Chapter 1

This public viewing today was so much different from the private one last night. Then, it was I, my Mom and the lawyer. We were the only ones from the family that wanted to be bothered. Me, I loved Grandma. She, of everybody, almost raised me, yep; Mom and Dad taught me everything there was ever to know about fighting, bickering and backstabbing. Grandma was always there for me though, made me feel safe and gave me a ‘kick in the rear’ when I needed it. God, I am going to miss her, so much.

Her death left me like a rudderless boat, lost at sea, and just floating on the waves. It was a good analogy, the one thing I learned to be good at was how to sail, navigate and show respect for the sea. It was so vast and so unpredictable that if you did not ‘give in’ to it you would be dead.

That was one of Grandma’s great loves, the sea and her ships and boats. She had several of them but the two favourites were the ‘Sea Witch’, a 43 Meter ANGUS-SWIFTS HIP (Power Boat with 4 Suites aboard); and her first love, and mine too was the 150’ Barquentin, ‘Wanderer’ (Sail Boat that needs a crew of 4-6 usually), not only was it larger, more space aboard for living (9 Suites), but it gave one the feeling that you were back in a time long since lost to the ‘rat race’ we now lived in. Both ships as well as several smaller ones, one of which she taught me to fish in, were docked or stored at her home on Fisher Island, in Florida.

Did I say I was going to really, really miss her?

John David Jonas was her lawyer about forever, at least since I could remember. He was also her friend. I remember another man that came in that night, well nearly came in. He stood in the doorway but never actually came in. I did not recognize him, but you could see the tears in his eyes. Hell, what did I know, I was just an 18-year old kid to everybody except Grandma, and now she was gone. That lost ship at sea expression could better be the description of my future life now as the reality of her death sunk in.

Mr. Jonas did not say much to me. When it was time to leave, I helped Mom to the car and started to go to mine. Dad had never showed. No big surprise, not only were he and Mom always fighting, but Grandma hated him and he felt the same about her. I had a nice long talk with Grandma before she passed and she had told me many things, some things I really did not need to or even want to know.

Mr. Jonas took me by the arm as we walked to my car. He said to me. “Steve, ‘Get you ass in gear! You will soon have a lot to do!’ quote from your Grandmother. I need you to sign some papers, cover some things your Grandmother wanted done before she died and I need to read you her will. Is 10:00 am tomorrow OK with you. We will need less than two hours?”

“Fine Mr. Jonas. Do you want Mom and Dad there too, I don’t know if...”

“Just you son is fine. Here, I have a letter for you that explains most of what we need to do and what each thing I will ask you to sign is and why. Everything has been discussed with your Grandmother beforehand and everything I will give you to sign she had already approved.”

I was barely 18 and had not decided if I would be going to college or go to work for Grandmother like the way she wanted. Now that she was gone, that decision would be simple, if I could afford it, since I planned to move out on my own. I would probably go to school at University of Southern Florida or University of Miami. I was not a great student but I shared my Grandmother’s love and respect for the sea. Hell, I was almost raised on it since I was six. From the two bad storms, when I was younger (Almost 10 years ago), I had learned that the sea ruled, not man. It would be a tribute maybe to Grandmother that she and I would agree on. We both loved the open water.

I still lived in the same house my Mother and Father did. I refused to call it home though and would soon be out of there. Home, if I could call anywhere home was either one of Grandmother’s ships or even her place. I would apply to both schools shortly and maybe rent a place near where I would be going or check out the costs for the dorm. High school would be over in few weeks and it was a little late to apply for college but I was in no real rush. I did want to move out near which college I would eventually be going. When she was still alive, I stayed with Grandmother at her home. It was not something I did when she had died. It did not seem right to do without her.

When I got to their house, I heard the sounds from my Mother and Father arguing. This was not new, nor unexpected. You would think on a night like this they both would show some respect. Then I remembered once more that this had become a daily occurrence.

I listened a bit to their conversation before turning to go to my room; that is until I heard my Father ask Mom, “So was the lawyer there?”

“Yes” my Mom answered.

“So what did he say? How much did the ‘Old Battleaxe’ leave us? What was in the will? When will we get it?”

“He said nothing; Jim other than there would be a trust for us!”

She had not even rested in her grave and they were already fighting over what Grandmother had willed to them! ‘Man, what a class act they were’.

I went to my room and finally got to sleep, thinking about all the good times we had, Grandmother and me that is.

I ate some cereal in the kitchen to the staccato of Mother and Father still arguing. I thought I would get a summer job and move out ASAP even before I knew which school I would go. I went to see Mr. Jonas even though it was still early. I did not want to stay here any more than I had too. I parked in the lot next to his office; it was just after 9:00 am so I expected to wait. I had taken off from school, explaining the funeral later that day and had worn a sport coat and tie since I intended to go right to the funeral after seeing Mr. Jonas.

He was on the third floor. I took the stairs. It was easy to find the office. There was a large plaque by the door, Jonas, Smythe and Langtree, Attorney at Law. I went in and asked the receptionist for Mr. Jonas, giving her my name and telling her I was early for a 10:00 am appointment. She indicated for me to have a seat that she would inform Mr. Jonas that I was here. She called and spoke to someone, then smiled at me and said, “I was sorry to hear about your Grandmother, my sympathy. Mr. Jonas will be right out to see you. Could I offer you something to drink?”

“Water would be great. I am not taking this very well. Mr. Jonas said I had some things to sign, do you think I can just do that with you now, I don’t really need to see him, do I?”

“Yes you do Steve; you really do need to see me. I’ll take him in Marsha, make that a couple of waters if you would I think our lad will need them.”

We walked into a very nice office.

“Have a seat Steve. Did you read the letter I gave you last night?”

“Ugh! I was going too, but when I got to the house Mom and Dad were, as usual arguing. This time about how much money, Grandmother had left them. Damn Mr. Jonas, she is not even buried yet and all they seem to care about is how much money she left them. I will not even call their house my home. As far as I am concerned Grandmother’s place was my home, or on her ships. Hell she was more a Mother to me than my own was. I am just getting so sad Mr. Jonas, can I just sign what you need or come back some other time? I really miss her!”

“We all do Steve! She was special, very special. Since you are now 18 I can skip over some of the provisions in her will, if you don’t mind?”

“No, I don’t even think I’m in any will. That’s why I asked if you wanted my Mom and Dad here instead of me?”

“Actually Steve, you are the only beneficiary in her will. The bulk of her estate that does not directly pass to you is in a non-revocable trust. In that trust you are named executor as long as you were 18 or older, which you are. The papers I am asking you to sign are your formal acceptance of those terms and roles. Briefly, I had our tax consultants revise everything to provide your bequest the best tax advantages as soon as you turned 18 and reviewed everything with Mary before she passed away. You said you had always thought of her place as your home, so did she and it and all its contents, grounds and amenities are all yours. The large ships are owned by the trust so there is no tax due on them, nor on iinvestments and non-profit cash in the trust until they are sold or you or your estate no longer exist. So you may think of marriage and a family someday soon. I would like to be around for that. Mary might be a good name when you have a daughter! The company or I should say all the stock for it, therefore the ownership has been left directly to you, not in the trust, along with $90 Million after inheritance taxes.

The role as trust executor provides you $5 Million a year and all expenses you approve, so crews and the ship’s expenses are covered by it. Your Mom receives $1 Million a year and you Dad, $1 Dollar a year for the rest of their lives from another trust fund. You get the reserves from that when they die. A fitting thing since you Grandmother hated him. Overall, to summarize you get $95 Million now, all the stock in her company and are the executor of both trusts. You may as both executor and sole beneficiary elect to take any part or all of the main trust at any time or leave it to your estate at your death. Currently that trust is valued at $2.547 Billion and invested by a fund manager. The last three years it has grown about 11% after taxes are paid. Mary’s Company stock left to you directly is worth appox. $433 Million. The house, docks, smaller boats, cars and property left to you are approx. $87 Million more.

Overall, you are a very wealthy young man. I have some videos for you to watch; two detail the trust and the will specifics, one is from me with a few suggestions for you, one deals with the company and what is in place currently. I have taken the liberty to schedule a Board meeting and placed your name as the new member as well as indicating your role as new owner. There is another video or two from Mary for you when you are alone. As the worth of the trust and inheritance is considerable, one set of papers names the firm as interim legal counsel to the trusts, another as your personal legal firm as an individual and another for the company itself. Sign them and please give me four $1’s. You can change us out at any time I just want you pprotected immediately. I will assume some people may not be happy how the will reads, but do not worry. Any that contest or challenge it will be excluded from any bequest, win or lose.

I have a copy of the will for you, the trust documents on paper as well as DVD and will act as your agent with any death certificates needed.

You immediately get the $95 Million and the home, cars, land and a few more things are being transferred to you, here is a letter from me regarding all of that should you need it. The staff at the home as well as the Company Board has all been informed. If you do not get the co-operation from them just call us night or day, here are the numbers. Again, my suggestions are on a DVD and my sympathy to you for your loss, Mary, as I said before was a special woman and my friend.”

I took the package and signed all the forms, taking my copies. He had a briefcase for me and I put everything in that. “Mr. Mr. Jonas, I don’t know what to say or to do. Can anybody help me the next few days to get through all this. I’m lost?”

“Miss Jonas would you come in please. Steve, Mary Jonas will see you at the house every morning for a while. Tell her what you need; how she can help and trust her as you do me, she is my daughter. As you might guess, she was named after your Grandmother too. She was very special to me; we grew up together since she was very young and knew each other more than 60 years. My daughter will help you through this. I suggest you go to ‘your’ new home’, I don’t think the reception at your old house will be what you need right now.”

As Mary came in, we were introduced.

“Mary take my car, and take Steve to his home. I will have his car dropped off later. Stop first at the bank with him and see Mr. Carson, he has some forms and papers for Steve to sign as well as a checking, savings, debit and credit card already set up for him. And Mary, it is not nice to take advantage of a client, so be nice!”

“I can be very nice, Daddy. C’mon Stevie, let’s blow this popsicle stand and see your new home.”

As they left, John Jonas thought she was the upbeat spark in his life Steve now needed, which is why he had asked her to help. Upon reflection, he hoped neither of them would take this into any kind of relationship. Mary indeed had been special to him, as both Steve and his daughter were also.