Then, I stalk off in the direction of the same public parking garage to head to the B&B. Once there, I slam right into Ron, which is a good thing as I was going to hunt him out anyway. “Ron, do you have availability to rent me my room for the summer?”
Ron smiles before walking behind the desk. Pulling up his computer, he murmurs, “It would be my pleasure, Mr. Jennings.”
“I’m grateful.” And I truly am. Because even this small act will allow me to get to know my son better.
And the time to get on my knees thanking his mother for the chance.
Nine exhausting hours later, I’ve left my lawyer’s office in downtown Seattle. I’m running on fumes and a residual anger at the people who persisted in trying to “present you with the best advice on how to protect yourself, Mr. Jennings. Ms. Malone could…”
I slammed my hand down on the conference room table. “Just do it,” I snarled.
“Ms. Malone raised your son with next to nothing, and should she choose, she could slap you with a financial request which would bleed you dry,” another associate tried to explain.
“That’s not the type of woman she is,” I argued.
Even as I pressed them to make changes to change my estate, they urged me to take documents up to her to have her sign them, relinquishing all rights against Northern Star Flights. “We understand she’s asked for nothing, but she still can,” one of the associates pressed.
But by that point, my patience had snapped. “She doesn’t even know I’m here!” I yelled, before the room got quiet. “Kara just lost her brother and her brother-in-law. It was because of them I even know I have a son. This woman single-handedly raised my son into a strong, intelligent young man. Screw liability; this is something I need to do.” I dropped back in my seat.
“Everyone out,” Reginald Silas, partner of the firm, barked. “Let me talk with Jennings privately.”
The rest of the people scurried. Finally, it was just the two of us before he asked, “How did it feel to see Kara again?” Reg was a first-year Lumberjack the summer I dated Kara.
“She’s just as smart as she was when we knew her. And she’s an amazing mother.” I admitted. “Then to add Kevin to the mix—”
“That’s his name? Kevin?”
I nodded. “Named after her paternal grandfather.”
He toyed with his pen before asking, “Why do I sense there’s something else you’re not telling me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why did her brother and brother-in-law dying mean you finding out about your son?”
“Because Jed was her brother-in-law.”
Reg’s pen went skidding across the table. “Are you kidding me?” he rumbled as he tries to regain his composure. “How long did he know?”
“A few years from what the letters he left me indicate,” I admitted.
“And you had no clue?” he pressed.
“None,” I said firmly.
“Jesus, Jennings. This means Jed’s gone?” Reg’s face was paper white.
“Yeah, man.” We were both silent for a moment thinking of our own memories. “If you don’t mind wrapping up these changes to my estate, I’d like to head back to my place so I can meet with Lou tomorrow to deal with work crap. I really want to spend every possible minute in Alaska.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll have everything ready for you to sign by Sunday or you can forget the bill.” He waved his hand dismissively. “But back to my original question—”
“There have been so many tonight, I’m not sure which one you’re referring to,” I told him in all honesty.
“How was it to see Kara again?”
This time, I handed him the answer I knew he was waiting for. “Every memory slammed into me like it was yesterday. She’s barely aged a day.”
Standing, he gave me a similar truth to the one Rainey did only a few days before. “She was a good woman.”
Pushing myself to my feet, I rounded the table and headed for the door. “She’s a good mother,” I concede. I’m not willing to admit more than that.
“Don’t let this chance pass you by,” he offered.
Stilling, I whirled to face him as he gathered notepads and pens left by his terrified employees. “Are you saying I should hit on the mother of my child?” I demanded.
He paused before dropping the stack of notepads in front of him. “No, I’m saying you should see if there’s a spark there. She’s a rare woman, Jennings, and she’s always going to be in your life now. You figure out the rest.”