Title: Reservations Confirmed – Pt. 11

By: FanofRandy

E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!

Johnny sat uncomfortably at the large oak table in the conference room. The offices of Walters and Sons was a small but prestigious firm. Johnny adjusted his tie…one of the things causing his discomfort. He rarely wore a tie—to court, with his dress uniform, and on the rare occasions he went to church. He drank some of water the young receptionist left for him when she went to get Mr. Gary Walters.

"Hello, Mr. Gage." Mr. Walters bellowed as he walked into the conference room. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting. There were just a few details to finalize before we met. All is well now. Can I get you anything…I see you have water…how 'bout some coffee on this brisk afternoon?"

Johnny stood as Mr. Walters entered and his offered hand was accepted and shaken rather aggressively. He shook his head at the offer of coffee, "Uh, no, the water is fine, sir."

"No 'sirs' are necessary around here, Mr. Gage…just call me Gary. May I call you John?"

Johnny felt more comfortable. The man was personable and put him at ease. "Sure, John is fine."

"Thanks for traveling all this way, John. My niece certainly cared a great deal for you and I wanted to let you know what her last wishes were regarding you. You definitely left an impression on her…you never left her thoughts or her heart, young man."

Johnny blushed. "I remember Sister M's…uh…that's what I called her. She was nice to me and took care of me while I was sick after…well, after my parents died." Johnny assumed he was not telling the man anything he did not already know.

"I was only at the orphanage for a few months…not really that long at all." Johnny explained. "Sister M's…uh, Mary…took me to a place where she thought I would be okay. It didn't work out, but that wasn't her fault, it was mine."

Mr. Walters listened carefully and quietly. He had heard the story many times from his niece…of how she cared for the little Indian boy whose parents had been killed. She shared that he had wanted to die sometimes…and, go to be with his parents. That was a feeling she could finally understand after her own parents died and her health declined. She prayed for the little boy, John Gage, every day of her life from the day she met him. She tried to find him several times, but it seemed a hopeless mission.

"My niece cared deeply for you, son. She wondered many times where you were, what you were doing, and how you were. Every Christmas, Easter, or other family holiday, she remembered you as she prayed for our family and friends…you were included in our family…like a long-lost cousin or brother. I am so pleased to finally meet you. Let's say we get on with why you came, huh?" Mr. Walters cleared his throat of the emotion that rose.

Johnny nodded his head in agreement. He dare not speak for fear of his emotions showing as well.

"John…my niece inherited quite an estate when my sister and her husband passed away. She gave much of it to the church and missions…but, she invested some in savings, bonds, and real estate holdings. Much of that, she has left to you." Mr. Walters moved some papers toward Johnny as the younger man tried to grasp what was being said.

"All the bonds have been cashed out and we added the sum to the savings." The man cleared his throat again. "There are few papers for you to sign, a receipt for the cashier's check, and here is the deed to the property in California, too. It's all yours as soon as I get your 'John Hancock'…ha…that's funny, huh. I guess it would be your 'John Gage', right?" Mr. Walters continued the light banter as Johnny began to read the papers. Mr. Walters poured himself a glass of water and allowed John the time he needed.

"This says there is property in California. Why did she buy property in California when she lives…uh…lived here?" John inquired.

"Don't rightly know the answer to that one…unless, she somehow knew where you were. She asked me a couple times to hire a private investigator to locate you…He reported his findings right to her. If he found you, she didn't let on to anyone. Took me a couple weeks to track you down through school records and such." The lawyer explained. "She did take a trip there about two years ago…somewhere around…oh…what was the name of that place?" He grabbed the papers again and flipped the pages. "Oh, yeah, here it is…Sierra Madre…'bout 40 miles outside 'a LA. She bought a 15-acre ranch up there…guess it's yours now, John."

Johnny was in a daze…the papers showed the deed to the land and buildings on a ranch outside Sierra Madre. Johnny knew that canyon area all-too-well. He camped there often and enjoyed the fact it was close to the city, but still wild country. He had also helped fight a few brush fires in the those hills, too. He saw the cashier's check for $115,000. He was caught off guard. "I can't accept this, Mr. Walters." John said as he pushed the check and papers away.

"John…it's yours. Mary wanted you to have it all. It's her last wish…you wouldn't you deny her that, would you?" He settled the papers back in front of John and handed him the pen again. "Just sign the papers...use the money, the land, however you want. It's all yours, young man."

Johnny took a deep breath and glanced once again at Mr. Walters and then at the papers. He signed them each as Mr. Walters pointed to the placed needing his signature. "That's it. All done. Do you have any questions, John?"

He took the check and property deed in his hands and stood. "Too many to ask." John snorted. He shook Mr. Walters hand and thanked him for his time.

"Are you staying around for a while…I'd like a chance to talk with you more, if you'd be willing, that is." Mr. Walters asked as he followed Johnny out to the front steps.

"I will be here a few more days, I guess…I don't have a definite day to leave yet. Maybe we can meet tomorrow or the next day…okay?" John said as he shook the man's hand once more. He walked toward the Jeep still surprised over the inheritance he had received.

"I'll look forward to it, John. It was great to meet you after all these years." He called from the steps.

"Nice ta meet you, too!" John called out and got in the Jeep. He pulled the collar of his suit jacket around his neck to protect against the chill. He wondered if it was the cold weather or the sheer shock what had just transpired. He started the engine and made his way back to the Garner's home.

John pulled into the driveway, but stayed in the car. He thought of all the years he had suffered at the hands of others. The children he had seen suffer that way he had. He did not think any good could ever come of it…he still had reservations—"no pun intended" he thought to himself with a smirk-that he would ever be able to leave his past behind for good.

TBC