‘Mr. Jansen.’ I responded. ‘I’m going there directly. I’ll tell him to expect a call from Mr. Davis.’ I stood, thanked him for accommodating me, shook hands with him and went on my way.
When I got to the Williams-Davis Group’s garage, Jansen was already waiting for me by the elevator. He led me to his office, offered a seat and asked if I wanted coffee. I declined.
‘Mr. Perkins called and told me to expect you. How can I be of service?’ he asked.
‘I’m about to be drafted. Mr. Davis will be in touch to discuss any issues related to the will he is drafting. Please cooperate with him fully. I want to make sure my wife has access to my account while I’m in the service.’ I told him succinctly.
‘She’s not with you today?’ he asked, though since he met me at the car, he already knew she wasn’t.
‘No. I’ll bring her by on Wednesday.’
‘I’ll have all the paperwork ready. You want her to have access to all your available funds?’ he asked.
I thought for a moment. ‘She should have access to the savings and checking accounts.’
‘That’s a great deal of money. Are you sure?’ he asked.
The question annoyed me briefly, but I quickly realized it was a question he had to ask. I didn’t hesitate. ‘Yes.’
‘Very well. I’ll have all the paperwork ready for your signatures Wednesday. Three o’clock?’
‘That’s fine. I’ll see you then.’ I got up, left immediately, and drove home.
Gwen, Mike, and the twins were playing on the front porch when I got home. I was greeted by cheerful faces, but I sensed both were still upset, just endeavoring to hide it. Edith and Betty were in the kitchen getting dinner together. Ian and Gary would join us around six. I was a little disappointed that we were having company. I needed to talk to Gwen. It would have to wait.
We all spent a relatively pleasant evening. My impending induction weighed heavily on everyone’s spirits. Ian, Edith, and Gwen were especially troubled, having already lost a son and brother during WWII. Mike’s parents left first, a little after eight. Ian and Edith stayed to play with the twins. We let them stay up well past their normal bedtime. Gwen and I carried two limp, surprisingly heavy little bodies up to bed a little after nine. They had fallen asleep sitting between their grandparents while Ian and Edith read to them in funny voices, playing the characters in a Dr. Seuss book. Gwen’s parents left a few minutes after we put Seth and Sara down for the night. Edith was on the verge of tears when she hugged and kissed me goodnight. Ian was unable to speak when he shook my hand before leaving.
As soon as Ian and Edith were out of the driveway, Gwen and Mike pulled me toward the stairs. I resisted, telling them we needed to talk. I told them everything that had happened that day and that Gwen and I had to go into Boston on Wednesday to take care of some legal matters. I told Mike that Gwen and I would spend the night in Boston so she could drop me at the induction center by six Thursday morning. Before I asked, Mike volunteered to watch Seth and Sara for the night.