Chasing the Wind

By Rose H. Cushing

Stacy Kent lived in a small town in North Carolina. New Bern was her hometown and quite beautiful sitting on the Neuse River. Stacy was a horsewoman, a moderately successful writer, and happy with her career.

One morning she got a telephone call that changed her life forever. Her cousin had passed away. She must travel to Boca Ratan, FL fo

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cushing Publishig
• Release date: Oct 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798988957553

Book preview

Chapter One

I will never forget receiving the call that no one ever wants to get. Miss Kent, this is Scott Bradshaw, Anne Wynn's attorney. I’m sorry to have to tell you Annie passed away this afternoon. I am deeply sorry for your loss. Annie wanted me to let you know that she left something specifically for you in her will. When you come for the funeral, please make it a point to come to our office. I will send you, our address.

Just like that, Annie was gone. How could this be? I walked to the kitchen and got a glass of ice and a Diet Coke. I sat on the porch swing to absorb all of this call and began crying. How could Annie be gone? She was only thirty-two.

Annie was my best friend growing up. She was my cousin on my mother’s side. Annie was tall and slender with jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes. Annie’s mother Bethany and her father Will lived in a single-wide trailer across the street from the Marina. Will, a big, burly man with kind blue eyes and black hair, worked at the Cherry Point Naval Base in aircraft, and Bethany was a stay-at-home mom. I remember that they caught rainwater in a cistern because their water from the ground ran through an artesian spring laced with sulfur. While highly healthy, it smelled like rotten eggs. The taste was phenomenal, but the smell was obnoxious. Her family was full of fun, loved music.

Annie’s family was full of fun, and they loved music. Will sang. They lived in Hobucken, North Carolina, on the Intercoastal Waterway. It was always stirring to go to Annie's house. The Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway at that point looked like a glorified creek, but the water was deep. Watching the boats that sailed by on a lazy summer day was always exciting. There were all kinds of craft, from those belonging to the U.S. military to fishing boats, shrimp trawlers, and yachts.

Yes, yachts! Great big ones filled with beautiful people going to exotic places and travels of a lifetime. Yes, it was a genuinely great place to dream.

And dream we did. I remember when Annie and I were about seven or eight, we would run to Tripp’s Marina to get Cokes. The rich folks from the big yachts would be inside, and I guess they felt sorry for us poor little ragged children because they would buy us Cokes and candy to make us smile. It was a wonderful time in my life!

When the shrimp trawlers came in with their catch they would tie up at the dock. Once they offloaded their catch, workers at the pier would sort through it and separate big and small shrimp, letting the ones they deemed too little wash down the sluice and back out into the waterway. Annie and I, the enterprising young ladies that we were, ran to her house for her mom’s colander. Back at the dock, we hid at the end of the sluice box. When the shrimp they were trashing came past we would catch them in the colander. It didn't take long to get us a big mess of shrimp for supper.

Down the road from the dock was a crab house that took all the crabs offloaded from the shrimp boats and put them in big steamers. Once steamed, they were put in containers and shipped to fancy restaurants all over the country! The workers at the crab house enjoyed our visits I think they were amused by our curiosity.  When we had to go home they would give us a few crabs to take for dinner.

The marina was just past the Goose Creek Game Refuge and the Hobucken Coast Guard Station. On a rare day, boats were in the harbor, normally they would be out fishing. We would roam through the marshes through the marsh and the grass was almost as tall as we were. While we were in the marsh it felt like we were in another world. We would dream, and make plans for worldwide trips. Annie once asked me, If you could do anything in the world when you grow up, what would you like to do?

I told her I would love to sail around the world on one of those yachts and visit all the beautiful places and faraway lands.

Aunt Bethany and Uncle Will died when Annie, their only child, was in college. Annie’s husband Raymond had passed away about a year before Annie and they had never had children, Now, Annie, too, was gone, and I was the only family she had left.

I hadn't seen her in several years. She had grown up, gone to college, and become a well-known investment banking consultant. Annie had married very well and was set for life financially. I always wondered if she was really happy. I hope she was.

I, too, had grown up and gone to college, and I had a career. Nothing in comparison to Annie's career, but I felt I had had a measure of success. I sat looking through old photos, reminiscing about that earlier time. There was a photo of Annie and me riding horses in the field. Annie wasn’t a fan of horses so much, but I loved them, so she came along for the ride. Those were good memories; freedom running through the fields. Sleep came late that night, and I dreamed of all the fun we had as children, the dreams and secrets we had shared.

Chapter Two

The following day I followed my usual routines—my morning meditation ritual that today included memories of Annie, gratitude journaling, and getting my thoughts into perspective. I received an email from Annie’s attorney listing his address, and details of Annie's funeral, and stating that a ticket would be waiting for me at the airport. Annie had houses all over, but her services would be held in Boca Raton. So, I guess I was headed to Florida; a trip I never expected to make.

As a freelance writer and photographer working with a regional magazine, I had no trouble getting time off. The following day, I arrived at the airport and collected my ticket - First Class! I had never flown first class. Thanks, Annie.

A car was waiting for me at the Ft. Lauder-dale International Airport, ready to take me the twenty miles to Boca Raton. The driver, who said he would be available throughout my stay, took me to my hotel— The Breakers Hotel!

Right out of our childhood fantasies! When we were little, Aunt Ella Mae, whom I loved dearly, worked as a seasonal maid at the Breakers Hotel. She used to tell us about the movie stars who stayed there. She gave me a comb that had been given to her by Loretta Young, a movie star famous in the fifties. I remember how special that made me feel. Now, here I was at the Breakers as a guest. WOW! I could never have imagined this. Again, Thanks, Annie!

The Breakers Hotel was grand in every aspect. My suite had an ocean view a balcony, and every luxury you could imagine. The maid brought me a shot of whiskey and a piece of chocolate right before bed.

Despite all the luxury, my heart was heavy. I missed my cousin, and I wished I could have shared all this with her. I could not imagine why the attorney needed to meet with me, and I was pretty nervous. I arranged for the car to pick me up in the morning and prepared to go to bed.

I could hear the sound of the surf, so I stepped out onto the balcony. What a magnificent view. The moon was shining on the waves as they broke on the shore. My heart was heavy.

I sat on the balcony in the morning, meditated, and cleared my mind of my emptiness, allowing happy thoughts and memories to fill the void. I prayed for all my family and friends as I realized that life was too short. I made my journal entries and got dressed.

Today's motivation was Trust Yourself, and I hoped it was a good idea. I ate breakfast in my room, and since I hadn't placed a breakfast request, room service sent up a cart with a sampling of about everything, including gourmet pancakes, crepes, fresh fruit, an omelet, and toast. They served coffee, orange juice, and water. I guess they hadn't guessed that I drink Diet Coke like ordinary people drink coffee. Oh well. All this service was a lot of spoiling, and I wasn't sure I would enjoy having it every day. I was too used to taking care of myself.

Promptly at nine, the driver arrived, and I went down to meet him and ride over to the attorney's office. The office was in a very posh modern complex on the ocean, a high-rise building beautiful and gleaming in the morning sun.

Of course, his office was on the top floor, yep, the 37th. I’m not too fond of heights and I hoped there wouldn’t be an exterior glass elevator, but here we go. Upon arrival, a secretary with a British accent greeted me and escorted me to a conference room. She offered me coffee, water, or soda, which I declined, and she informed me that Mr. Bradshaw would be with me shortly. There was a fantastic view of the cityscape right down to the ocean from the conference room. You could see for miles. I had to admire the view from the center of the room, however, because the glass windows ran from floor to ceiling, and I couldn't bring myself to get any closer.

After what seemed like an hour, Mr. Bradshaw appeared. He was a distinguished-looking man in his late fifties. He explained that he had been Annie's attorney for about ten years and had helped her set up her corporations and her worldwide businesses, and to buy her numerous homes.

He began with small talk about me, and then I asked him. Mr. Bradshaw, why am I here? He told me to call him Scott and asked when I last saw my cousin. I told him it was about a year ago when her husband passed away. Scott looked sad when I said that. He and Annie's husband Raymond had been childhood friends. Raymond had been very successful with his businesses and investments, and that was how he'd met Annie. Scott told me that Raymond had left everything he had built to Annie. His estate was worth $400 million. I knew she was well off, but I had no idea how well off. Wow! But that wasn't all. Annie had been very successful in her own right, and her estate was worth $600 million! Since I was Annie’s only living relative, Scott explained, I had inherited the entire estate.

I almost fainted.

Scott went on to tell me that this was the cash value of their businesses. Their estates also included real estate holdings all over the world valued at an additional $150 million. All in all, I inherited $1.15 billion!

I didn’t know what to say. I had never imagined Annie had been so successful. I knew she traveled and lived a perfect life, but I had no idea!

Scott replied that he knew it was a lot to absorb, and that it would take some time to get everything sorted out and transferred to my name.

I think as a tactic to let me catch my breath and stop my mind from reeling, Scott said, I trust your accommodations at the Breakers were sufficient last night.

They were terrific! Please thank whoever had made the arrangements, I replied, still too stunned to be more coherent.

Great, Scott responded. You now have a house here in Boca that was Annie's and Raymond's. It has a beautiful ocean view, and I would like to have your things moved there. I hope you can remain here in Boca for a couple of weeks while we get the paperwork sorted out and transferred.

Of course, that will be fine, was all I could say.

Scott had one more thing for me, a letter from Annie which he handed to me. I advise you to read the letter tonight after you have had some time to rest and digest all of this, he said. There is a full staff at the house, including an excellent chef. We can talk some more tomorrow. Here is my card and if you have any questions or need anything, please don't hesitate to call me.

The letter was in a sealed envelope with my name handwritten on the envelope outside. The stationery looked expensive and was a pretty shade of blue, like Annie's eyes. It smelled like her, clean and fresh with a slight floral touch. I slipped it into my purse and left Scott’s office.

The driver was waiting for me. He was friendly and explained that Mr. Bradshaw had sent someone to transfer my stuff from the hotel to the house.

Have you ever been to Boca Raton before? he asked.

No, I said and explained that I had never traveled much outside North Carolina.

Would you like the grand tour before I drop you off? he asked.

Yes, it would be good to get my bearings, I told him. He laughed and said that I would not need to know directions in the future. I had people to do that for me.

I thought, Oh my goodness, people to do that for me? I wasn't sure I liked that idea.

Chapter Three

Boca Raton is situated on the Florida coast just north of Fort Lauderdale. The city has all the opulence that South Florida has to offer. Million-dollar homes are everywhere, and so are million-dollar yachts! After a brief tour that boggled my mind, my driver turned up a drive that led to Annie’s, or now, my house. The house was extremely modern, all-white, and multi-story. The ocean was within walking distance, and there was a fabulous infinity pool. At the end of the drive, down by the water, was a dock large enough for a huge boat.

The driver stopped at the entrance to the house, got out, and opened my door. He smiled and said, Welcome home, Ma’am! I didn't know what to say.

I was exhausted and relieved to be settled somewhere for a few days. Suzi, the house manager, met me at the door.

Hello, she said, I am Suzi Boggs, and I am so sorry for your loss. Annie was an extraordinary woman and will truly be missed. Suzi, dressed in a very nice soft turquoise business suit, was about 5'1", with platinum blonde hair and brown eyes. She escorted me into the house and offered to introduce the staff.

Not right now, I told her, I am drained and overwhelmed. Can you show me to my room?

The house was enormous, and the décor was all white like pictures in magazine ads. At the back side of the house were almost all windows facing the ocean to capture that million-dollar view. It seemed more like a museum than a home. I assumed that Annie didn't live here; it was just a rest stop when she was in town. The house is 12,000 square feet with six bedrooms. I took the liberty of having the staff prepare the room next to Annie's for you, Suzi said.

The room was beautiful, luxurious, and opulent. Of course, the walls were white, the floors were white marble, and the windows were open and airy, facing the ocean. The bathroom was huge, and the focus was an enormous shower that could easily have held six people. There were four showerheads and strips of spa-like heads going down the walls. In the center of the room was a beautiful deep soaker tub with jacuzzi jets. Everything was designer-inspired and I wondered if Annie had done the decorating or hired someone.

My suitcase was waiting in the room for me, and my clothes were hanging in the closet. There was a sitting room with a comfy chair and television and a balcony overlooking the ocean.

Will you be at the estate for dinner? Suzi asked.

Dinner? I hadn't even had lunch. I plan to, yes, I told her. Suzi indicated the telephone on a nearby table and explained that if I needed anything, I should dial two for her or zero for the maid.

I will leave you to get some rest, but I will send up some choices for lunch and dinner on the house system. It is a kind of text message system so we can all communicate easily. Suzi told me.

At last, I was alone. I slid out of my shoes and into a comfortable pair of pajamas. climbed into that great big bed and those luxurious sheets. I took a nap; the morning had been overwhelming. I wasn't sure how long I slept, but sleep was a gift I needed. When I opened my eyes, it hardly seemed possible that suddenly, I was in Boca Raton, Florida, in my luxurious million-dollar mansion on the ocean! I should be happy, but none of this would bring Annie back.

I had a million questions and was anxious to read Annie’s letter but at the same time, I dreaded reading the final chapter of her life. I remembered my mantra for today: Trust yourself, so I knew I had to read it.

The light was blinking on the messaging system, so I assumed I had a message. I hit the touchscreen, and my announcement came up. Was I hungry? Well, yes, so I casually typed that on the keyboard. The quick response offered anything I wished, so I asked for a chef ‘s salad with ranch dressing or a club sandwich. The prompt reply read okay, give me about fifteen minutes. Would you like to eat down here, or have it sent up to your room?

I will come down, I replied.

I combed my hair, straightened my clothes, and stepped out onto the ocean balcony. Yes, this was beautiful and peaceful. However, it still felt empty and lonely.

I unpacked my clothes and headed downstairs. Suzi was waiting for me in the dining room with the house chef. His presentation of the salad and sandwich I had requested was as elegant as you would expect, and they tasted wonderful.

This is delicious and beautiful, thank you, Sir, I said.

The Chef shook my hand and, said not yet, hopefully, just call me Chip.

Chip, in his mid-thirties, was very hand-some with platinum blonde hair, and eyes deep pools of blue. He was tall, slender, and very tan.

The chef excused himself and Suzi sat down with me to talk about the house and the staff.

How often did Annie and her husband stay here? I asked.

About once a year when they came to see Mr. Bradshaw, she said.

Did they keep the house, the staff, and all of this up year-round? I asked, waving a hand to encompass the house in general.

Yes, Suzi replied, Boca is all about appearances. Would you like to meet the staff now?

Sure, I said. Just let me finish this great food.

After I ate, Suzi called each staff person individually. Arturo, the gardener, had a kind demeanor and face. Connie, the maid, was a lovely mom type. Chip the Chef and Suzi herself filled out the roster.

I greeted each one, and they all told me how sorry they were for my loss, adding if I needed anything during my stay, to please let them know.

Suzi, is there a car that I can drive out to town? I asked.

No, Suzi replied, they didn't keep a personal car. They always used the driver, Jim.

After my talk with Suzi, I went for a walk down the beach. I took Annie’s letter with me to read by the ocean—just Annie and me. Was I ready? I wasn't sure, but it had to be done, so there was no need to keep putting it off.

My Dearest Stacy,

If you are reading this, then my time has run out. Please do not be sad for me; I had a good run and a great life. I did not tell you about my sickness because I did not want to worry you. I was diagnosed with cancer last year; unfortunately, it was an aggressive type. After Raymond's death, life seemed pointless, and, in many ways, I looked forward to the end. The good thing is that it gave me time to remember little things in my life. I remember how we were children roaming free all over the marshes and marinas in Hobucken. I remember the shared secrets, dreams, and desires. They were good times!

When we were kids, you told me when you grew up you wanted to own one of those big fancy sailboats, not a yacht, but a sailboat. I remember you talking for hours about living like Robinson Crusoe on an island, and you could write all about your adventure and sell the book!

You have worked hard to become a writer and filmmaker and you are good at it. You deserve this opportunity, and I know you will take it higher than we ever imagined when we were kids.

I have been very blessed with finances, and I am leaving my entire fortune to you on one condition. Scott has the title of a boat that I bought for you. It is a 1934 Custom Staysail Schooner. It was initially built for a famous screenwriter/director and was primarily used to entertain Hollywood's elite during the '30s and '40s. An actor from a famous movie skippered this schooner in the 1936 Transpac race to Hawaii. She was pressed into service during the Second World War, reportedly becoming part of the Hooligan Fleet, patrolling the West Coast for submarines. After the war, the boat was returned to Sturges, who sold