Chapter 3: The Name on the Document
The name was Daniel Reed.
But it wasn't the name that frightened Samuel.
It was the date.
March 14, 1980.
He recognized the date immediately.
It was the day frightened Samuel.
It was the date.
March 14, 1980.
He recognized the date immediately.
It was the day he had promised Captain Reed that he would look after his family if anything ever happened to him.
he had promised Captain Reed that he would look after his family if anything ever happened to him.
Colonel Reed noticed the change in his expression.
"Sir?""
Samuel carefully picked up the document.
"Who gave youColonel Reed noticed the change in his expression.
"Sir?""
Samuel carefully picked up the document.
"Who gave you this?""
"My father's attorney.""
"Your father had an attorney?""
"Yes. Before he died, he prepared a this?""
"My father's attorney.""
"Your father had an attorney?""
"Yes. Before he died, he prepared a collection of personal records and instructions. We found this document while organizing his collection of personal records and instructions. We found this document while organizing his estate.""
Samuel stared at the paper.
It was a handwritten statement, signed by Daniel Reed and witnessed by two estate.""
Samuel stared at the paper.
It was a handwritten statement, signed by Daniel Reed and witnessed by two officers.
The writing was faded, but the message remained clear.
It described the circumstances of officers.
The writing was faded, but the message remained clear.
It described the circumstances of the mission.
It described Samuel's decision to return for the trapped soldiers.
And it described a promise made afterward.
Samuel lowered the paper.
"I the mission.
It described Samuel's decision to return for the trapped soldiers.
And it described a promise made afterward.
Samuel lowered the paper.
"I didn't do anything special.""
Colonel Reed leaned forward.
"Sir, why do you keep saying that?""
"Because didn't do anything special.""
Colonel Reed leaned forward.
"Sir, why do you keep saying that?""
"Because I did what any decent soldier would have done.""
"Not everyone would have gone back.""
I did what any decent soldier would have done.""
"Not everyone would have gone back.""
Samuel looked toward the window.
"Some people didn't get the chance.""
The colonel nodded slowly.
Then he turned toSamuel looked toward the window.
"Some people didn't get the chance.""
The colonel nodded slowly.
Then he turned to Jordan.
"Cadet, do you know what your grandfather did after leaving the service?""
Jordan shook his Jordan.
"Cadet, do you know what your grandfather did after leaving the service?""
Jordan shook his head.
"Not really.""
Samuel looked uncomfortable.
"Marcus, leave the boy out of it.""
"Sir head.
"Not really.""
Samuel looked uncomfortable.
"Marcus, leave the boy out of it.""
"Sir, with respect, I think he should know.""
Denise stepped between them.
"This is getting ridiculous. My father served, with respect, I think he should know.""
Denise stepped between them.
"This is getting ridiculous. My father served. We understand that. But he doesn't need to have his entire life discussed in public.""
Colonel. We understand that. But he doesn't need to have his entire life discussed in public.""
Colonel Reed studied her.
"Nobody is forcing him to discuss anything.""
"Then perhaps we should go.""
Samuel Reed studied her.
"Nobody is forcing him to discuss anything.""
"Then perhaps we should go.""
Samuel folded the document and handed it back.
"That's fine, Denise. Let's not make folded the document and handed it back.
"That's fine, Denise. Let's not make trouble.""
Jordan looked at his grandfather.
"Grandpa, you don't have to leave.""
Samuel gave him a small smile.
"Your mother trouble.""
Jordan looked at his grandfather.
"Grandpa, you don't have to leave.""
Samuel gave him a small smile.
"Your mother has things planned.""
Denise immediately took his arm.
"Come on, Dad.""
But Colonel Reed spoke before they could has things planned.""
Denise immediately took his arm.
"Come on, Dad.""
But Colonel Reed spoke before they could move.
"One moment.""
He opened his folder again.
"There's a second reason I wanted to meet Mr. Hayes.""
Samuel looked up.
" move.
"One moment.""
He opened his folder again.
"There's a second reason I wanted to meet Mr. Hayes.""
Samuel looked up.
"What's that?""
"My father left money for a foundation.""
Denise's eyebrows rose.
"An estate?""
Colonel ReedWhat's that?""
"My father left money for a foundation.""
Denise's eyebrows rose.
"An estate?""
Colonel Reed nodded.
"Part of it funds educational assistance for children and grandchildren of veterans who served with him.""
nodded.
"Part of it funds educational assistance for children and grandchildren of veterans who served with him.""
Samuel's face remained still.
"That's generous.""
"It was his wish that the foundation support familiesSamuel's face remained still.
"That's generous.""
"It was his wish that the foundation support families who made sacrifices because of military service.""
The colonel paused.
"Your grandson's name was included in the original who made sacrifices because of military service.""
The colonel paused.
"Your grandson's name was included in the original paperwork.""
Jordan looked up sharply.
"Mine?""
"Yes. Jordan Hayes.""
Denise's expression changed.
"How?""
"My father knew about your family.""
Samuel paperwork.""
Jordan looked up sharply.
"Mine?""
"Yes. Jordan Hayes.""
Denise's expression changed.
"How?""
"My father knew about your family.""
Samuel shook his head.
"He shouldn't have done that.""
Colonel Reed frowned.
"Why not?""
"Because Jordan's achievements shook his head.
"He shouldn't have done that.""
Colonel Reed frowned.
"Why not?""
"Because Jordan's achievements belong to him.""
"Your grandfather isn't trying to take anything away from you," the colon belong to him.""
"Your grandfather isn't trying to take anything away from you," the colonel said.
Jordan looked at Samuel.
"Grandpa, did you know about this?""
"No.""
"Have you ever received money from the foundation?""
"Noel said.
Jordan looked at Samuel.
"Grandpa, did you know about this?""
"No.""
"Have you ever received money from the foundation?""
"No.""
"Then why is my name there?""
Samuel looked at his grandson.
"Because Captain Reed made a promise, and he.""
"Then why is my name there?""
Samuel looked at his grandson.
"Because Captain Reed made a promise, and he was a man who kept his promises.""
Denise let out a short breath.
"Well, that's certainly interesting.""
Her was a man who kept his promises.""
Denise let out a short breath.
"Well, that's certainly interesting.""
Her tone had changed.
She stepped closer to the document.
"How much assistance are we talking about?""
Colonel Reed glanced at her.
"The tone had changed.
She stepped closer to the document.
"How much assistance are we talking about?""
Colonel Reed glanced at her.
"The amount depends on the student's circumstances and the foundation's criteria.""
"Is there a maximum?""
"Mrs. Hayes, that information amount depends on the student's circumstances and the foundation's criteria.""
"Is there a maximum?""
"Mrs. Hayes, that information is available through the foundation's office.""
Denise nodded.
"Of course. I'm only asking because Jordan has substantial educational expenses.""
Jordan is available through the foundation's office.""
Denise nodded.
"Of course. I'm only asking because Jordan has substantial educational expenses.""
Jordan looked at her.
"Mom, I have a job.""
"And student loans.""
"I know looked at her.
"Mom, I have a job.""
"And student loans.""
"I know.""
"You shouldn't be embarrassed to accept help.""
Samuel looked at his daughter.
"Denise.""
"You shouldn't be embarrassed to accept help.""
Samuel looked at his daughter.
"Denise, this isn't about money.""
She turned toward him.
"Everything is about money when you're trying to build a future.""
The words came out sharper, this isn't about money.""
She turned toward him.
"Everything is about money when you're trying to build a future.""
The words came out sharper than she intended.
Jordan stared at her.
"Mom.""
"What?""
"Can we not do than she intended.
Jordan stared at her.
"Mom.""
"What?""
"Can we not do this right now?""
Denise adjusted her jacket.
"Fine.""
Colonel Reed put the document away.
"There's something else, Mr this right now?""
Denise adjusted her jacket.
"Fine.""
Colonel Reed put the document away.
"There's something else, Mr. Hayes.""
Samuel sighed.
"Another surprise?""
The colonel smiled faintly.
"My father requested that I deliver a. Hayes.""
Samuel sighed.
"Another surprise?""
The colonel smiled faintly.
"My father requested that I deliver a personal message if I ever found you.""
He reached into his pocket and removed a small envelope.
The paper was yellowed, its edges softened personal message if I ever found you.""
He reached into his pocket and removed a small envelope.
The paper was yellowed, its edges softened by time.
On the front, in careful handwriting, were two words.
For Samuel.
Samuel's hands trembled.
He by time.
On the front, in careful handwriting, were two words.
For Samuel.
Samuel's hands trembled.
He recognized the handwriting immediately.
"Daniel.""
Colonel Reed handed him the envelope.
"Would you recognized the handwriting immediately.
"Daniel.""
Colonel Reed handed him the envelope.
"Would you like me to read it?""
"No.""
Samuel held it against his chest.
"I'll read it myself.""
The like me to read it?""
"No.""
Samuel held it against his chest.
"I'll read it myself.""
The colonel nodded.
Then he stepped away to greet another officer.
For several minutes, Samuel stood quietly near colonel nodded.
Then he stepped away to greet another officer.
For several minutes, Samuel stood quietly near the stage.
Jordan approached him.
"Grandpa?""
"Yes, son?""
"Can we talk?""
Samuel looked at him.
" the stage.
Jordan approached him.
"Grandpa?""
"Yes, son?""
"Can we talk?""
Samuel looked at him.
"Of course.""
Jordan glanced at his mother.
She was speaking with a woman from the foundation.
He lowered his voice.
"I'mOf course.""
Jordan glanced at his mother.
She was speaking with a woman from the foundation.
He lowered his voice.
"I'm sorry about earlier.""
Samuel nodded.
"Don't worry about it.""
"I mean it.""
"I know.""
Jordan looked down.
"I shouldn't have said what sorry about earlier.""
Samuel nodded.
"Don't worry about it.""
"I mean it.""
"I know.""
Jordan looked down.
"I shouldn't have said what I said about the photographs.""
Samuel took a breath.
"Jordan, people sometimes say I said about the photographs.""
Samuel took a breath.
"Jordan, people sometimes say things when they're worried about what others think.""
"That doesn't make it right.""
"No.""
The answer things when they're worried about what others think.""
"That doesn't make it right.""
"No.""
The answer was gentle.
But it carried weight.
Jordan looked at the envelope.
"What's in there?""
"I don't know.""
" was gentle.
But it carried weight.
Jordan looked at the envelope.
"What's in there?""
"I don't know.""
"You're going to read it?""
"Tonight.""
"Can I be there?""
Samuel studied him.
Then he nodded.
"IfYou're going to read it?""
"Tonight.""
"Can I be there?""
Samuel studied him.
Then he nodded.
"If you want.""
Jordan felt a small wave of relief.
But before he could say anything else, Denise you want.""
Jordan felt a small wave of relief.
But before he could say anything else, Denise returned.
"Jordan, we need to leave.""
"Mom, I want to go with Grandpa.""
"Not returned.
"Jordan, we need to leave.""
"Mom, I want to go with Grandpa.""
"Not today.""
"Why?""
"Because we have somewhere to be.""
Samuel stepped back.
"It's all today.""
"Why?""
"Because we have somewhere to be.""
Samuel stepped back.
"It's all right, son.""
Jordan looked frustrated.
"Grandpa—"
"Go with your mother.""
Denise took Jordan right, son.""
Jordan looked frustrated.
"Grandpa—"
"Go with your mother.""
Denise took Jordan's arm and led him away.
As they reached the auditorium doors, Jordan glanced over his shoulder.
Samuel was still standing beside the stage.
Holding's arm and led him away.
As they reached the auditorium doors, Jordan glanced over his shoulder.
Samuel was still standing beside the stage.
Holding an old envelope.
Alone again.
But the moment Jordan stepped outside, he heard his mother speaking into an old envelope.
Alone again.
But the moment Jordan stepped outside, he heard his mother speaking into her phone.
Her voice was low and urgent.
"No, I haven't told him yet. But I need you to find out exactly her phone.
Her voice was low and urgent.
"No, I haven't told him yet. But I need you to find out exactly what that foundation is worth.""
Jordan stopped walking.
Denise turned away from him.
"And what that foundation is worth.""
Jordan stopped walking.
Denise turned away from him.
"And there's something else," she continued.
"I need to know whether my father ever signed anything giving away his house there's something else," she continued.
"I need to know whether my father ever signed anything giving away his house.""
Jordan's blood ran cold.
Because he suddenly understood that his mother wasn't merely embarrassed.""
Jordan's blood ran cold.
Because he suddenly understood that his mother wasn't merely embarrassed by his grandfather.
She was afraid of something.
And whatever it was, it had nothing to do with the old by his grandfather.
May you like
She was afraid of something.
And whatever it was, it had nothing to do with the old uniform.
