Page 7 of Gary

“Yeah. You are so much like him. We used to tease him mercilessly. George and me. We made his life miserable.” A sadness settled over his haggard features. “He stood up to us and that was not easy, but he has this indomitable character that made him strong.

I admired that and I envied it as well. I envied him for his ability to be in the household and remain pure. He was never into the goings on. He distanced himself as much as possible.”

“The old man would harass him, he would be punished almost every night, but he withstood it. Our mother clung to him, and he did his best to protect her.” He let out a breath and zeroed in on his son. “I am asking for a chance to make it up to you son.”

Gary felt a jolt. There were so many times in the past that he would have longed to hear those words, but it was too late. He had suffered. As an only child, he had borne the brunt of everything.

He had been a disappointment to both his father and his uncle George. They had wanted him to be part of the ‘group’. His mother and his uncle Graham had tried to shield him from the worst of it, but he still suffered and that was something he could never forget.

“What does that entail?” He asked mildly.

“Setting things right. I am assuming that Graham already filled you in on what I have been trying to do.”

“He has, but isn’t it a bit too late?”

“I hope not. The casinos are gone and several of the questionable businesses, we had with the others.” He plucked at the sheets. “I know there have been some complaints from our former partners, but it is what it is. It has to be done, and I want you to take your rightful place at the helm.”

“Of a sinking ship.”

His father’s mouth tightened. “That is far from being the truth. Ask your uncle. Moretti Enterprise is a lucrative, legitimate business. The restaurants are doing exceptionally well and the commercial as well as the apartment buildings are the finest in the part of the country. The new plazas…”

“I know all of that. But it was built with blood money, and I don’t think I want to be part of it.”

“It’s your legacy, boy!”

Gary’s eyes flashed dangerously. “That might have worked in the past, but I am an adult now and your raised voice means nothing to me. And I see you are reverting to the man you always were. You cannot force me to stay, dad, I will come and go as I please.”

Grant held up a hand, a contrite look on his face. “I apologize. All I am asking is that you stick around. I am dying. You are the last of the Moretti and the legacy belongs to you. Just think about it.”

He opened his mouth to say something but decided against it. “We’ll see.”

They both looked up as the nurse came into the room. “It’s time for your sponge bath and medication.”

“Damn nagging woman,” his father complained without heat.

“I will come back in the afternoon.” Nodding to the nurse, Gary left the room and without pausing as he did yesterday, he went outdoors.

Hesitating slightly, he stopped and looked around the neglected space, a twinge of regret shadowing his face as he noticed the weeds choking his mother’s rose bushes. His father had fired the gardener too.

Making a note to rehire the man, he got into the car and drove out the long curving driveway.

*****

“You didn’t tell me you were dropping by.” Graham jumped up from his desk as soon as his nephew stepped in. “Greta, hold my calls for the next hour please.” He ordered the woman who had followed Gary inside.

“Yes sir.” Withdrawing, she discreetly closed the doors behind her.

“What brings you by?”

“I am here to check out the place.” Gary wandered over to the cabinet and without invitation, poured a steaming cup of coffee.

“Have you had breakfast? I could call the kitchen…”

“No.” Taking the coffee with him, he sat on a curved sofa braced against the floor to ceiling window and looked around the lofty office. “I haven’t been around for five years, but I do not recall your office being this elegant. You have made changes.”

Graham sat back down and angled his chair to face Gary. “It’s not my original office. It belonged to George and was bigger than mine. When he died, I decided to take over it and make the changes.

He was into heavy upholstery and dark colors. I prefer things of a lighter shade.” He nodded to the pale gold wallpapers and the matching carpet. Expensive artworks were displayed on the walls and the fireplace took up an entire section of the room.

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