__________(4)_________
ALAN ASTRACHAN ATTORNEY AT LAW
The well-attired receptionist quietly left the room and closed the door softly behind her, leaving Andrea, Helen, and myself alone with a man whom I guessed was around seventy years of age. Standing at around, five-ten, Alan was close to my own build and height and quite obviously a fitness-minded man. I immediately noticed that he was of solid build and toned with a healthy outdoor tan, and obviously had an excellent tailor. Dressed extremely well in a dark blue suit and black tie, his presence was neither arrogant nor stoic yet he possessed about him a quiet confidence that took up the entire space of the office as he stood ramrod straight and presented himself.
"Alan Astrachan, please, call me Al," he said without emotion as he extended his arm.
"I'm Tim Donvan, a pleasure to meet you, Al," I said, receiving a firm handshake from the man.
Alan seemed to smile inwardly at the purple bruise above my left eye yet he made no mention of it.
I shook hands with Alan using my left hand,...Alan's right arm was missing from above the elbow downward, a fact he seemingly neither tried to conceal nor exploit, either one.
With our left hands locked together now, I looked into the cool grey eyes of the older man and suddenly felt a cold and momentary chill go down my back with his firm handshake and steady steel gaze. Here was a man who'd faced all of his own dragons long ago, there was no trace of fear anywhere within him that I could see.
The awkward moment between us passed and we released each other's hands.
I then waved my arm cordially and said proudly "This is my wife, Andrea, and also is Helen Lunsford."
Andrea and Helen briefly shook hands with Alan. All of us then sat down, with the ladies and I facing Alan as he sat behind his large polished mahogany desk.
" I understand that Helen's attorney, Herb Nelson, has been in touch with you," Alan said, getting straight to the point and looking at the three of us.
"I spoke with Herb last week," Helen replied abruptly; before Andrea or I could speak.
Helen's voice made it rather apparent that she was uncomfortable with this man somehow.
"I've been Danny's attorney for forty years now, and have considered him as a friend, even longer. I am very saddened at his passing" Alan said with a sincere tone, apparently trying to break the ice between us.
"Maybe you should have gone to his funeral then," Helen said, a little heatedly.
Alan smiled slightly at Helen's remark and quietly replied, "I was unable to." Alan made no further explanation or excuse why he hadn't been able to attend the funeral.
"Mister Astrachan - " Andrea began to say.
"- Please, call me Al" Alan interrupted.
"Yes, alright, Al, you'll have to forgive us, but Herb was rather vague regarding the reason why we needed to come here in person at all, why not a conference call in Herb's office with all of us present? We're not even quite sure what Danny's estate has to do with any of us, to begin with," Andrea said.
"I'm not exactly sure myself, other than Danny requested, in his will, that we meet in person. As you know, Danny had no children or other living relatives. For this reason, upon Danny's wishes, his entire fortune and future music royalties will go to the V.A., Shriner's Hospitals, and various animal shelters, as well as two percent, each month, going to Wendy Weeds, his ex-wife. Helen Lunsford and Andrea Millhouse Donovan are the only other exceptions to this, according to Danny's last will and testament. No one else is mentioned in his will.
I am not only Danny's attorney but also the executor of his entire net worth and assets. He placed extreme trust and confidence within me and it is my full intention of carrying out his last wishes - to the letter. One of those wishes was that the three of us meet in person" Alan explained.
"...I don't understand,...Helen and I don't need anything and Danny knew that. Why would he leave us anything when there are so many other, more worthwhile causes?" Andrea asked slightly perplexed.
"Sentimental reasons, I assume. Danny expressed an extreme love for the both of you, he wanted you taken care of regardless of how successful either of you is - and according to Danny, both of you are each a roaring success within your respective fields. That being said, it's my job to inform you that there's a safety deposit box here in Odessa, the contents of which Danny has willed to a Helen Lundsford and one Andrea Millhouse Donovan. I have no idea what the contents of that safety deposit box are. Secondly, there is a piece of property, also here in Odessa, that Danny was in hope that you would handle for him. Andrea, I believe you know something about real estate" Alan said.
"Oh Danny,...I'm not even licensed here in Texas but maybe I could make a few phone calls and find someone locally that's..." Andrea broke off, slightly overcome with emotion as she held her forehead with her fingers.
Helen was quietly shedding a few tears now at the mention of Danny, I noticed.
...While Alan and the ladies continued yammering in "legalese" my mind started drifting and I began glancing around Alan's office. There was a framed gold record hanging on the wall, most likely Duxford Airfield's "Angels" album I assumed. There was also an eight by ten color photograph of Danny and Alan, arms around each other, and smiling into the camera as palm trees seemingly swayed in the background during a sunny day. The two looked like they'd spent the entire day on a golf course somewhere, probably sometime during the late nineties.
"-That photo which you're so interested in, Mister Donovan, was taken in two thousand and one during a celebrity golf tournament to benefit charities," Alan said to me, his tone made it sound as if I'd been caught sitting at Alan's desk and reading his mail.
"I see you have it hanging on your office wall which is open to the public, Al, and although I never met Danny, everyone speaks highly of him. His involvement in a charity fundraiser doesn't surprise me" I replied, neither in an aggressive nor passive tone.
