21 June 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2774: lifestyle choice
“So what are you going to do with $10 million, Vincent?”
Sgt. Vincent Trent jumped in his chair at this question from his billionaire father-in-law, Mr. Thomas Stepforth Sr.
“It's not going to be that much after the ownesrhip splits on the Ludlow Bubbly are paid out,” he said, and his father-in-law laughed gently.
“Always on top of the details, and honest, with no avarice – that's why I let you marry my daughter as a cadet with practically no money,” Mr. Stepforth said. “But that really goes to what I want to say to you, Vincent, now that Capt. Ludlow is ready to move forward.”
“First; no, it won't be $10 million just for you, but now that the Ludlow Bubbly has gotten a foothold in Japan, and thus in Asia, that's going to do wonders for the valuation – upstart soda company from the middle of nowhere Virginia does all that, so of course! $10 million is the floor of the offer I'm going to be putting together with the workers.
“But second, I just used the round number to let you go the ballpark you are going to be living in by the end of the year, Vincent, and tell you that you are 43. not having to be an old grandfather to learn with Capt. Ludlow and I learned the hard way. There is really no excuse for me because my father warned me – I went and made one billion dollars before I realized I was losing my family and made two billion more before I realized it was never going to be enough. But that happened so I could understand how to help younger men understand how not to go through what I put myself and by extension you and Melissa through with my other children. The people God connects us with have to be the priority, have to be centered in our lifestyle choices – but you already know it, Vincent, and that is why you can be so young and start this journey.”
Sgt. Trent smiled.
“I wonder if your father and mine knew the same verse: 'the blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
“That's it!” Mr. Stepforth said. “The Lord allowed me to do what I wanted to do past more money than anyone would ever need, but oh, the sorrow! I thank Him every day that He forgave me when I humbled myself and gave me a second chance with my whole family, gave me time to really understand that verse and know the difference between riches the way the world gives them and the way the Lord gives them.”
Sgt. Trent considered what he was going to ask carefully.
“So, how are you dealing with the burden of being so far past what you know you need?”
“Vincent, by the time this pandemic is done, with Lofton County doing the foolery it is, I am going to be quite unburdened. The community is not ready for the county to go bankrupt. In order to keep life going and a future bright for the generation of your children, I am going to unburden myself into the gap – but this is also why it is good Capt. Ludlow has figured out what he needs to know so we can get this ball rolling. I need to get you and Melissa and your kids situated, and also Major Tom and his kids situated, and my unmarried daughters situated – a man has to provide for his own first – and then after that, we'll see what happens!”
“Sounds like fun, actually,” Sgt. Trent said.
“Doesn't it – and see, you are 43 and you see the benefit of being a blessing and watching what the Chief Blesser does! That's why you're my son-in-law – I knew you were already rich, and could take good care of a billionaire's daughter even though she is a handful like her father!”
Sgt. Trent chuckled.
“Mama Velma suggested to me that we can make a million dollars writing a book called 'How to Get Your Crazy Mate Back By Giving Them to the Lord and Waiting in Patience,' but then said that since the sale was going through I won't need the money and she certainly doesn't because –.”
“I'm her crazy mate – yeah!” Mr. Stepforth said as he laughed!