Kerry, John, Abby and Robert arrived for their shifts on Friday with
everything but work on their minds. Kerry was excited about the prospect
of getting someone to cover for her on the weekend, Luka had mentioned
that he could use the hours and Kerry really needed the weekend to get
ready for the budget meeting. John was excited at the prospect of how easy
it was going to be to talk Abby out of leaving the benefit after polite
hellos. After that who knows? Abby was mentally trying to figure out what
to wear and how she could squeeze a little shopping into her lunch hour.
Robert had to make damn sure he left the hospital at noon, Shirley had
cleared his afternoon, because you never knew when lunch might just turn
into breakfast.
Alice sat with her brothers and Millicent in the study of the mansion. Millicent was going over her will. She wanted everything to transfer smoothly when her time came. She knew that if her wishes were not made in person that the boys would keep Alice form what was rightfully hers. Millicent knew Alice well enough to know that she did not expect anything from the family. The Carter family had taken her in as one of their own, although the boys resented her a bit, Alice knew that the advantages of the Carter name and resources has gotten her where she was in life, so she did not expect anything from her father or Millicent's estate. Millicent informed the "boys" that they would continue running the Carter family affairs as usual, with no changes after her death. Alice on the other had been given a choice. She could continue working as an attorney for the justice department or stay in Chicago and assume Millicent's position as head if the charitable Carter Foundation. Millicent knew that John's mother wanted the position, but Alice had to, be blunt, the "balls" to run the foundation. She had found her daughter in law to be too soft for the hard decisions involved in handling the demands of what was a billion- dollar charity. Alice was flabbergasted. She had never expected to be brought into the fold in such a dramatic way.
The sons did not object. They had dreaded taking over the day to day administration of the foundation. They were businessmen and liked the end of the family affairs that helped fund the foundation, not the end that administrated it. Millicent wanted an answer from Alice by the end of the weekend so she could sign her will. Millicent then dismissed her sons and asked Alice to stay.
"I know you're work for the justice department is important, especially now, but I trust you to continue my work the way it should be done. We have always understood each other. There had never been any doubt in my mind that you are the daughter that I should have had. Please consider this very seriously." Millicent spoke firmly."John has never had any interest in family matters and Chance…." Her eyes filled with tears and then turned to steel. "Chance wasted every opportunity given to him. Drugs and Alcohol at least you never had those problems, I blamed the tendency on you father, but since you have avoided them, I assume they must get it from my side of the family." She joked.
" I won't lie to you I am flattered and more than tempted by this offer – Oh Hell why not – I sick of DC and politicians. They're just not fun any more. I'll do it. You always know best anyway." Alice replied.
"You know you are the only on of the "children" that ever really took advantage of what this family could offer." Millicent offered.
"When I got old enough to know what you had done for me and what my life could have been like, I realized that following you advice was and acting on it was the only intelligent choice I could make." Alice hugged Millicent.
Alice sat with her brothers and Millicent in the study of the mansion. Millicent was going over her will. She wanted everything to transfer smoothly when her time came. She knew that if her wishes were not made in person that the boys would keep Alice form what was rightfully hers. Millicent knew Alice well enough to know that she did not expect anything from the family. The Carter family had taken her in as one of their own, although the boys resented her a bit, Alice knew that the advantages of the Carter name and resources has gotten her where she was in life, so she did not expect anything from her father or Millicent's estate. Millicent informed the "boys" that they would continue running the Carter family affairs as usual, with no changes after her death. Alice on the other had been given a choice. She could continue working as an attorney for the justice department or stay in Chicago and assume Millicent's position as head if the charitable Carter Foundation. Millicent knew that John's mother wanted the position, but Alice had to, be blunt, the "balls" to run the foundation. She had found her daughter in law to be too soft for the hard decisions involved in handling the demands of what was a billion- dollar charity. Alice was flabbergasted. She had never expected to be brought into the fold in such a dramatic way.
The sons did not object. They had dreaded taking over the day to day administration of the foundation. They were businessmen and liked the end of the family affairs that helped fund the foundation, not the end that administrated it. Millicent wanted an answer from Alice by the end of the weekend so she could sign her will. Millicent then dismissed her sons and asked Alice to stay.
"I know you're work for the justice department is important, especially now, but I trust you to continue my work the way it should be done. We have always understood each other. There had never been any doubt in my mind that you are the daughter that I should have had. Please consider this very seriously." Millicent spoke firmly."John has never had any interest in family matters and Chance…." Her eyes filled with tears and then turned to steel. "Chance wasted every opportunity given to him. Drugs and Alcohol at least you never had those problems, I blamed the tendency on you father, but since you have avoided them, I assume they must get it from my side of the family." She joked.
" I won't lie to you I am flattered and more than tempted by this offer – Oh Hell why not – I sick of DC and politicians. They're just not fun any more. I'll do it. You always know best anyway." Alice replied.
"You know you are the only on of the "children" that ever really took advantage of what this family could offer." Millicent offered.
"When I got old enough to know what you had done for me and what my life could have been like, I realized that following you advice was and acting on it was the only intelligent choice I could make." Alice hugged Millicent.