Page 41 of Letters Book Two
“Your petition states that you would like to change your last name to Howard. Is that correct, Mr. Jenson?”
“Yes, your honor. That is correct.”
He smiled wide and looked past me at a woman he clearly knew well, Mrs. Howard, my grandma. “And, Mr. Jenson, you have asked the court to provide you with the legal means to be adopted by a one...” he rustled through some paperwork, making a bit of a show for the courtroom attendees. “A Mrs. Edward Howard. Is that your wish, son?”
“That is my wish, your honor. I will be very proud if you can grant me that wish, sir.”
“Then so it shall be, Mr. Lucas Howard, grandson of Mrs. Edward Howard. Congratulations, son.” He slammed the gavel. “Court dismissed.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: Perry
It had been a long time since the Hamptons house had so many guests. Coincidentally, almost exactly a year ago was the last party held here. That gathering was Jack’s annual Christmas party for the staff and people from my business. It was three days after that that he was killed. Jack had suggested a year-long journey for me to find love again. I took him up on it, and as usual, it was another one of his spot-on directions.
Lucas and I were hosting our newly-formed family for a week stay at the beach house. Preston, my brother, and the rest of my family would be coming for the actual Christmas day celebration and would be meeting Lucas for the first time next week.
Mrs. Howard was having a difficult time staying out of the kitchen. Like Lucas, she wasn’t a fan of others catering to her every need. “How long have you lived like this, Perry?”
“Quite some time, ma’am.” She knew how to keep me in check. “But this will be the last time, ma’am. In February, the new owners move in.” I looked around the elegant room.Would I miss this?Just as I asked myself the question, the reason I wouldn’t, entered the room. Lucas was trying to take a plate of appetizers from Michael, the butler.
“Perry! He won’t let me help,” he complained, scrunching his face at me and exhaustively throwing his hands to his side. If I didn’t know better, he looked like he might throw himself on the floor and have a shit fit.
“Michael, please relax, will ya?” I asked, staring at the two new buddies. The staff had fallen in love with the no-nonsense Lucas Howard.
“Lucas and your guests need to be taken care of, sir. That is my job.” His inclusion of Lucas’s name was a special touch that Michael knew I would appreciate. He quickly understood how important Lucas was to me.
“I know, but can you at least let him feel useful? He hasn’t been spoiled by you for years like I have. He doesn’t appreciate what he’s missing.”
“As you wish, sir. Alright, Lucas, follow me, we’ll do some dishes.”
“Too late Michael,” Alex, Chad’s father said. “I was just in the kitchen. Chad is washing the dishes.”
Michael threw his arms in the air and frowned at me. Lucas put the platter down and placed an arm around Michael’s shoulder. “Come on, Michael, we can find something to do.” Lucas shot me a glance. “You better make sure the new folks keep him, Mr. Jackson. Or he comes with us back to Beaufort!”
Lucas disappeared into the kitchen and Alex and Maggie smiled at me. “He’s really something, Perry,” Maggie said, tipping her wine glass in my direction. “Chad can’t shut up about him.”
“Damn! To think we almost got to see our son living here,” Alex frowned teasingly. “Chad blew it, Maggie!”
“It’s ok, honey. He still landed a millionaire didn’t he?” We all laughed at the irony of that statement. “And Clint can build things. What can moneybags here do?” she said, laughing at my expense.
The house did not have a single Christmas decoration. I had asked the team to leave it all in storage. “There will be a different sort of holiday this year,” I said. They did as I asked, and earlier in the day, Lucas and the boys, as we called Clint and Chad, and I went into town and bought a tree and a bunch of overpriced trimmings. We were going to set it up tonight after dinner. It was Lucas’s idea actually. “I happen to know that Christmas was Jack’s favorite holiday. I saw the pictures, mister. We are getting him his tree.”
“He’ll love it, Lucas. It’ll be the perfect sendoff forourJack,” I said. Chad and Lucas seemed to have their own Jack fan club these days.
The next morning, we all assembled in the grand dining room for an elegant, five-star breakfast. Mrs. Howard marveled at the talent of our house chef. “Ok, Perry. I’m starting to see the wisdom of your lifestyle.”
“Not much more of this for me, Mrs. Howard. Lucas has plans for me in our new kitchen when it’s completed,” I responded.
“That’s at least a year away.”
“Yes it is. That’s why I’ll be hanging out at your house so much next year.” She watched as the first course was removed, frowning as the fine China disappeared. “You also seem to take to this well, ma’am.”
“Tell me again why you sold this house?” she said. I laughed at her, realizing I really wouldn’t be missing the house. Besides, Lucas and I had a gorgeous one being built currently atourbeach.
I stood up and raised my mimosa. “Alright everybody. It’s a warmish day out there but dress warm for the beach. Let’s meet on the patio in, say, thirty minutes. The staff will have chairs and windscreens set up, but it looks beautiful out there, so let’s get ready to say goodbye to Jack.”
Everyone departed for their rooms, and I was left in the cavernous room, staring into the fireplace. The flames danced in my teary eyes. I knew this day would eventually arrive. I had hoped that I would be ready. I knew I was ready for this wonderful new life I’d been given, that was especially true, but I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to my Jack. I knew I never would be, but he had asked in his letter to let him rest. I had an obligation, a promise to keep. It was time.
The Jorgensons relaxed on wooden folding chairs as Mrs. Howard struggled to keep her skirt from flying up. Lucas and Chad had their arms around each other, roughhousing and laughing with unabashed joy. Clint stood down the beach waiting for the football that the two of them were fighting over. This was my family now. I had a memory of the lawn at Harvard and the first time I saw Jack there. The beautiful Iowa boy had been a rare find. Now I fast-forwarded to this same beach when he and I, just a few years ago, walked past the pretty young men playing football on this very beach. We admired them and exchangedhellos. “Oh, to be eighteen again,” I’d said.
