“Exactly.”Glenn didn’t move for a moment.
“Who else knows about this?”Jamie asked, sitting back in his chair.
“Only Adrian Jackson, as far as I know.But I have a feeling that most of the staff at the diner know something’s up.Flo for sure.She dated that guy at the diesel place for a while.”
“Okay, now that makes more sense.”
“Oh, how so?”Glenn asked.
“Flo made a comment about what might actually be in the will.”
“Always a smart one was Flo.”Glenn had a faraway look in his eyes.“We dated back in high school.To be honest, I wanted to marry her.My parents would have none of that.”He looked at Jamie.“Times were different back then.The town was smaller.They felt that Florence wasn’t the right type to marry a businessman.They shipped me off to Princeton, so I’d have a good education and reputation.”
“I’m sorry, Glenn.I had no idea.”
“It’s all in the past.”
Glenn nodded.“I know, Jamie.It’s why I told you, and I’ve known you almost your entire life, and I know whatever I tell you stays with you.Honestly, you’re one of the bravest people I know.I know how hard it was on you when you got here and then school and then...all of it.You’ve had a rough go of it.”
“And you see, I never thought that.”Jamie smiled.“I always had Mamaw and Papaw.And...now I can clearly see what I need to do.I appreciate all you’ve done for my grandparents.”
“Okay, now we need to get back to business.”Glenn took off his glasses and wiped his eyes with his pocket square.“I’d be more than happy to continue a business relationship with you, Jamie, if you’d like to that is.”
“I think I’d like that very much,” Jamie said.“I do have one question, though: why is it that you don’t know what’s going on at Planters Credit Union and of Mr.Manley in Atlanta?”
“I think your grandparents were kinda ol’ fashioned when it came to dealings with and about money.The fewer people who know about it, the better it was.They never wanted to flaunt what they had.They were simple, happy people and just wanted to live their lives, take care of you, and they created another whole family.The family at the diner.”
“Never a truer word has been spoken, Glenn.”Jamie nodded.“Now, what do you recommend I do?”
“The first thing you need to do is sit down with Adrian Jackson.”
“I have a better idea.”Jamie rubbed the back of his neck.“Do you think you could set up a meeting between Mr.Jackson, Mr.Manley, you, and myself?Let’s collaborate and give me the lay of the land, so to speak.”
“I think that is an excellent idea.I’ll get right on that.But you have to go see Adrian.You’ll need to be able to access the business accounts for the diner.”
“One other thing, do you by chance know if there is any cash available to do some renovations on the diner?
Glenn tilted his head back and roared with laughter.When he pulled himself together, he apologized.“Jamie, my boy, you could tear that one down and build ten to take its place!”
“How do you know that?”Jamie was curious.
Glenn became sober.“After your grandfather passed on, Mrs.Puckett didn’t...well, she didn’t take care of business the way your grandfather did.I would say that there is a large sum of money sitting in Planters Credit Union.So much so that it has driven poor Adrian close to madness.There isn’t enough insurance to cover the deposits if anything were to happen to the credit union.”
