Advent Calendar - Day 11 Fiction by Byron Beach
I--we--are so lucky to have so many willing victims contributors to this year's Advent Calendar. The generosity of reader-friends with their time and talent is truly one of the nicest things about the calendar.
This morning we have another coda from Byron Beach. This time we're taking a sneak peek at what Adrien English and Jake Riordan just might be up to...
YoungMr. Gracen Explains it All.
Thestaccato rhythm of Jake's fingertips tapping nervously against the steeringwheel filled the car, pricked at Adrien like a persistent mosquito. Adrien knewhis husband better than anyone, he understood that Jake’s thin veneer of tranquilitywas in danger of cracking. This meeting hadkept getting delayed and pushed off. First for Jake’s work, or his travel thenfor any number of vague excuses but after more than two months, time wasrunning out. Christmas was next week and nothing in the legal world everhappens in the week before New Year’s, so if they were going to get theirdocuments in place Adrien had to force it to happen. A key to theirrelationship was their ability to navigate each other's boundaries. Knowingwhen to push, when to gently nudge the other outside their comfort zone, andwhen silence was the best medicine. Adrien had pushed, but now, this was a time for silence with Jake.
Theyexited the 210 East and Jake guided the Subaru past the holiday decorations onLake Street. Turning at a 30-foot gold modernist Christmas tree with stainlesssteel and gold balls, and he dived down into the concrete darkness of the UnionBank building's underground parking lot. The dimness momentarily stole Adrien'ssight, a niggling reminder that maybe it was time for glasses. They say theforties were the starting point of failing eyesight. Well, better eyesight thanthe heart, he mused. Adrien felt fitter than he had since he was a kid. He swamregularly, and his personal trainer, Scout, ensured his cardio sessions werepunctual. Plus, Jake had evolved into an ardent health freak, championing thecause of green smoothies and disturbingly frequent vegan meals.
Asthey exited the car, Jake muttered in a curt tone, “You'd think they'd havebetter parking facilities. It's so cramped; our doors will get dented.”
Adriencast him a glance, a hint of grin on his face. They were just here to discusssome paperwork, not make definitive decisions, it should be easy, but Adrienknew that Jake didn’t grow up with this and probably didn’t understand in ameaningful way what he was walking into. As they moved around the car, Adrienslipped his hand into Jake's, squeezing it reassuringly. "Thanks fordriving, my mind is preoccupied," he said, peppering a quick kiss onJake's neck.
"Anythingfor you, baby," murmured Jake, "Let's go check the fallout."Adrien, shook his head in amusement.
“Adrien,thanks for coming in. And I presume this is your husband, Jake?” StantonGracen, Old Mr. Gracen’s movie star handsome grandson and the new managingpartner at Hitchcock & Gracen, greeted them. He gave Adrien a warm smilethat echoed their first meeting and reenforced Adrien’s feeling that the familylaw firm was now in more progressive and friendly hands for couples like them. Shaking Jake's hand, he remarked. “Jake, I’ve heard plenty about you from Lisa.It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Niceto meet you, Mr. Gracen. Considering what Lisa might have shared, I assure youit wasn't all my fault,” Jake replied, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.
Gracenlaughed, “Call me Stan. And you're underestimating Lisa's admiration for you.”
Heled them into the modern conference room, with its avant-garde lightingfixtures and a panoramic view of the San Gabriel Mountains. "Would youlike any coffee or water?" Stan offered gesturing to an oddly lavashspread of coffee, tea, muffins, fruit and sugar cookies in H, G and &shapes covered in red and green sprinkles.
“Howmany lawyers are we expecting?” murmured Jake looking over the table.
Adrien,shook his head then thanked Stan, requesting only water, knowing that Jakewould need something to fidget with during the ensuing conversation. While hisadministrative assistant brought in bottles of Hint water, Stan produced ahefty pile of folders as Adrien and Jake took their seats at the sleek glasstable.
“Todayshould be straightforward, although there will be quite a few signaturesrequired. Based on our discussions, Adrien, I've prepared all the necessarydocuments. But before we delve into them, I suggest we discuss an overall viewof everything. Does that sound okay?”
“Thatsounds fine," responded Adrien, casting a reassuring smile at Jake, whoseemed be sizing up his chances of escape by making a desperate run from theroom. Adrien squeezed Jake's hand under the table, feeling him relax slightly,while Stan looked on with a knowing smile.
Stanresumed his professional persona. “As you know, Adrien, your grandmother lefther estate to you with the final half to be disbursed after your 40th birthday.Just to clarify, this only pertains to the trust fund set up by yourgrandmother and has no relation to the irrevocable trust your fatherestablished for your mother, for which you are the residual beneficiary."
Adriennodded his understanding as Stan continued his overview. But Jake, visiblytensed, stiffened further in his chair.
"Sinceyour first disbursement, twenty years ago, the funds have been wisely, and Imight say, quite successfully, invested in a diversified portfolio," Stancontinued in his soothing tone. "The portfolio includes blue chip andtechnology equities, bonds, industrial real estate, and some legacyinvestments, such as the ranch in Basking. The only liability is the note yousigned when Lisa transferred ownership of the Porter Ranch house. Today, wewill resolve that note and transfer the ownership to both of you."
Jakecut in abruptly. “No, that's Adrien's house; it should be in his name.”
Adrieninterjected, "Jake, we've discussed this. It's ours — well, ours andScout's and Tompkins'. No point in distinguishing when our lives areintertwined." He added, "In fact, that's the main point of today. Wemake decisions together. This is an equal partnership, with noreservations."
Jakestarted to shake his head, but Stan chimed in with a softer tone, "Jake,in this, I agree with Adrien. Adrien has always been adamant that he wanted toshare this inheritance as community property. Having dealt with numerousestates and sadly complicated family dynamics, I can assure you the mostsuccessful and happy couples work as teams, with neither partner holding thefinancial upper hand."
"Sobuckle up, Riordan. I'm doing this for both of us. We're in this for the longhaul," Adrien said, laughing, as Jake closed his eyes in disbelief as ifthat would make it all go away.
Stan,reverting to his formal tone, proceeded with the estate details as Jakelistened in tense silence. “We’ll start with the industrial distribution warehousesin La Verne, which are part of a limited partnership” Stan’s tone turningalmost gleeful “And this is the neat part, as a passive partner your incomefrom these can be quite happily is offset by depreciation and losses from otherinvestments decreasing the tax-load on the current year’s net profit.” Stansmiled like a kid opening presents as Adrien nodded in agreement and Jake frozecloser to absolute zero. He continued “The current value of your partnershipshare is around sixteen million, but more to the point the after tax distributedcashflow is ___”
Later,deep into their second round of double frozen margaritas at Mijare’s, Jake'spetrified expression began to thaw. "You should've told me,” He repeatedshaking his head. "You really should’ve told me. My parents scrimped andsaved to buy their house for $59,000, even taking a second mortgage for Danny'scollege. Who am I to have all this?"
"You'rethe same gallant man I fell for when you strutted into my bookstore, convincedI was a killer," Adrien said gently. "Money doesn't change anything,apart from being able to finish the remodel of the ranch and building you a trueand proper workshop at Porter Ranch." He paused for a moment, and with asoft kiss and a raised eyebrow, adding, "We could also consider a New Year’svacation? Just you, me and a feather, in an overwater bungalow in Tahiti, withno swimsuits or commitments?"
As reluctant smile spread across. Jake’s face heleaned in for a kiss whispering "Merry Christmas, Baby. Anything you want--just ask your millionaire hubby."
*Apologies to Byron! I accidentally cut off his last line. OUCH.
