wanted Luke to review documents before they bought a house or a piece of land. A few wanted a divorce; Luke didn’t like doing those, but they helped to pay the bills. A couple of times a month a businessman would show up to discuss a real estate project or the purchase of a strip center. Samantha learned that would mean a good payday.
When Samantha saw the mailman drive up, she leaped from her desk to meet him, trading a bottle of cold water for the day’s mail and a smile of thanks.
That other side of Luke kept popping up, she found. An elderly couple entered the office one day while he was on the phone. Samantha got drinks and invited them to take a seat in the hallway, which had become the reception area. When Luke got off the phone, he greeted them and went to Samantha’s office. “Sam, these folks are here to sign their wills. Run out back, please, and see if Whizmo’s there. If he is, tell him we need five minutes for him to witness their wills. You’ll be the other witness.”
Within a couple of minutes Samantha and Whizmo came through the back door. Luke introduced Whizmo as Dr. Moore, the famous history professor at the university. Whizmo obviously had done this a number of times, so Samantha followed his lead as she signed her name on the documents.
“How much do we owe you, Mr. Vaughan?” the man asked.
“Not a thing, Mr. Sampson. Simple wills are easy and something that I believe a lawyer ought to do as a service to the community. You folks have a good day now.”
Luke, Whizmo, and Samantha adjourned to the front porch, where there was now a third rocker. “Father, don’t you think that you ought to be charging those folks something? They look like they could pay two, three hundred dollars.”
“That’s not the point, Sam. We’re not rich by any means, but we’re making a decent living. Besides, they’ll pass on a good word about me to a neighbor or someone at church.”
“Sam, you wouldn’t have any idea how many times I’ve been called up here to witness wills. Your father is generous with his professional time,” Whizmo added. “If he ever went back to trying lawsuits, half the people in this town would be looking for a way to find for his clients, just because they know Luke or have friends that do.”
Samantha rocked silently as she contemplated this other side of her father once again.
30
It was a strange thing about runners. They eventually became addicted. It usually took about a year. Then, if they missed more than a day or two, it affected their body and spirit. Luke had arrived at that point back when they lived in Houston. In San Marcos, morning was his time for a five-mile run; it cleared his mind and got him ready for whatever the day had in store. One morning he came out of his bedroom, dressed in his orange shorts, a white singlet, and New Balance running shoes. He found Samantha sitting at the kitchen table, also dressed for a run but wearing a maroon Aggie T-shirt.
“Mind if I join you?”
“Of course not, only you’ll have to change that T-shirt. Just kidding.” He laughed.
Samantha rose from the table. “You’ll probably have to go slow for me at first. I haven’t been running since I went away to school.”
“Are you serious? You’re running with an old man. Go easy on me. Tell you what, we’ll let Cocoa set the pace.”
Seeing what was happening, Cocoa barked, bounded down the stairs, and waited eagerly at the front door.
Luke and Samantha stretched while Cocoa ran circles around the front yard, checking out early morning smells. As they started their run, they concentrated on their breathing and working kinks out of muscles. When they passed Sue Ellen’s house, Samantha asked, “How serious are you about Sue Ellen? I think she’s pretty cool.”
Luke thought about his answer. “I haven’t said this to anyone but her. Sam, we’re in love. You’ll always be my first love, of course.”
Samantha smiled.
“I figure on popping the
When Samantha saw the mailman drive up, she leaped from her desk to meet him, trading a bottle of cold water for the day’s mail and a smile of thanks.
That other side of Luke kept popping up, she found. An elderly couple entered the office one day while he was on the phone. Samantha got drinks and invited them to take a seat in the hallway, which had become the reception area. When Luke got off the phone, he greeted them and went to Samantha’s office. “Sam, these folks are here to sign their wills. Run out back, please, and see if Whizmo’s there. If he is, tell him we need five minutes for him to witness their wills. You’ll be the other witness.”
Within a couple of minutes Samantha and Whizmo came through the back door. Luke introduced Whizmo as Dr. Moore, the famous history professor at the university. Whizmo obviously had done this a number of times, so Samantha followed his lead as she signed her name on the documents.
“How much do we owe you, Mr. Vaughan?” the man asked.
“Not a thing, Mr. Sampson. Simple wills are easy and something that I believe a lawyer ought to do as a service to the community. You folks have a good day now.”
Luke, Whizmo, and Samantha adjourned to the front porch, where there was now a third rocker. “Father, don’t you think that you ought to be charging those folks something? They look like they could pay two, three hundred dollars.”
“That’s not the point, Sam. We’re not rich by any means, but we’re making a decent living. Besides, they’ll pass on a good word about me to a neighbor or someone at church.”
“Sam, you wouldn’t have any idea how many times I’ve been called up here to witness wills. Your father is generous with his professional time,” Whizmo added. “If he ever went back to trying lawsuits, half the people in this town would be looking for a way to find for his clients, just because they know Luke or have friends that do.”
Samantha rocked silently as she contemplated this other side of her father once again.
30
It was a strange thing about runners. They eventually became addicted. It usually took about a year. Then, if they missed more than a day or two, it affected their body and spirit. Luke had arrived at that point back when they lived in Houston. In San Marcos, morning was his time for a five-mile run; it cleared his mind and got him ready for whatever the day had in store. One morning he came out of his bedroom, dressed in his orange shorts, a white singlet, and New Balance running shoes. He found Samantha sitting at the kitchen table, also dressed for a run but wearing a maroon Aggie T-shirt.
“Mind if I join you?”
“Of course not, only you’ll have to change that T-shirt. Just kidding.” He laughed.
Samantha rose from the table. “You’ll probably have to go slow for me at first. I haven’t been running since I went away to school.”
“Are you serious? You’re running with an old man. Go easy on me. Tell you what, we’ll let Cocoa set the pace.”
Seeing what was happening, Cocoa barked, bounded down the stairs, and waited eagerly at the front door.
Luke and Samantha stretched while Cocoa ran circles around the front yard, checking out early morning smells. As they started their run, they concentrated on their breathing and working kinks out of muscles. When they passed Sue Ellen’s house, Samantha asked, “How serious are you about Sue Ellen? I think she’s pretty cool.”
Luke thought about his answer. “I haven’t said this to anyone but her. Sam, we’re in love. You’ll always be my first love, of course.”
Samantha smiled.
“I figure on popping the
Similar Books
