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"What are you doing today?" Alexis asked walking into the kitchen in only my t-shirt and boxers.
"I have meetings today with my lawyer and Weldon. Might do a press release then some last minute details for the funeral on Sunday. What about you?" I said flipping the pancakes.
"I have class in two hours and then I'm on call with Dr. Parish until later tonight."
"Hmm…pancakes?" I said sliding a plate and a cup of coffee across the table.
"Yes, I'm starving." She said digging into her plate. I leaned on my forearms watching her. She noticed. "Aren't you going to eat?"
"I don't like pancakes." I stated.
"Then why did you make them?"
"Because you like them." I said. "I'm going to take a shower then I'll take you back to your place ok?" I said walking to my bedroom leaving a surprised Alexis at the bar.
I got out of the car and helped Alexis out.
"Hold on, one sec, Steven." I told the driver as I shut the door. I turned to her and said, "I'll call you when I get a chance."
"Don't work to hard." She said straightening my black tie that laid over my red button up. "Love you." She said pulling me down by my tie and kissing me lightly.
"I will never get used to hearing you say that." I said in between kisses. "I love you too." The driver honked his horn. "I got to go." I said getting in the car. The car pulled away from her slowly. I had work to do.
I walked into the law firm located in the heart of Manhattan.
"I'm here to see, Mr. Price." I said to the receptionist.
"Yes, he'll be with you shortly." She said with a smile.
"Thanks." I said taking a seat in the waiting area.
I saw that I had a new email from my father. It read, Jasper, I need you to be at the house on Thanksgiving, we will be hosting a party. There will be reporters and cameras there. We will be doing a tell all interview with Barbara Walters. Put on a smile for me. -Your father
I laughed out loud. He was resorting to emails. How typical.
"Mr. Bracken." The pale white, elderly man greeted. He approached me with his hand out wide. "Good to see you again."
"Please call me Jasper."
"Then call me Eugene. Why don't we go back to my office?"
"Of course. Lead the way." I said as he started to lead me down the corridor.
"I haven't seen you since you were a little boy and now look at you. You're all grown up." He paused . "I am truly sorry about your mother." He apologized opening the door.
"Thank you." I said crossing the threshold and sitting down in the chair across from his desk. "So I came here for two things."
"Yes, let's dive into it. What's the first thing on your list?"
"Well, as you know my mother passed and I need to get her finances in order and her will."
"Right, I have that right here." He said putting his glasses on and pulling out papers. "She left all property and finances to your father." He paused and looked the rest of the way down the paper. "It seems that she did not leave you anything."
"May I ask who was the witness?" I asked out of curiosity and to see if my suspicions were correct.
"William Bracken." He stated.
Bingo.
"I'm very sorry."
"Money is not an issue. I never wanted the money." I said.
"Well what was the next thing?" He asked.
"I wanted to change my last name to my mother's maiden name."
"You want to change your name to Brooks?"
"I just want the paperwork to think it over." I stated.
He reached into the filing cabinet behind him and grabbed a packet. He slid it across the table.
"Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"No, that's it. Thank you, Eugene." I said standing and buttoning my jacket. I reached across the table and shook his hand. "I'll show myself out."
I stepped out onto the busy street. The media frenzy had died down in the past few days because of this I decided to walk to my next appointment with Weldon. The fresh air did me some good. Well if by fresh you mean polluted city air.
My thoughts began to wonder to the upcoming holiday, Thanksgiving. Usually I would spend it with my family but due to recent events. There was no way I would do that. Alexis would be having dinner with her family so I would most likely stay in.
I walked up several steps to the door of City Hall. I walked into the lobby and past the receptionist. Stepping up to the door of Mayor Weldon's office. I knocked twice, opening the door slowly. I stepped over the threshold and saw that Weldon was sitting at his desk and my father was sitting across from him.
"Dad?"
"Jasper." He answered.
"What are you doing here?"
"Talking with Weldon about some legislation I want to pass. I was just leaving."
"Actually, Weldon do you mind if I talk with my father for a moment."
"Of course." He stated. He stood slowly and walked out.
"Congratulations, you have even more money to put towards your campaign. But, you already knew that didn't you seeing as you were the witness." I said as the door closed.
"Your mother's decision not mine."
"Sure." I said. "You know what else I did this morning?"
"What?"
"I got papers to change my last name to Brooks."
"If you want anyone to pay any attention to your political career then you won't."
"You know what you're right. Because one day, I am going to make Bracken a good name again. A name that isn't associated with evil. A name that I hope Alexis will take one day. While you're rotting in a cell or in the ground." I said opening the door for him. "Oh and Dad, tell Barbara I said hi."
He walked out of the office quickly with his lips curving into a smile. Weldon strolled back into his office and over to his desk soon after.
"Everything ok?" He asked casually.
"Fine. Now, about the position. I talked with Alexis about it and I want to accept your offer."
"Really?"
"If it still stands."
"Of course. Yes. That's great. I'm so glad that you are going to do it. Now that I can't run for Governor, I feel like I need to do something more. Like mentor you in your pursuit of a political career."
"Well I'm glad you chose me."
"You stood out the minute I met you at that party three years ago when you said you wanted to be a politician one day."
"I remember."
"Well, we need to get down the logistics of your campaign. But, I want to hear what you want to do first."
"Well, I think we should start away and I would like to keep my father out. Mostly because I want to win on my own and not because of him."
"Ok, understandable. Slogan? Everyone needs a good slogan."
"Well, since I'm young we could go with the whole revival of the city thing. Fresh eyes."
"There are some old guys in the council that will not like that at all. I don't think you are going to have a problem getting the public to vote for you. I'm just worried that those old by the books guys will not let some young guy come in and change everything. So you might have to worry about getting their support the most."
"Right. How about this, 'New leader. New vision. New direction.'."
"I like it. I'll get my guys right on it. In the meantime, you need to announce your candidacy. Find yourself a good campaign manager and financial advisor. My other advice, get away from the family lawyers and get yourself a good attorney. Never know when you might need one. I learned the hard way."
"Of course. Thank you for the advice, Mr. Weldon."
"Please, we are going to be colleagues soon. It's Bob." He said standing and coming around his desk.
"Thanks Bob." I said standing and extending my hand to him. Instead he pulled me in for a hug and patted my back.
"Proud of you." He stated as he pulled away from me.
"Thank you." I said walking out of the office.
"Did you send out the invitations yet?" I asked the funeral director as I stood in the doorway of his office.
"Yes, just dropped them off."
"Good, so everything is good for Sunday?"
"Yes, Mr. Bracken. Everything's ready. Except, I have a question regarding your attendance."
"I'll be coming. I mean she is my mother."
"Not that. Will you be bringing someone?"
"No, I won't."
"Ok. That's all then."
"Good, call me if you need anything." I said stepping out onto the busy Upper East Side sidewalk.
It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and I had finished all my meetings. With nothing left to do, I strolled down the street. I would have to start wearing a heavier coat. Seeing as the temperature was starting to drop and we were going to the colder months of the year. This time of year had always been my favorite. The feeling you get when you see the first snow of the season or when you go ice skating in Rockefeller Plaza. I had never had anyone to share it with but this year was going to be different. I had Alexis. Now my favorite time of the year would be shared with her and I was so excited. But, it would also be bitter sweet seeing as my mother would be absent.
But, I was not alone.