More Than Okay

They gathered themselves getting ready to spend the day shopping and unpacking, "Jake, can you get the kids for me? I must go grab the money and meet y'all out there. she said walking over to a built-in bookshelf in the dining room where the safe sat. Leo never left the code to it, but she figured it could only be so many combinations when she noticed a slip of paper sticking out from under it. Grabbing it, she saw some numbers wrote down, she decided to try it with the safe. Renee punched in the numbers, hitting the pound key and that is when she heard the click, the safe opened. She opened it to find multiple envelopes and folders, one stood out to her it was the only one white folder in a stack of red ones, and it had Jakes name on it. Renee wanted badly to know what was in it but chose not to look, she figured it was something he wanted him to have. Renee moved the folders to find a small envelope, opening that she discovered at bank card and a note from Leo, "Renee, I know nothing can make up for what I have done but I hope this helps. This is a card to the bank where I made your and the kids accounts and deposited your money there. -Leo" Renee rolled her eyes, he still had to do things his way even after death. Renee checked some of the envelopes and noticed there was money in them. She grabbed a few envelopes and the card and went outside where everyone was waiting, handing Jake his folder, she got in the truck, and they left. They first went to the bank, Renee needed to know that this card would work with no issues. Once she was inside Renee walked over to the counter pulling out her ID and the bank card, "good morning, I was hoping you could help me check to see if I have an account with you." The lady at the counter had smiled, taking both the card and ID from Renee, she turned to the computer to type in her information. Renee waited patiently while she was looking up her information when the lady spoke, "Ms. Parker, you do have an account, it was created by your husband 6 years ago, he also listed your two sons on here to have an account, which we can get them cards as well. You also have the option to get a credit card with us since your balance is well over the required amount-" Renee stopped her and asked the one thing on her mind, "I am sorry for interrupting you, but can you tell me that balance? Leo kept this hidden from me and he passed away years ago and I am just now finding this out." The woman looked at Renee with a look of surprise, "Ma'am, you have over 6 million dollars in this account. He made a deposit of 3 million when he created the account, and due to a positive balance, it accumulated interest and he purchased stock which was left to your account for when he passed adding up over time." She handed Renee a slip of paper with her exact balance. Renee was speechless, she watched as the lady walked off to speak to another woman before she returned with a credit card, "here you go Hun, you can use this until your official one comes in the mail, all you need to do is activate it and we will update your account with your address, I am assuming you do not live in Virginia anymore?"



Once everything was taken care of Renee stood thanked the lady and headed back to the truck. She got in and was silent, this got Nates attention, "mom, you okay?" he asked. She smiled, not sure of what words to use she just said, "We are more than okay son. Let's go get furniture before we do anything." Renee handed Jake the slip with her balance on it, "did you know about how long this was there?" she asked him since he worked for him for a long time. Jake shook his head, "I did not, but where to first maybe you can try to put a dent in this" he said with a laugh. Renee pulled up directions to a store that was 10 minutes up the road, and they headed there. She wanted the kids to know about the money, but she did not want the money to change them. She decided by the time they got to the store she would have the conversation, but only when they asked about it or showed any signs of worry about it. They got there and everyone, including Benny and Oscar, met at the door to the store. Heading into the store, Renee told the kids, "Go find a bed and a dresser you like, and if you see anything else you want for your room let me know." They ran off to the bed section and started looking, Renee walked over as well and immediately seen the bed she wanted. It was a king-size bed that had a shelf on the back, wooden with a beautiful design to it. Jake decided to jump on it, "Oh you have got to try this, it is comfortable." Renee joined him, laughing. She sat up looking at him, "Well this is it for sure, now to see if they found one they liked." They got up and walked to where Nate and LJ were standing, "did you find one you like?" she asked them. They each jumped on the ones they were standing besides, two full-sized beds, each had drawers under them, but both were different in design. "Well, I guess we all have winners, but we still need to go get more things" Renee motioned for them to follow her to the living room sets, "now we need to pick something from over here." They spent almost two hours in the store picking furniture for the whole house including the loft in the barn. Renee and Nate were at the register while LJ went with the men to the vehicles, "mom, how can we afford this all?" Nate asked her. Once the bill was paid and delivery for that afternoon was arranged, she looked at him again, "well, your dad had a secret account for us and that had more than what he told us in his will, we will be okay for a long time and that is all that matters." She wrapped her arm around him, both walking to the trucks. Everyone piled in and headed to the next store, the supply store to get farm equipment, animal feed and supplies.



They arrived and went in to do another two hours of shopping, getting all the things they needed and more. LJ spotted chicks and ducks and ran over to them, "mom can I really get one?" he asked excitedly. Renee pushed the basket up to him, "Yes, you can get a few of them so they are not alone, and we can find a hutch for them." They decided on the ones they wanted and got an employee. The man that worked there gathered the ones they wanted, and everyone decided 6 ducks and 8 chicks, 4 of each type they had. They were told they would be up front for when they were done shopping, with that they walked back to the food area and gathered everything they needed or thought they would. By the time they were finished in the store they had 3 baskets full of things, and some stuff they needed them to grab and load on the trucks for them due to size. Renee pulled out her card and went to pay when she felt someone's hand on her shoulder, "ma'am, I hate to bother you, but I see you're buying a lot of animal things, by chance would you be interested in any pigs, goats or a donkey?" Renee turned to find this older woman behind her, she had a gentle smile and soft-spoken voice. She took a second to consider it, as much as she would love to get some she did not want to sign herself up with more than she could handle at the moment, "I would love to but we just moved and I have a lot of learning and adjusting to do, maybe soon I can get some I would love that." Renee smiled back at the lady. As Renee was finishing her payment the woman softly spoke, "well dear, if you would love to one day I have a farm and raise them, as a welcome to the neighborhood I would love to give you the first pick of my fall babies that are due soon, and as far as adjusting, here take this" she said handing her an almanac that was just rang up, "that will help you some, and here is my card you can call me or text, I just learned how to do that, I will help you and your lovely family any day, and if your husband needs help mine can help him with anything he needs." Renee blushed, her kids laughed, and Jake smiled, "oh we are not married ma'am, he is my friend but we thank you so much and I will make sure to call you soon I would love to come see your animals and their babies and maybe get one" she blushed taking the almanac and her card from her. Renee looked to Jake and back to the woman, "thank you once again ma'am" with a smile they left the store and loaded down the trucks. Benny and Oscar were putting the last few bags in when they asked Jake, "did you want to stop to grab food before going to the house or order pick up?" Jake asked Renee what they wanted and decided on trying the ma and pa’s diner beside the store and ordered take out. Ordering food that would feed an army, "do you think this is enough?" Renee asked the men and children, holding up 2 bags full of the two bags Jake had. With laughs everyone got in their trucks and went back to the house.