The Test (37 page)

“Please don't get him started!” Monica said as Frank led them inside. “Are the others here yet?”

“Gina and Dan are coming in on the Lear, Chan with them. Rory's in isolation getting ready for the bone marrow transplant.”

“And how is Elise?” Monica asked, settling on the plush sofa.

“If she had her way, we'd live in Florida with the Stevens kids. But we're going to be fine here. I'm keeping the farm so Elise can have horses. And when Chan brings the kids up, they can use the house. I think that's what Meredith would have wanted.”

“I'm sure it is,” Monica said. She looked at the family portraits. Some
with Frank's mother, Kay. Some with Vivian. None with her mother. “You know, I still feel weird about this. I really don't want the trust money. I'm happy just being part of the family.”

Family had become important to Frank, too, so he didn't contradict her. Instead, he said, “Here's Ashley!”

“You look so much better.” Monica embraced her sister. “Back to your natural hair color.”

Ashley, now living in Tampa, could not let that statement go unre-marked. “Speaking of hair color—” She looked at her sister quizzically, and Monica grinned.

Everyone had gathered in the living room by the time Carl arrived. They talked first of personal events: Carrie and Matt were engaged, and Terry was still seeing Monica's niece Jenna.

Monica spoke up. “She's crazy about him. But then she's just plain crazy.”

The conversation stopped when Carl shuffled to the Sheraton desk in the middle of the room. Frank tried not to notice the palsy as Carl removed some papers from his briefcase. The old man looked sad, defeated, but he had been loyal to Dad up to the end, Frank thought. He glanced about the room. Everyone seemed relaxed, at peace with themselves and each other. A year ago they'd all been strangers.

“I'll get straight to the point,” Carl began. “The trust distribution will be based on the stipulations your father set. He provided each of you with written, individual guidance. Your father felt you each needed to make certain life adjustments to bring you into harmony with his personal credo.” He bowed his head, then went on, “I will read verbatim what he wanted for you.”

“For Dan, involvement in the family. Reconciliation with Gina and his children. I score that a pass.”

“For Frank, involvement in the family. Moral leadership in family and government affairs. I score that a pass.”

“For Monica, involvement in the family. Forgiveness. A pass.”

“For Rory, just be your wonderful self. A definite pass.”

“For Ashley, balance of family and medicine. I think we'd all agree, a pass. And Ashley, as special thanks for your gift of bone marrow to Rory.”

Carl seemed to have finished. So this was the test that had so shaped their lives?

“And for Carla, Uncle Carl?” Ashley asked softly. “What did Dad want for Carla?”

“For Carla, that she seek help to find inner peace.” Carl read. “And for Carla, her inheritance was to be held in trust until I, as the trustee, saw fit to release it.”

Dan spoke up. “Is that all there is? No actual test? No number two lead pencils? Proof of performance?”

Carl returned the papers to the briefcase. “I can now distribute a sum of one point eight billion in equal portions to Dan, Frank, Rory, Monica, and Ashley. That's three hundred sixty million each. Congratulations.”

“So there was no real test?” Frank looked disappointed.

“Yes, there was, Frank,” Carl replied, holding his head high. “When your father knew he was dying, he created this incentive to urge you to accept the moral credo that he himself had embraced. The ‘wisdom of age' he kept saying. He felt that in life he had failed you, and perhaps in death he would be more successful. ‘If they follow my credo, they'll be truly happy.'” Carl ended his statement with, “Your father could not have anticipated the tragic consequences.”

“We mustn't blame him.” Gina looked from face to face. “He did what he thought was right. What happened is not his fault.”

“Let's make a pact,” Dan suggested. “No more speaking of faults. We've all made mistakes, but we must move forward. We have each other; that's what Dad wanted for us. Now how about we head for the airport and take the Lear to pay Cardinal Sean a visit. He's bound to need some cheering up in that nursing home where he insists on staying.”

“Not so fast,” said Carl. “You have to sign papers, and pick up your millions.”

“The papers can wait,” Frank said. “I agree with Dan. Let's head for Detroit.”

Dan jumped up, pulling Gina with him. “On the way, let's get started on ‘Parnell for President.' How about we plan some strategy?”

“Whoa.” Frank laughed. “We've unleashed a political machine.”

“Family's got a lot of connections,” Dan said with a grin. “And a lot of money. If we pool it, we should be able to pull this off.”

“I just hope having a brother as president won't bring on more paparazzi, Monica said.”

Meredith, if only you were here
. Frank had to steel himself not to cry.

“We're going to have to start in your state. Get those voting machines fixed,” Frank said to Dan, as he slung an arm around his brother's shoulder.

“Come on, everybody.” Dan opened his arms and they all gathered for a group hug. Paul Parnell's dream, come true.