More Than A Place In The Sun

By Dr. Kevin Whitten

Woody is bequeathed an orthodox gift from the estate of his estranged father.

Little did he realize that it would set in motion a series of events that would lead to a whole new life in the Caribbean where he would find true happiness, love and friendship.

And along the way, he would discover a purpose to life that would lead him and his friends to a greater good.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Dec 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9780228823926

Dr. Kevin Whitten

Dr. Whitten is a Canadian lawyer with a Doctorate in Business Administration. He has held a number of senior positions in the banking industry including Vice President and General Counsel for Manufacturers Hanover Bank of Canada, International Counsel for The Bank of Nova Scotia, Managing Director of Alexandria Bancorp Limited and Chairman of Whitten Bank & Trust Company Limited.He has seen life from the Chairman's office and he finds it very funny, if not completely dysfunctional.

Book preview

Chapter One

Woody’s first conscious thought was not a happy one.

Under no circumstances did he believe that being yanked from a deep sleep by the shrill voice of his ex-wife Janet, was the best way to start the day or anything else for that matter.

Though to be fair, the hangover didn’t help. If he was anything, Woody was a realist.

Woodrow, you have to stop this.

Uh-oh thought Woody. Even with the covers pulled tightly over his head, he knew that the situation has escalated to Defcon One. The use of his full name was never a good sign.

Your life is a mess and I’m not even going to start on the alimony arrears.

Which of course is what she did and with great conviction. Nothing like a litigation lawyer with her teeth on the bone.

Janet, give me a break. I just lost my career and I’m depressed. Have some sympathy, for God’s sake.

Career? You were a Greeter at Ikea. How on God’s green earth does that qualify as a career?

The place is so huge, no one has a clue what anyone else is doing. All you had to do was keep your head down.

For Pete’s sake Woody, I knew a guy who lived for two years in the bedding department before the company even found out he was there.

Janet took a deep breath. Woody, you leave me no choice.

I don’t want to do it but I’m going to have to take you back to court.

David and I are going to Paris at the end of the month and I need the money.

And with that, she barged from the room and slammed the bedroom door.

Woody thought that took some doing as the door was pretty warped. He had trouble closing it at the best of times.

Woody started thinking. Honestly how did I get myself into this mess?

Why was I paying my ex-wife, a successful partner in a large downtown law firm, alimony when she made fifty times what I did?

In retrospect, Woody realized that all that time drinking with her lawyer may not have been the best strategy.

Man did I ever get screwed and the really sad thing was that they never even bought me dinner.

No question, Woody felt that he had been ridden hard and been put away wet.

However, all this feeling sorry for himself was strangely making him feel better about things. And since it was only 11:30 am, he decided another hour along this vein might even salvage the day.

As it was, he had already decided to tune out any pending lawsuits as well as the financial cliff he was teetering on.

Woody’s skills of self-delusion were pretty impressive, and they were the envy of many of his friends.

Sadly, this was not to be.

It couldn’t have been more than five minutes after Janet had stormed from the room, that his best friend Ryan stuck his head through the doorway.

He really needed to get a new lock for the back door.

Hey Woody, I’ve made some fresh coffee. I saw Janet on the way out and I thought you could use it.

Also, I found a letter for you on the front stoop that I brought in.

And be on your guard, that weird cat from upstairs is in your kitchen.

And with that, he pulled his head from the room and tried to close the door but no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn’t close.

You should get this door repaired. Anybody could walk in.

Woody was about to say you think but it wasn’t Ryan’s fault. All things considered he was a good guy to have around.

Their friendship was the only thing that Woody still had from his childhood.

When his mother died when he was fourteen, Ryan’s family took him under their wing and they had helped him navigate his course through life, rocky as it had been.

Even though he had gone to law school and passed the bar, Woody had never practised law as he came to hate the idea of it and if the truth was known, it made his teeth hurt even thinking about it.

What followed was a series of low paying dead end jobs that Woody went through at an impressive rate. And here he was at thirty-five with no job and no future.

Ryan, on the other hand, had earned his MBA and had then gone on to get his Chartered Accountant’s designation and was now on the verge of being made a partner in one of the most prestigious accountancy firms in the country.

Woody looked around his bare bedroom with the old decrepit furniture and exposed overhead light fixture and groaned.

Definitely time for a shower.

Maybe he could get Ryan to spring for a liquid lunch?

Chapter Two

Freshly showered, Woody entered the kitchen to see Ryan sitting at the table staring pensively at the cat.

This may seem pretty weird, but I think that the cat was laughing at me.

Woody looked over.

Actually, now that you mention it, it does seem to be smiling. I didn’t know that cats could do that.

Meanwhile Ryan held up his coffee cup and gave it a quick sniff.

I smell a faint whiff of ammonia. You don’t think he could have, do you?

Woody took in the scene. Is that a wet paw print by your cup?

Perhaps a new pot of coffee is in order?

At which point both men quickly poured their cups into the sink.

The cat gave them a disgusted look and made it’s escape through the back door.

Ryan watched it carefully.

You really should get that door lock fixed. Anyone could get in.

Woody sat down at the table while Ryan went through the motions necessary to make the new pot of coffee.

Are you going to open it?

Woody hesitated as he considered what could be inside the legal sized envelope.

I’m not sure? Has anything good in the history of mankind ever come from a law firm letter?

Well it’s not going to go away and the more time you have to consider the news, the more time you will have to deal with it.

Woody looked down at the letter again. He knew that Ryan was right, but he wasn’t sure he could take another disappointment.

He looked over.

Can you read it for me. I would rather drink my coffee in peace before my life goes to hell in a handbasket?

Sure.

Good thing they don’t have debtor’s prison anymore.

Woody gave him the thousand-yard stare and sipped on his coffee.

Ryan ripped open the letter and started reading. When he finished, he read through it again and then a third time.

Woody’s apprehension grew with each second. He seriously felt like he was going to puke.

Finally, Ryan put the letter down.

It’s not bad news. Well not for you anyway. I can’t speak for all involved.

Woody settled back into his chair. Seriously, I was getting ready to pee myself!

I’m sorry Woody but it seems that your father has died.

I know you haven’t heard from him in a long time, but it still must hurt, at least a little.

Woody looked up to the ceiling.

It’s been twenty-five years since I last saw him. I guess I don’t know what I feel.

Ryan nodded.

However, it seems that he didn’t entirely forget you. He left you something from his estate.

The lawyers have asked if it would be possible for you to attend at their offices tomorrow at 11:00 am to hear the terms of the will.

Woody stared into his coffee.

Why not? I’m curious to see if the bastard found one last way to screw me.

As Ryan moved to take his coffee mug to the sink, he heard Woody mutter Rest In Peace Dad under his breath.

It made him feel incredibly sad.

Chapter Three

The elevator doors opened to a large waiting area where the sign on the wall announced that they had now entered the sacred grounds of the law firm of Hayden, Hayden and Ha yden.

Woody saw Ryan’s face break into a big smile and since Ryan had been kind enough to accompany him, he thought it was only right to throw him a bone.

Okay, go ahead. I know you are dying to and as I’m not one to stand in the way of a bad comedy bit, knock yourself out.

The guys approached the pretty receptionist at the front desk.

Even though she wasn’t doing anything, she made them wait before asking if she could help them. She knew where this was going.

Woody turned to Ryan and gave him the go ahead open hand gesture.

Ryan turned to the receptionist Is Mr. Hayden here?

The receptionist smiled I’m sorry he’s not in.

Okay, what about Mr. Hayden?

No, he’s in a meeting outside the office.

Then what about Mr. Hayden?

One minute please, he will be right out.

Woody smiled Hi Sally, it’s nice to see you again.

Hi Woody. I see you brought Tonto with you.

Hi Sally. Are you still mad at me?

Hi Ryan. Eat shit and die.

Okay, I’m going to take that as undecided.

Sally rolled her eyes. You can take it any way you want as long as you shove it up your ass.

Luckily Woody spotted Mark Hayden striding down the carpeted hall in his best power strut as he wasn’t too sure how much more of this witty repartee he could take.

Woody good to see you again. You know you have a job here if you ever come to your senses.

Thank you, Mark. You’ll be the first to know.

Sorry, this is my friend Ryan and I would appreciate it if you could let him sit in on the meeting please.

I don’t see a problem. Sally, we will be in boardroom five. This way gentlemen.

As they turned to walk down the hallway, Ryan gave a muffled cry and rubbed his back. On the ground beside him was a stapler.

Sally looked up Sorry Mr. Hayden, it slipped.

"Ryan, I’m sorry for hitting you in the back with the stapler. I