The Secret Starts to Grow

I know a family that had a secret.

Their secret had to do with money.

The dad hardly ever work and the mom was a stay at home mom.

Because their dad didn't work, one would assume that they didn't have money.

But they did.

They won't filthy rich, but well off. Nice house, clothes and the presents under the Christmas tree filled half a room.

The kids knew there was money in the family. Their Grandmother was wealthy. She lived in a huge house on waterfront property.

The kids knew their great Grandfather was RICH.

They had heard stories at family gatherings. They saw how their cousins lived. They had huge houses, private houses, fancy cars and vacation houses.

They often wondered what happened to their fancy cars and vacation homes.

Their mother knew her husband was wealthy but never knew how much money he had.

He refused to tell her.

It was a secret.

Their dad grew up with maids, gardeners and attended private schools.

But if you said he was rich, he would get upset and say no.

Money was not discussed, it was a secret.

This money secret started to surface throughout their lives.

It came up while they filled out loans for colleges.

It came up when the parents divorced.

And still it remained a secret.

But now the secret had begun to claim the kids lives.

Not long after the eldest son got married, their Grandmother passed away.

The entire family gathered for the massive, expensive funeral.

Three hours after the reception had ended, the children of the deceased gathered for the reading of the will.

The aunts, uncles and their father( no spouses or children) went into a room for what seemed like hours.

The children of the family had no idea what to except but the cousins informed them that their dad should inherit a lot of money and some of would go to them after their dad died. It was called a skip a generation will.

The aunts, uncles and father emerged, serious and quiet. When the sons asked what had happened they were told it was none of their business.

And so their father continued on with his life.

He lived as a bachelor and rented a townhouse apartment.

He would loan money to his sons occasionally to help with a down payment or car loan.

He traveled little, only to visit family and still would not discuss money with his sons.

Life for him simple and not extravagant.

Their mother, now remarried, would tell her sons that their father was rich and they should be getting money from him. She urged them to find out information on his finances. They tried a few times but no information was ever given.

Life continued on this way until they got a call from the police. Their father had had a heart attack and was dead.