Sons of Fortune Read online

  “Well, let’s put it this way. If you win this election, you can apply for a job in Chicago as a teller in Cook County, because Mayor Daly has nothing to teach you.”

  Elliot took a step forward and raised his fist just as the dean reentered the room, a single sheet of paper in his hand. He made his way back up onto the stage.

  “You just escaped a beating,” whispered Elliot.

  “And I suspect you’re just about to get one,” replied Nat, as they both turned to face the stage.

  The chattering in the hall died down as Mr. Davies adjusted the height of the microphone and faced those who had hung around to hear the result. He read slowly from a prepared script.

  “In the election for president of the student senate, it has been brought to my attention that two ballot boxes were discovered some time after the count had been concluded. When they were opened, the outcome of those votes varied considerably from all the other boxes. Therefore as delegated officials, we were left with no choice but to refer to the rule book on elections. Search as we might, we were unable to find any mention of missing boxes, or what action to take should there be a disproportionate ratio of votes found in any one box.”

  “Because no one has ever cheated in the past,” shouted Joe from the back of the hall.

  “And no one did this time,” came back the immediate reply, “you’re just bad losers.”

  “How many more boxes have you got hidden away just in case…?”

  “We don’t need any more.”

  “Quiet,” said the dean. “These outbursts do not reflect well on either side.” He waited for silence before he continued to read from his script. “We are, however, mindful of our responsibility as officers, and have come to the conclusion that the result of the election must stand.” Elliot’s supporters leaped in the air and cheered.

  Elliot turned to Nat and said, “I think you’ll find it’s you who just got the beating.”

  “It’s not over yet,” said Nat, his eyes still fixed on Mr. Davies.

  It was some time before the dean could continue, as few present realized that he had not yet completed his statement.

  “As there have been several irregularities in this election, one of which in our opinion remains unresolved, I have therefore decided that under rule 7B of the Student Senate Charter, the defeated candidate should be given the opportunity to appeal. Should he do so, the committee will be faced with three choices.” He opened the rule book and read: “a) to confirm the original result, b) to reverse the original result, or c) to call for a new election, which would be held during the first week of the following term. We therefore propose to give Mr. Cartwright twenty-four hours to appeal.”

  “We won’t need twenty-four hours,” called out Joe. “We appeal.”

  “I shall need that in writing from the candidate,” said the dean.

  Tom glanced across at Nat, who was looking down at Su Ling.

  “Do you remember what we agreed if I didn’t win?”

  Book Three

  Chronicles

  23

  Nat turned and watched Su Ling walk slowly toward him and recalled the day they had first met. He had chased her down a hill, and when she turned on that occasion, she’d taken his breath away.

  “Do you have any idea how lucky you are?” whispered Tom.

  “Could you please concentrate on your job. Now, where’s the ring?”

  “The ring, what ring?” Nat turned and stared at his best man. “Hell, I knew there was something I was meant to bring with me,” Tom whispered frantically. “Can you hold things up for a moment while I go back to the house and look for it?”

  “Do you want me to strangle you?” said Nat, grinning.

  “Yes please,” said Tom, gazing at Su Ling as she advanced toward them. “Let her be my last memory of this world.”

  Nat turned his attention to his bride, and she gave him that smile that he remembered when she’d stood at the entrance to the café on their first date. She stepped up and took her place beside him, head slightly bowed as they waited for the priest to begin the service. Nat thought about the decision they had made the day after the election, and knew he would never regret it. Why should he hold up Su Ling’s career on the off chance of winning the presidency? The idea of rerunning the ballot during the first week of the following term, and having to ask Su Ling to hang around for another year if he failed, left him in no doubt what he should do. The priest turned to the congregation. “Dearly beloved…”

  When Su Ling had explained to Professor Mullden that she was getting married, and her future husband was at the University of Connecticut, they immediately offered him the chance to complete his undergraduate degree at Harvard. They already knew of Nat’s record in Vietnam and his success on the cross-country team, but it was his grades that tipped the balance. They remained puzzled as to why he hadn’t taken up his place at Yale because it was clear to the admissions office that they would not be carrying Su Ling’s husband.

  “Do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife?”

  Nat wanted to shout “I do.” “I do,” he said quietly.

  “Do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?”

  “I do,” said Su Ling, head bowed.

  “You may kiss the bride,” said the priest.

  “I think that means me,” said Tom, taking a pace forward. Nat took Su Ling in his arms and kissed her as he lifted his left leg sharply and kicked Tom in the shins.

  “So that’s what I get for all the sacrifices I’ve made over the years? Well, at least it’s my turn now.” Nat swung around and took Tom in his arms and hugged him, while the congregation burst out laughing.

  Tom was right, thought Nat. He hadn’t even remonstrated with him when he refused to appeal to the elections committee, although Nat knew Tom believed he would have been victorious in a rerun contest. And the following morning Mr. Russell had phoned and offered Nat the use of their home for the reception. How could he even begin to repay them?

  “Be warned,” said Tom, “Dad will expect you to join him at the bank as a trainee once you’ve graduated from Harvard Business School.”

  “That may turn out to be the best offer I get,” said Nat.

  The bride and groom turned to face their family and friends. Susan made no attempt to hide her tears, while Michael beamed with pride. Su Ling’s mother stepped forward and took a photo of the two of them in their first moment as man and wife.

  Nat didn’t recall much about the reception, other than feeling that Mr. and Mrs. Russell couldn’t have done anymore had he been their own son. He moved from table to table, especially thanking those who had traveled a long distance. It was only when he heard the sound of silver against crystal that he checked to make sure his speech was still in his inside pocket.

  Nat quickly slipped into his place at the top table just as Tom rose to speak. The best man opened by explaining why the reception was being held in his home. “Don’t forget that I proposed to Su Ling long before the bridegroom did, although inexplicably on this occasion she was willing to settle for second best.” Nat smiled across at Tom’s aunt Abigail from Boston, as the guests applauded.

  Nat sometimes wondered if Tom’s jokes about his love for Su Ling didn’t betray an underlying truth about his real feelings. He looked up at his best man, recalling, because he was late—thank you, mother—how he had come to sit next to the tearful little boy at the end of the row on their first day at Taft. He thought how lucky he was to be blessed with such a friend, and hoped it would not be long before he was carrying out the same duty for him.

  Tom received a warm reception when he sat down to make way for the bridegroom.

  Nat began his speech by thanking Mr. and Mrs. Russell for their generosity in allowing them the use of their beautiful home for the reception. He thanked his mother for her wisdom and his father for his looks, which brought applause and laughter. “But most of all I thank Su Ling, for going down the wrong path, and my par