it’s something that nineteen or eighteen years ago. Seemed like the right thing to do.”