| Subject: Second Generation - Parts #41-43 |
Author:
Wanda
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Date Posted: 21:37:15 08/21/03 Thu
PART #41
When the Vice President left his office, Delbert asked, “You wanted to see me?” The man said, “Yes, you are Delbert Cummings, am I correct?” Delbert answered, “Yes, I am he; what is it you want from me?” Robichard laughed; and said, “Son, I don’t want anything from you, I came to give something to you.” Delbert had a puzzled look upon his face as he asked, “What on earth would you have to give to me?” Robichard said, “Have you ever heard the name Sammie Pangallo?” Delbert said, “I may have heard the name, but I did not know the man.” “I was requested to give you a letter upon the death of Mr. Pangallo, and a reading of his will,” said Robichard. “I will give you the letter to read first, and than I will show you the will.” Delbert said, “This all sounds strange and mysterious to me. I cannot understand why Sammie Pangallo would send me a letter nor have a lawyer bring me his will to read.”
Robichard handed the letter to Delbert who read it through. He said, “I really don’t understand this.” Robichard said, “Son, your biological father was Sammie Pangallo. To spare you the danger involved of being known as his son, he chose to leave Pennsylvania. He lived out the remainder of his life in Lake Charles, La. He has recently died as a result of an automobile crash. He had established a trust for you as the letter indicates, and I am here to see that you receive this trust. He also indicated to me while he was alive that his desire was for you to come to Lake Charles to live and work. He owned a bank in Lake Charles, and there is a position as an executive Vice President waiting for you. He has made it clear that you are to run the bank in time once you have proven yourself capable of the position.”
Delbert was in a state of shock because his mother, Ruth, had never mentioned the name of Sammie Pangallo. She had always been vague about his father, and it had become apparent to him in his younger years that she did not wish to discuss the matter. He looked at Robichard; and asked, “Does my mother know he has died?” Robichard answered, “I am to go see your mother when I have finished talking to you. There is one stipulation to all this Mr. Cummings.” “What is the stipulation?” asked Delbert. “You are never to tell anyone your father was Sammie Pangallo. Your father changed his name to Hollingsworth Deverall when he left Pennsylvania. There is a wife and daughter who also live in Lake Charles. Their names are Lenore and Lucia Deverall. To protect his family there, his true identity must never be revealed. Do you understand those terms Mr. Cummings?” Delbert said, “I understand that I am to receive a trust from a person I have never known as my father, and I understand there is a position as an executive Vice President waiting for me in Lake Charles, La. I also understand I am never to reveal the true identity of this man who supposedly was my father. What I don’t understand is the need of all the secrecy. Why does everything have to be hush, hush?”
Robichard said, “I had a feeling we would come to this question. Your biological father was a member of the mob in Pennsylvania about the time you were born. If the mob had known your father was still alive, and that you were his son, they would have used you as leverage to get at him. There would have been a good chance you and your mother would have been killed. Your father had many enemies when he faked his own death, and fled to Lake Charles from Pennsylvania. He has kept his identity a secret all these years, and his family has only now found out the truth about him having a son. I guess you can see this man lived a life of secrets.”
Delbert said, “I want to be with my mother when you go to see her. I don’t want her to have to receive this news by herself. I really don’t know her feelings for my father, but I want to spare her as much grief as I can. I will tell my boss that I must leave for a few hours.” Robichard said, “Be very careful what you tell him. We certainly do not want any of this information to leak out to the public.”
Ruth Cummings was working in her rose garden when the car pulled up in her driveway. She was cutting some roses for a centerpiece for the dining room table. When she saw Delbert get out of the car with a man who was well dressed; and carrying a brief case, she felt an odd sense of dreaded anticipation. She wasn’t sure why she felt the way she did, but she sensed this was not going to be good news.
Delbert walked over to his mother and introduced her to Leonard Robichard, the lawyer. Delbert said, “Mother, this man has brought me some information about a man called Sammie Pangallo.” Delbert saw his mother gasp, and put her hands up to her face. He looked kindly at her; and asked, “Mother, is it true this man was my father?” Ruth looked at Robichard; and asked, “What are you doing here?” He said, “I have come about Mr. Pangallo’s estate. He died recently, and he has left a trust to Delbert. He had instructed me to come to him with a copy of the will, and a letter he had written to him before he died.”
PART #42
Ruth asked Mr. Robichard to come inside the home where they could talk more freely. When they reached the living room, Ruth asked if she could make coffee. Both Robichard and Delbert declined. Delbert said, “Mother, why don’t you sit down?” She looked at her son; and said, “I am so sorry I have not told you about your biological father; but your father and I were concerned for your well being. He left Pennsylvania with his family after staging his death, and I was told to remain silent as to his identity. He has provided money all through the years for our living expenses and for your education. Whether he saw you or not, he did love you; and called often to ask about you.” Delbert asked, “Mother, I do want to ask you a question. Did you love this man?” She answered, “Delbert, I was very young and impressionable when you were born. Sammie was handsome, and he was a powerful man. I was taken in by his charm. What we did was very wrong; and I regret that deeply because he did have a family. You are an entirely different story; I do not regret you for a moment. You have made my life worth living. I love you dearly. I will always be grateful for having you in my life.”
Delbert said, “I am glad to finally have some answers about my heritage. I have wondered why in all these years you have told me nothing. I thought it was too painful for you to tell me about my father, so I gave up trying to find out the truth.” Ruth broke down in tears; and Delbert put his arms around her. Robichard seemed very uncomfortable in the presence of these two people. He cleared his throat; and said, “Folks, this is personal, and I don’t feel I should be here for this. I do want to tell you Ruth that there are funds laid aside for you as well. There is a letter for you written by Mr. Pangallo. It has been in my office safe for a number of years. Mr. Pangallo always lived his life in fear that someone would figure out his true identity. He told me he wanted to take care of those he truly loved.”
Mr. Robichard reached into his briefcase; and pulled out a sealed letter, and handed it to Ruth. He said, “Ma’am no one knows about this letter except for you and your son, Delbert. That was another stipulation that Sammie made. He told me to tell you he never wanted his wife and daughter to know about this letter; and he wanted it to be destroyed in my presence after you have read it. Please feel free to read it privately, but bring it back so we can destroy it.”
Ruth took the letter, and walked to the kitchen where she sat down at the table. As she opened the letter it read, “Ruthie, my true love, I don’t know how to thank you for all you have done in raising our son. I wish we had met before Lenore and I had married. I did love you and our son, and I want you to know you will never be lacking for money to live your life comfortably. I have made arrangements for Delbert to be taken care of too, if that is a choice he makes. I would like for him to come to Lake Charles. The one stipulation is that he cannot be known as my son.
I have loved two women, you, and my daughter Lucia. Lenore and I were married by arrangement; and it was a mistake. She has always hated my life, and what it stood for. She was never willing to let it go. Ruth you were willing to accept me as Sammie Pangallo. That meant so much to me. Please do what may be difficult now; and that is to help Delbert know that I did love him too.
I’ll love you forever,
Sammie
Ruth put the letter back in the envelope and then called out, “Delbert, please come to the kitchen.” Delbert walked out to the kitchen; and she handed him the letter saying, “Please read this.” Delbert took the letter; and read through it. When he had finished, he handed it back to his mother who was crying softly. He lifted her from her chair, held her in his arms, and said, “Thank you for letting me read the letter. Now it is time to give it back so it can be destroyed.”
Ruth and her son walked back into the living room where Mr. Robichard waited with a metal paper can and matches. Ruth handed the letter to Mr. Robichard, who struck a match to the letter, setting it on fire. They both watched as the fire ate at the paper of the letter. The ashes fell into the paper can, and Mr. Robichard stood, held out his hand, and left.
PART #43
After the lawyer left, Ruth said to Delbert, “I feel terrible for not telling you about your father. Both Sammie and I were afraid of what might happen if you knew the truth.” He said, “Mother, I can understand that when I was younger, but I have not been a child for sometime.” “Can you ever forgive me?” asked Ruth. “What is there to forgive Mother?” Delbert remarked. “I believe you have punished yourself enough as it is.”
“What will you do now?” asked Ruth. “Will you go to Lake Charles?” Delbert looked at her; and said, “I do think I will at least go; and look the situation over. I will also try to find out more about this man, Hollingsworth Deverall.” Ruth advised, “Delbert, I do not think it would be wise to visit Lenore Deverall. If I were in her position, I would not want to be reminded of the fact my husband fathered another woman’s child.”
Delbert went back to the bank, talked with his superior, and arranged for a leave of absence. He said it was necessary to go away to help settle a relative’s estate. No more was said as to the particular relative who had died. That afternoon Delbert left on the train with a destination of Lake Charles, La. Ruth grieved about him leaving; but could understand why he felt it was necessary to go. She knew he would try to find out more about his biological father. She wondered what he would learn, and could only hope he would not run into Lenore. She wished she knew if Lenore knew about Delbert and herself. She could not help feeling a pang of guilt when she thought of Lenore.
Ruth knew her whole life had been turned upside down because of the relationship she had with Sammie. She remembered going to Lenore, and telling her she would have to leave her position. Lenore had questioned her about the work being too hard, or the pay too low. She told her she did not want to lose her. It had caused Ruth to cry. Lenore had been so sympathetic, and told her she would try to get her husband to increase her salary if she would just stay on in her job as housekeeper. The offer had made Ruth cry all the more. She kept insisting, “I must go, I really must go.” Finally, Lenore said, “If you feel you must go, than there is really nothing I can do to keep you here.”
Ruth blushed with shame at the memory of Lenore’s kindness to her. She had repaid that kindness by having an affair with her husband that resulted in a son. She truly hoped Lenore had never known about the relationship. Ruth had spent her lifetime raising her son; and tending to her gardening. Those were her two loves. Sammie called frequently to chat; and as Delbert became old enough to question his mother about the phone calls, he arranged to call at times Delbert would be at school or asleep. Ruth had never known a problem with money, for Sammie had always seen the money was placed in her account at the bank. There was a deposit made each month. He would ask her at different times if she had enough money, for he did not want her or Delbert to lack for anything. She tried to tell him she could get a job; but he insisted she stay at home, and take care of Delbert. He said to her, “Ruthie that is the best gift I can give my son.”
Ruth had stayed at home; and she lavished love upon Delbert. She helped him with his studies when he was in school, and she encouraged him in obtaining a higher education. She was thrilled when he graduated from high school, and was accepted in college. The day he graduated from college was the highlight of her life. She watched proudly as Delbert stepped up to receive his diploma. His graduation picture was sent to Sammie, as many other pictures in the past had been sent. Always she sent letters and pictures to a box where no one but Sammie received the mail.
At times Ruth had felt like a “kept woman.” She wasn’t sure she could have stood that if it had not been for Delbert. He was the best gift she had ever been given. Tears came to her eyes as she thought of the possibility of him moving to Lake Charles, and going to work. It was such a distance away. How could she bear to not be able to see him? She knew she wanted him to have his own life. “That is the way it should be,” she told herself. He did deserve to make his own way, find a wife, and be happy. She determined she would not do anything to stand in his way.
The train rolled into Lake Charles, and a well dressed young man stepped down on the platform. He was carrying a brief case as he walked into the train depot. He went to a window, and said, “Excuse me, please, could you direct me to the Bank of Lake Charles?” Thirty minutes later this well dressed young man walked into the Bank of Lake Charles, and asked to speak to the Executive Vice President of the Bank. He told the person his name was Delbert Cummings, and he had just arrived from Pennsylvania.
To be continued...
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