15. HEIRLOOM

HEIRLOOM:

Something of special value handed on from one generation to another.

The next Friday, I had a surprise visit from my mother. She was with Uncle Reynolds and his wife.

“We won’t be long. We just want you and Adam to come with us to Manhattan,” my mother said.

“What? Why didn’t you tell me immediately?” I protested.

“It was a spur of the moment thing for us. Your uncle has a meeting in Manhattan. We decided to come with him,” Aunt Betty said. But there’s a look on her face that I cannot decipher.

“Where’s Dad?”

There was silence. Then Uncle Reynolds said, “He’s busy. He’s meeting up with some of his associates for the weekend.”

I was not convinced by my uncle’s reply. I immediately felt that something was up. The look on Aunt Betty’s face i