And now, I needed to survive without her.
“Here you are, I’m so sorry for your loss.”
I nodded at her and made my way through the door, my head held high. I would be the icy queen today. Not only to protect my heart from what was to come but also as armor against the people I did not want to see.
“It’s about time you got here,” Roland said, looking down at his phone.
“I wasn’t aware we were meeting so early.”
“You never did apologize for anything, did you?” my mother asked, sighing as she looked down at her watch.
“There’s no need for me to apologize. But I’m glad we’re all here so we can get through these next steps quickly.”
“You want to get this over with quickly?” my father asked. “Do you already know what’s about to be said?”
I shook my head, taking the only empty seat in the room. It was a smaller, ornate chair that was set apart from the others, and I couldn’t help but feel a little disconnected. There was a small sofa in the corner, as well, but no one had taken that.
I heard quick footsteps behind me, and I looked at the door. My eyes widened as Lacey walked through. Lacey was another of my cousins. She lived in Wyoming with her husband and three children. I liked her, though I didn’t see her often. Her parents, another aunt on my mother’s side, had disowned her long before my parents tried to do the same with me.
“I was afraid I was going to be late. Traffic on I-25 was worse than usual.”
She came forward as I stood up, and she kissed my cheek. “I’m so sorry. I know she was always the closest to you. I didn’t hear until…well, it doesn’t matter. I’m sorry.”
Tears pricked my eyes, and it felt odd to have what I considered almost an ally in this. I had forgotten Lacey, not because she was cruel or not worth remembering. She wasn’t a part of my life. Hadn’t been when we were children either. Her parents had moved out to New York when we were kids, and she had only visited occasionally to see our grandparents. When she got pregnant during college and married the love of her life, they moved out to Wyoming to be with his family. They now owned a ranch, and I knew they were doing relatively well. She lived so close to me, yet I hadn’t seen her in ages.
I needed to change that.
“Let’s talk after this,” I whispered, aware that everyone was staring.
“Yes, I’d like that.” Her eyes filled ever so slightly before she blinked the tears away, a small smile on her face that was real.
“I see we’re all here,” a man with graying hair at his temples and a firm jaw said as he walked through another door behind the desk area. “Hello, I’m Mr. Ongard,” the man said, holding out his hand to Lacey and me. I shook it, grateful that he seemed to be a no-nonsense type of man, but he had kind eyes. I had learned long ago to read the kindness in someone’s eyes.
“Now that we’re all settled, let’s begin the proceedings.”
An intern came in behind the lawyer, holding a stack of papers and a tablet, presumably to take notes.
“I will read the will as stated, and any questions can be asked after. Please keep your remarks until the end so we can get through this. I know this is a tough time for all of you, and it’s completely understandable if you need me to talk over things and elaborate on the points afterward. But once we get through the main items, we can get through it all. Again, I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you,” I said, not meaning to say the words aloud. My mother narrowed her eyes at me since no one else had spoken. But Lacey was angled behind me on the couch, and I could feel her presence, a warmth I hadn’t known I needed. I was glad that I hadn’t brought anyone with me, even though Nate’s face filled my mind at the thought because bringing anybody but myself would have been a shield the others would have seen as a weakness. The idea that I had to think those thoughts when it came to my family hurt, but I didn’t dwell on it.
“Okay. Let’s begin.”
He began reading the will, going over the initial instructions for the terms of my grandmother’s estate. With each word, it was as if he were pounding nails into the coffin—a word for each hammer strike. I would not break down, even though that’s all I wanted to do.
“To my daughter, Constance West, I leave my emerald jewelry collection as listed below. May you find warmth in the coolness of the stones.”
My mother squeezed my father’s hand, and I was glad that she got those pieces. She had always loved them, and though they were beautiful, they weren’t my mother’s stone. The lawyer named another stone collection for each of my grandmother’s daughters before he let out a breath.
“To my niece, Lacey Brennen-Holden, I leave a small trust with the terms listed for her children and grandchildren, with names to be added according to the policy below. Your children will never have to worry about their futures, as I know you once did. You are a shining star, my Lacey. And I love you.”
I resisted the urge to turn around as Lacey sobbed, but I would go to her later, and we’d find comfort with one another. We needed to get through this, and I was barely holding on as it was.
“As for the rest of the estate, holdings, monetary accruals, and properties, I leave them to my granddaughter, Myra West.” There was a shocked gasp to the side of me and a curse, but I ignored it, my pulse racing.
“As the note reads, ‘I trust my Myra to do what is best, to find those who need hope in the darkness and an extra hand. I trust you with all of my heart, and always have.’”
He went on to talk about other items and instructions, but I barely listened. Grandma had left nearly everything to me. I couldn’t catch my breath. It didn’t make any sense. She had other grandchildren, and she hadn’t even mentioned the spouses of her children. She had left my mother a small collection of jewelry but nothing else.
“Now, do you have any questions?” the lawyer asked, and Roland growled.
“That’s it? When did she change it?”
I looked over at my cousin, the anger in his face so palpable I almost had to lean back in my chair.
“Her will has been stated this way for the past six years.”
“That can’t be right,” my mother said. “She left everything to Myra? Myra left the family.”
“I didn’t leave. I moved to another state,” I corrected, not knowing why I was even arguing.
“What did you do to get into her good graces?” Roland asked.
The lawyer cleared his throat. “We don’t need to be shouting, ladies and gentlemen. We can talk these things over calmly and logically.”
“There’s no need,” my mother spat, standing up on her high heels. My father and Roland followed. “Our lawyers will be contacting you soon to contest this. This is ridiculous. I am her daughter. Not Myra.”
“I have the will right here, and it’s legally binding. You’re welcome to contest it, of course, but your mother was of sound mind when she wrote this and had it finalized.”
“What kind of charlatan are you for letting her do this? Myra can’t handle that kind of inheritance.”
“I’m sitting right here. Grandma Sharon is gone. Why can’t we simply focus on what we lost? We can work out everything else later.” I needed to breathe.