Legacy Discovered

Legacy Discovered

by Kerry Reis
Legacy Discovered

Legacy Discovered

by Kerry Reis

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Overview

A woman learns her husband is not the man she married. Instead of an orphaned foster child like herself, he is the scion of a billionaire. In order to avoid a family legacy, he faked his own death. When they first met sixteen years ago, Ali was convinced Ryan was a man who grew up like she did: as a foster care orphan. They married quickly and headed for the Midwest to complete college. Sixteen years later, Ryan has an independent law practice, Ali is an ER nurse, and the couple has the perfect life. Yet when Ryan leads a class action suit against a toxic industrial development by billionaire Charles Barnett, all hell breaks loose. During the case discovery, Ali learns that Ryan is really the sole son and namesake of real estate magnate Barnett who faked his death by disappearing off his sailboat near the Massachusetts coast sixteen years ago. His real name is Charles Barnett Jr., and he pulled off his deception in order to avoid the pressure of the family legacy and to marry Ali who came from a lower social status. He took the name Ryan, assuming the legal identity of a college roommate who died young. This searing novel demonstrates the strength of love and the power of class to haunt our lives while serving as a moving meditation on how to redeem the past. As Ryan says to his teenage daughter, “Status does not determine character. Character determines status.”

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781481757355
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Publication date: 09/16/2013
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
File size: 267 KB

About the Author

Kerry Reis was born in Oregon and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. As an undergraduate, he attended the University of California at Los Angeles, where he graduated with a bachelor's in motion picture and television arts. He worked for ABC Television for twenty eight years and became the associate director of digital broadcast communications for the Disney ABC Television Group. He has travelled widely throughout the United States and Europe but currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

Read an Excerpt

LEGACY DISCOVERED


By KERRY REIS

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2013 Kerry Reis
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4817-5736-2


CHAPTER 1

Like a favorite song, it was a memory that Ali would play over in her mind throughout her life. The cool briskness of the November afternoon, the golden leaves crunching underfoot, the peal of children laughing while tossing a ball with their collie—all soothing notes within the opening stanza of a loving ballad. She had gone out to the park during her break from her volunteer job at the nearby university hospital to enjoy the fresh air. It was a perfect afternoon.

She sat down on a park bench and began to people-watch. A couple of joggers passed a woman reading a book. The collie proved to be quite a fetcher. Then she saw Ryan sitting on the bench next to hers. He was leaning forward with hands clenched together in front of him. He stared blankly into space. She noticed the glint of a tear on his cheek.

"Are you okay?" she asked as she came over and sat beside him. It seemed strange to see a handsome man look so vulnerable.

"Oh ... yeah, I'm fine." He looked at her with slightly reddened brown eyes and gave her a weak smile. "I was just visiting a friend. He's not doing so good."

"Sorry to hear. I'm sure your visits must cheer him up."

"Actually, he's the one always cheering me up. I don't know where he gets his strength. We've been roommates for a couple of years."

"You appear to be good friends."

"We've taken classes together, double-dated, even tried to rush the same fraternity."

Ali let out a small snicker, which Ryan quickly noted.

"What?" he asked.

"I find most frat boys are arrogant rich kids."

A shocked look raced across Ryan's face before he looked off.

"I'm sorry," Ali said, placing her hand sympathetically on his arm. "I shouldn't be so flippant when you're worried about your friend."

He stared back into her eyes for what seemed to be an eternity. Finally, he asked, "Why are you here?"

"Because you looked like you needed someone just now."

As sincerely as these words were stated, Ali could not deny an underlying attraction she had for those vulnerable eyes. She ventured forward.

"I'm Ali. Look, I volunteer over at the hospital. Would you like me to check in on your friend?"

A slight smile began to appear on his face, only to disappear in a veil of confusion. His eyes glanced down for a moment. It surprised Ali, and she lifted her hand from his arm. He looked back up, and the soft smile returned.

"No, that's fine," he answered slowly. "He's here for weekly treatments. Uh, my name's Ryan."

He offered her his hand, and she took it. Time seemed to slow as they looked at each other. Finally, she pulled her hand away.

"I have to get back to work," she said hesitantly. She rose from the bench. "Nice to meet you, Ryan."

She started back toward the hospital, glancing back to see him looking back at her.


* * *

She found it hard to concentrate on her job the rest of the afternoon, as the image of him looking back at her kept floating in her mind. Still, she realized that she probably would not see him again and was making peace with it as she walked out of the hospital that night. There he stood, with a single red rose in his hand, startling her.

"I want to thank you for cheering me up this afternoon," he said, handing her the rose. "I hope you have time for me to treat you to dinner."

She felt the quick twinge of caution, wondering what she really knew about him. "I do have classes tomorrow," she offered guardedly.

"So do I, but I do want to buy you dinner."

Her caution melted. She had hoped to see him again, and here he was. She smiled, twirled the rose under her nose, and nodded in agreement, and they walked off together to find a quiet restaurant.


* * *

"Mom, I can't find my green skirt!"

Ali twirled the rose under her nose, letting the scent finish up the sixteen-year-old memory. She slipped the rose back into the vase on the kitchen bar.

"I hung it up in your closet last night," she yelled back. "Right next to your jackets."

"That's not where it's supposed to be!"

"Just get dressed and come out to breakfast!"

Ali grabbed two plates, each with a fried egg and a slice of toast, and brought them out from the kitchen to the dining room table. She laid one in front of her eleven-year-old son, Charley, and placed the other one in front of her daughter's usual spot. "C'mon, Sue. It's going to get cold."

She went back into the kitchen to get the other two plates with the same helping of fried egg and toast. Ryan walked into the dining room as she brought out the other two plates. They kissed quickly before she placed the plates in their proper spots on the table.

"It was about time that vase was filled," she told him with a broad smile.

"I was slacking. Forgive me?" he asked.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a longer kiss. "Always," she added.

"Aw, gee! Mom! Dad!" Sue walked in and sat down in her chair with a dismissive teen attitude. "Act your age!"

Charley smiled. "Sue's just being a goof."

Ryan and Ali separated and sat down to breakfast with their children. Despite Ali's nursing job at the hospital and Ryan's independent law practice, the two still managed to have at least one family breakfast and one family dinner each week.

"So, Sue," Ali said sweetly, "you and Mary Ann have plans this weekend?"

"She's going over to her grandparents' this weekend," Sue responded curtly.

"I wish we had grandparents," Charley chimed in.

Ali saw the pained look cross Ryan's face. It was one thing they had in common, having lost their parents early, but it seemed any reminder of this always hurt Ryan more. He smiled faintly and turned to Charley.

"We wish you two did as well. All we have are our memories of them to pass on to you. Finish up. I'm dropping you off at school this morning. Mom's taking Sue."

It always amazed and heartened Ali how well Ryan was able to recompose himself.


* * *

Ryan's assistant Kate walked into his office while he was trying to work on weekly billing.

"I know you are trying to keep this practice open for another week," she started with a wry smile, handing him a business card, "but there is a lawyer from the Barnett project here to chat with you."

"Did he make an appointment? I don't recall seeing anything on my calendar."

"When has a member of the opposition ever made an appointment?"

"When has a member of the opposition ever come to my office?"

"You have a point there."

"So do you think I can charge him for the time?"

"Ha ha. Show him in?"

"Have him wait five minutes, and then let him in."

Kate left and closed the door behind her. Ryan gathered the billing papers, slid them into a file, and placed them on a pile on the right side of his desk. He turned and skimmed through a series of files. He found the one he wanted, pulled it out, and began to scan the summary pages. A few minutes later Kate opened the door and directed a fresh-faced Sam Langston into Ryan's office.

"Mr. Prescott, thank you for seeing me," Langston said, offering his hand.

Ryan rose, shook hands with Langston, and directed him to sit down.

"Kate says you are on the Barnett Project legal team, but I don't recall your name on any of the filed documents on this project, and I have a running correspondence with several of the lawyers on the project."

"I know, and you have been quite a thorn in their side. Your little firm has become the de facto leader of all the legal action against this project. I'm an associate with Lautner, Oakes, Keyes & Inger. Charles Barnett is one of our major clients. I was sent out to see if we could find a less adversarial method to work out the issues you and the firms you have partnered with continue to raise with the suits you have filed against this project."

Ryan shook his head with a sly fox smile. "Did you spend the entire flight working on that little introduction?" he asked as he shifted forward in his chair. "Look, you and I both know that Barnett is an impatient, stubborn bull who only cares about adding to his little empire regardless of who it hurts. I am not against growth and development, as long as it is done responsibly. My clients and this community are being ramrodded into allowing this development without true concern for protection of the surrounding community and the environment. If he wants to build his little industrial park and housing community, he will have to play fair with his neighbors and forget the shortcuts with the environmental regs."

"I think you are a little biased against Mr. Barnett. He is not the hard-driving person that the tabloid media makes him out to be. I was honored to be invited to his home for a briefing before flying here. He was a very direct man, but a very caring man. He is not the villain they make him out to be."

"What I have seen with this project are illegal attempts to use eminent domain proceedings, dummy corps to purchase select lots to drive down surrounding property values, and sloppy and purposely vague environmental reports. Does this sound like a project of a caring man?"

Langston shifted forward in his chair to meet Ryan's stern gaze. In the corner of his eye, he noticed a couple of photo frames on the corner of the desk facing Ryan.

"Look, I was sent here to investigate where we stood with this deal. If some of the people on this team are not adhering to the high standards that Mr. Barnett demands, then we need to address their performance." Langston noticed the slight eyebrow lift on Ryan's face. "Okay, he is a little harsh, but that doesn't mean he doesn't understand the struggles of the families in this community and wants to see it thrive. He suffered through his own family tragedy over sixteen years ago when he lost his only son. As a family man, I think you could understand how tough that could be."

Langston took the nearest photo frame and waved it at Ryan as he spoke the last statement, and then he looked at the photo. It was a photo of a younger Ryan and Ali standing next to a potted plant. Ryan's hair was fuller and darker in the photo, contrasting well with Ali's flowing dirty blonde hair. His blazer and her dress were the only indication that the event in the photo was somewhat special.

"That's a picture of my wedding day," Ryan said, grinning. "The other photo is of my kids."

Langston looked at the photo for a few more seconds with a slightly confused crease of the brow. He composed himself and looked back up at Ryan.

"The bottom line is we want to work with you to resolve these issues and make this project a positive one for the community. We want to set up some future meetings where we can explain our positions and listen to where we can do better."

"You're good at talking the talk. You can take that back to your managing partner. You can also tell them I personally am not going to back off. We're playing by the book here."

"We wouldn't expect anything less."

"Yeah? Ask them about Peacock Ridge. That will never happen here. Not even close."

"I am unfamiliar with Peacock Ridge." Langston rose from his seat and offered his hand again. "Thank you for giving up your time. I will get back to you regarding dates and times for those first meetings. I think we can work this out."

Ryan got up and shook hands. "You won't find us unreasonable around here, but we won't roll over either."

"Understood. Good-bye."

"Good-bye. Hope you enjoy your visit."

Langston left Ryan's office, paying his respect to Kate on the way out. As soon as he left the building, he pulled out his smart phone and made a call.

"Yes, I just left his office," he said into the phone. "No, he is not some local country bumpkin lawyer. He will be a formidable barrier to this project's goals. He brought up Peacock Ridge, if you have any idea what that project was." Langston listened and then responded, "I think we need to run a background check on Prescott right from birth. Also, this may sound odd, but could you give me an in-depth briefing on the disappearance of Charles Barnett Jr. sixteen years ago?"

CHAPTER 2

The ER was busy that morning. An early morning traffic accident had brought an injured family of four ahead of the usual cold sufferers who were sure they had come down with a new exotic disease. Ali had assisted Dr. Jackson and Dr. Marpan with the mother, who had been sitting in the front passenger seat and had received the brunt of the impact from the other car. The woman had suffered multiple fractures in the right leg, a punctured liver, and a skull fracture over her right eye. Ali deftly monitored the pulse and blood pressure and had the appropriate IV solutions and instruments available for the doctors before they knew they needed them. The team stabilized the woman and sent her up to a waiting operating room where a surgeon waited to complete the lifesaving procedures. Before Ali had a chance to breathe, she assisted the new resident in handling a young child with multiple bee stings. Then she evaluated a few of the flu-ridden walk-ins who did not understand the need to keep hydrated with their high fevers.

By the early afternoon, the rush began to lighten. Ali brought a couple of charts back to the nurses' station and filed them before turning to her friend and coworker, Jean. She twisted and stretched her head as she spoke. "I'm beat. Do you think I have time to grab something to eat before the next wave?"

"I would hope so," Jean smiled back, "otherwise we would have to kick him out."

Jean pointed out toward the waiting area. Seated against the far wall, Ryan was calmly reading the current issue of Women's Health Today. Ali shook her head in mild amazement.

"How long—"

"A half-hour," Jean replied before Ali could finish.

"I don't know if I have time today."

"Yes, you do," Jean interrupted again. "We have you covered."

Ali realized that she would only get one more word into the conversation. "Thanks."

Ali grabbed her sweater and headed out to the waiting area.

"Picking up a few pointers?" she asked as she stood in front of him.

Ryan looked up from the magazine with a broad smile. He laid the magazine on the end table and stood up before her. "I have come to rescue you—at least for an hour."

"Well, it will have to be the commissary."

Ryan took her hands and kissed her. "It will do," he told her sweetly.

Ali took his arm and allowed him to lead her toward the commissary. She glanced back to see Jean smiling jealously at them.


* * *

"Have you heard back on how the operation is going?" Ryan asked, taking another bite of his Reuben sandwich.

"Not yet," Ali replied, picking at the pasta on her plate, "but Dr. Tran is one of the best surgeons we have. Her husband suffered a broken arm and cracked ribs, but all I could hear from his area was him calling out for her. I know it's no longer in my hands, but I really feel for them."

"Which is why they had the best team on the job." Ryan reached over and put a comforting hand on her arm. "I always felt that you should have gone on to med school. You would be one hell of a doctor."

Ali gave out a little chuckle. "I know you feel you could have supported me in medical school, but we had to be realistic. We did not have the money, and we have two bright kids who needed me more."

Ryan gave her a wistful smile.

"Speaking of the kids," Ali sparked back up, "I feel Sue is having some problems at school."

"What sort of problems?"

"She has been a little tense lately—quick temper, perhaps a little depressed. I realize high school is a major change for her. I feel we need to talk with her."

"Do you think this is a job for Dad?"

"Maybe we should do this together. United front and all."

"I'm not a complete klutz when it comes to parenting. And I seem to have some time now. I had an interesting visitor in the office today." Ryan paused to watch the quizzical look cross Ali's face. "Barnett flew in an associate from his personal law firm to get the lay of the land. This guy tried to razzle-dazzle me. He thought I was going to be impressed and just roll over, but I quickly set him straight. I found out later that they delayed the filing with the zoning board. That'll show the old dog."

Ali's puzzled look deepened.

"What? Did I say something?" Ryan asked.

"I know that this Charles Barnett is a big-time developer and that he heads this major national corporation. I'm also sure that he may believe that making money is more important than a little red tape. But you're acting like he ran over your dog when you were little. You're starting to take this a little personally, aren't you?"
(Continues...)


Excerpted from LEGACY DISCOVERED by KERRY REIS. Copyright © 2013 Kerry Reis. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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