Flight to Paradise (Flight Trilogy, Book 1) (38 page)

The present was easy to embrace now that they had each other; and their future had never looked more hopeful. Trusting that God would forgive them for the mistakes of their past, they surrendered them all to the deep dark abyss of the ocean and locked them away forever—along with their feelings of betrayal, bitterness, humiliation, and hurt that others had caused. Like the birth of a new life, they had been given the gift of a fresh start.

CHAPTER 69

Thursday afternoon at 3:15 p.m., Ryan and Keri pulled up in front of the law office of Philip Darby.

They exited the stretched black limo and walked up the wide flagstone steps, past a large fountain encircled by a multicolored bed of petunias contrasting against the rich green manicured lawn.

Ryan reached and pulled the tall glass door leading into the foyer of the modernly designed law office. A nicely dressed receptionist looked up and smiled as they entered.

“My name is Keri Hart, and I’m here to see Philip Darby.”

The attractive middle-aged woman answered in a drippy Southern drawl, “Yes ma’am, he’s expecting you.” She lifted the receiver of her phone and pressed a button on the keypad. “Mr. Darby, Keri Hart is here to see you. Yes sir. I’ll tell her.” Replacing the receiver, she looked up. “Mr. Darby will be out in a moment. Can I get you something to drink?”

After turning to Ryan, Keri said, “No thank you.”

In less than a minute, a distinguished man in a dark suit entered the room and walked toward them with his hand extended. “Keri, I’m Phil Darby.” They shook hands. “And this must be Ryan Mitchell,” Darby said, reaching for Ryan’s hand.

With a puzzled look, Keri asked, “How do you know Ryan?”

“For now, let’s just say, I’ve heard about him from your father.”

“Oh…okay,” she said, acceptingly.

Darby was as she had envisioned: in his sixties, mostly gray hair, and every bit the Southern gentleman.

Darby lowered his voice, stepping in closer. “Keri, you are aware that you will not be alone during the viewing of your father’s video message?”

“Yes,” she said, glancing up at Ryan.

“The woman and her male friend are waiting in the conference room. Once we’re seated, I’ll begin with a short letter from your father followed by his videotaped message. After the video, you will be free to go.”

“Okay,” Keri replied.

She was taken by how kind he was—almost fatherly. It felt good. But, the thought of meeting the woman waiting in the conference room filled her with anxiety. She held tight to Ryan’s hand.

Darby led them into the conference room. Nothing could have prepared Keri, or Ryan, for what they were about to experience.

In the center of the large room stretched a polished mahogany boardroom-style table with enough high-back leather chairs to seat at least fifteen.

As Keri and Ryan entered the room, a chair spun around. When Keri saw who it was, her heart jumped, making a thrusting attempt to escape through the rapidly narrowing passage in her throat. “Rex? What are
you
doing here?”

“Surprise!” he said with outstretched arms.

Before she had time to process Rex, the woman seated beside him swiveled around in her chair. Keri gasped with enough force to dislodge her heart from her throat, shoving it back into her chest.

Ryan and Keri sang out in unison, “Emily?”

What were the chances of Rex finding her father’s little gold digger, and what were the chances of that little gold digger being Emily.

Frozen in disbelief, staring at Emily, Keri said, “You? What was my father thinking? He must have been out of his mind.” She grabbed Ryan by the arm. “I’m out of here. Come on Ryan.”

As they moved toward the door, Darby said, “Keri, please…wait.”

She turned to hear what Darby had to say.

“I know this appears a little out of the ordinary, but you should stay and listen to what your father has to say.”

She looked up at Ryan. He said, “Why not?” She smiled.

“Okay. We’ll stay,” she said.

“Well, now that we’ve all met.” Darby interjected, attempting to remain professional.

Keri looked at Ryan again; their faces momentarily frozen. Then simultaneously they burst into laughter. They looked back at Emily and Rex and laughed even harder. Darby encouraged Ryan and Keri toward the table.

“Have you ever seen a more perfect couple?” Ryan said. “They truly deserve each other.” Turning toward Emily he said, “You couldn’t have found a more perfect companion. I am so happy for you.”

“You just wait,” Emily replied, “In a few minutes, we’ll see who’s happy for who.”

Ignoring Emily, Ryan glanced at Rex and added, “Hey, buddy, you better watch her, she’s full of surprises.”

“Are we ready to get started?” Darby asked. He motioned with his hand for Keri and Ryan to take a seat on the other side of the table.

Still snickering, they took their seats. Ryan leaned in and whispered to Keri, “Thanks for inviting me. This is just what I needed.” He kissed her on the cheek.

Darby placed a brown envelope and a small box on the table. He removed some neatly typed documents from the envelope.

“I’m going to read a summary statement from Mr. Hart, then I’ll play the video message he recorded only a few weeks before his death.”

“How long is this going to take?” Emily asked impatiently.

“The videotape is approximately three minutes long,” Darby replied.”

“Emily, just be patient,” Rex said.

“You shut-up!” she snapped. “And don’t you tell me what to do.”

“Okay,” Darby prodded. “If we can get started now?”

“Go ahead,” Emily scowled.

Darby read the words of Keri’s father:

“
The
videotape
that
I
have
prepared
has
been
transcribed
and
notarized
.
I
wanted
to
use
this
format
to
express
my
emotions
more
clearly
.
I
have
requested
that
Emily
and
my
beloved
daughter
Keri
both
be
present
.
I
have
also
asked
the
contents
of
the
videotape
,
and
its
text
version
,
not
be
viewed
or
read
by
anyone
prior
to
this
event
.

“
I
apologize
to
my
good
friend
Phil
Darby
for
obtaining
another
firm
to
handle
this
matter
for
me
.
He
is
aware
of
my
desires
that
the
information
remain
private
until
this
day
.
After
the
tape
has
been
viewed
,
the
text
version
of
the
tape
may
be
reviewed
and
filed
as
necessary
.
At
this
time
,
I
would
like
to
ask
Mr
.
Darby
to
play
the
videotape
.”

Darby placed the papers to the side.

“The old fool didn’t trust anybody,” Emily mumbled to herself.

“Excuse me?” Darby asked, looking over at Emily.

“Nothing. Just keep it rolling,” she said, making a continuous rolling motion with her index finger. “I’ve got things to do.”

Rex reached over to take Emily’s hand in an apparent attempt to calm her. Before he touched her, she snatched her hand away and gave him a look that made him recoil in fear of being struck.

Darby took the small box, broke the seal, removed a black videotape, and inserted it into the player that was connected to the built-in projection system.

With the press of a single button on an electronic panel flush-mounted into the side of the table, a white screen at the end of the conference room lowered while the drapes closed automatically, darkening the room. With everyone’s attention fixated on the white screen, Darby pressed the video play button.

Ronald Hart appeared sitting behind a large office desk in front of bookshelves that rose out of the camera frame. The view tightened, causing the image of Hart’s face to grow larger.

He began to speak: “I assume Emily and Keri are both present, as I requested, and possibly, Ryan and Rex, too.”

Keri leaned to Ryan and whispered, “How could he have known?”

“Keri, I first want to tell you that I love you more than you will ever know.”

Keri reached for Ryan’s hand under the table.

“I hope that after you’ve viewed this tape, you will be able to forgive me for what I believe was an understandable misinterpretation on your part.

“Emily, I’m sorry that you had to bear the brunt of my sorrow, especially during my last few months: a time when I finally accepted that I would never be able to talk with my daughter again.”

“For God’s sake, Ron,” Emily said, shifting in her seat, “please…spare us the drama.”

“First, let’s talk about my estate. Mr. Darby has the documents that outline, in detail, how I wish for my estate to be distributed, but let me summarize.

“My estate consists of multiple residences, securities, and several liquid accounts, all managed by Gold Street Capital Management in Chicago. In total, my entire estate, as of this taping, is valued at roughly $100 million dollars. The real estate is free and clear and the remainder consists of cash and securities. If left in their current allocation, they should conservatively yield two hundred to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars per month.

“Did he say ‘per month’?” Rex asked. “Primo,” he turned to Emily and smiled.

“In regards to my estate, you might find the events that I am about to disclose hard to believe, but I trust that once you hear me out, you will better understand why I have made these decisions.

“First, Emily, you have provided me with companionship and entertainment, for this, I want to thank you. Your presence in my life also helped to reinforce my strong beliefs regarding the importance of family, although, your intentions were more than likely in diametric contradiction to their intended outcome.”

Emily turned to Darby with a confused look and asked, “What is
that
supposed to mean: ‘diametric contradiction’?”

Darby motioned with his eyes toward the screen and whispered, “Just watch.”

“Emily, I know that you will now be able to find the life that you have longed for, and I want to wish you and Rex the best in all of your endeavors.”

Emily smiled. She leaned over to Rex, sliding her arm in his, giving him a big open-mouth kiss. It never seemed to dawn on her how Ronald Hart could have known about her and Rex. She’d only gotten with him two days ago.

“Keri, I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me for what I did and for what I am about to tell you.”

Emily snickered, whispering softly to Rex, “Where’s the popcorn? This is where she gets the ax.” She leaned her head on Rex’s shoulder.

“If I could go back, I would definitely do things differently. Keri, it would have been much easier for all of us if your mother…God rest her soul…had not been so hard to deal with.”

Keri’s grip tightened on Ryan’s hand.

“Even as obstinate as she was, I know she loved you and only wanted the best for you. You were everything to both of us, and now, you are all that is left of our family. I hope you’ll not only forgive me, but let the good memories we had together live in your heart, forever. Keri, I love you very much and have no other choice than to leave my entire estate to you.”

Emily bolted to her feet and yelled-out at the projected image on the white screen as though it were alive, “What?” She quickly turned to Darby. “What did that liar say? Didn’t he say for me and Rex to enjoy it all? What about my having to ‘bear the sorrow’? Doesn’t that mean he’s giving it all to me? There must be a mistake!”

Darby pressed the pause button and reached over to Emily. “Please sit down. The tape is not over.”

“This is crap!” she said.

“Honey, sit down,” Rex said, reaching for her arm.

She turned to Rex with a look that would have frightened a starving Doberman away from his last bone. “What makes you think I’m your honey? A couple of nights in the sack and you think you own me? I don’t think so. Get your hands off me.” She sat down in a huff.

Darby pressed the play button and the tape continued.

“Emily, you must have thought that you would be the one receiving my entire estate—as I had planned. But let me explain.”

“You got that right,” she said, still treating the one-dimensional projection as if it were human. “After all, that’s what you told me, you deceiving two-faced pig,” she snapped, her voice seething with anger.

“In some ways, my master plan was designed to give everyone what they wanted or, in some cases, what they deserved. But most importantly, to give you, Keri, the opportunity to follow your heart—something your mother took from you long ago.”

Keri turned and looked at Ryan, her watery eyes starting to spill tears onto her cheek.

“Actually, all I had to do was encourage the inevitable. I believe it would have all played-out the same in the end, I just didn’t want to die knowing my little girl was unhappy. And Ryan, just for the record, I have always known in my heart that you and Keri would make a perfect match. I just couldn’t get her mother to see past herself. It’s sad, but she lived more for what people thought of her than what she really believed in.”

Ronald Hart paused, appearing to hold back his emotions. “Enough of that.” He sniffled. “Now Ryan, I’ll have to hand it to you, you did make things a bit difficult for me when you let Rex sucker you into his little trap with those letters.” He chuckled. “If it hadn’t been for that, I might have been able to pull it off without you two taking the detour down Misery Lane. I just hope you both learned that with every choice in life, there are consequences—some not so pleasant. You need to be proactive and pursue what you believe is right. And for God’s sake, don’t let your heart deceive you. You have a head—use it. I don’t mean to sound preachy, but remember, I’m dead. I can say what I think.