“She didn’t want to take you on as a client because of conflict of interest due to her history with him, but you also know she represented Ewell, correct?”
“Surprisingly, I only learned about it the other day.”
Ram’s eyebrows rise higher, and his smooth tanned forehead wrinkles.
“You never knew you inherited all Ewell’s property?”
“I did not. Howard came to the reading of the will, and he never told me what was said. I was young, naïve, and unfortunately, in love with a terrible man. I didn’t question him when he told me the will reading was standard procedure and he’d inherited everything.”
“That’s my fault,” a stern feminine voice at my back makes me shift in my seat and face Janice over my shoulder. She closes the door behind her and nods at Ram. What’s going on? I wonder until I realize I’ve said it aloud.
“I could be disbarred for all I’ve done,” Janice begins. “Ewell Townsen was a ruthless man, but I liked him.” She smiles guiltily as she perches on the corner of Ram’s desk. “He encouraged Howard and me to see each together at his home as if we pulling something over on Hasting, and I perpetrated the rivalry. After all, Howard and I were going to show them both when we ran away.” She shakes her head.
“But you know what happened.” She isn’t accusing me of anything, but we don’t need a history lesson. “Ewell came to see me when he’d heard I’d become a lawyer. He expressed his concern that his son might sell his land and the land Howard had acquired from my younger brother. He wanted to ensure you and Hannah were taken care of, and this was his contingency plan.”
I nod once as I understand the musing of an old man filled with revenge himself, and then fear that it would all be for naught.
“He loved you and Hannah, in his own way.” She chuckles, possibly understanding my plight. Ewell was stern, a bit abrasive, but someone you forgave for his harshness. He was just a grumpy old man. “Hannah was his pride and joy.”
I smile in appreciation that Ewell and I shared the same love of my child.
“When he died…” Janice turns more somber and closes her eyes. “I did something I never thought I’d do.”
She licks her lips, and I swallow in anticipation of bad news.
“I slept with Howard, feeling like I’d really fuck him over.” I startle at the brash words and feel sick at the same moment. “Because afterward, I nailed him with the news of the land.” The innuendo in her little confession isn’t lost on me, and neither is the aggression in her tone. She hated Howard almost as much as me.
“I’m sorry he left you and never told you the truth of the property. Follow-up letters were sent.”
My guilt returns at never opening them, but I’m still in shock at her admission she slept with my husband while we were still married. A stronger woman might stand and smack her while I think I want to shake her hand for trying to screw Howard over. Then again…
“Howard was here this week,” Janice continues, and she nods to Ram.
“He tried to blackmail Janice into agreeing to be his lawyer. Said he’d tell whoever would listen she should be disbarred”—he clears his throat and acts demure as he states—“for being with him. He believes she tricked him out of his rightful inheritance. But I stepped in as your attorney, warning him I’d petition every woman he’s been with in this county to testify to his adultery. Then I brought up the gambling debts I’ve uncovered and unpaid bills in his name. Not to mention trickery in a card game with Boone Crawford. The amount of debt he’s incurred doesn’t balance his claim for half your property. Those debts are his, and any judge in Tennessee will agree, holding it against his claim for fifty percent. In addition, you’re disabled, and this means you haven’t been able to work. With the injustice in lack of livelihood and the eight years of child support he never paid to you, he might actually owe you more than fifty percent of the estate.” Ram pauses, and I note his voice has shifted from immigrant Latino to accomplished attorney. There’s the pow! moment, and I’m stumped myself.
“I don’t think I really want anything from Howard. I mean, I understand that I’m owed, but I just want him to disappear again.”
“That’s what I figured. I also advised him he could contest the divorce and the will, which would both be additional legal fees, and when he lost, which he would because, let’s face it—he’s been missing for twenty years and has no just cause as to his disappearance, like kidnapping or incarceration—he’d lose even more. We’d sue him for the additional emotional distress and attorney fees.” Ram smiles a full-wattage, white-toothed grin, which I imagine is pure evil when he’s up against a testy client, but it makes me laugh.
“So what’s next?”
“He signed the papers.” Ram flips the blue packet and presents me with Howard’s legal name on the line. “If you want the child support and loss of income, we can file a suit.”
My head pops up from examining the signature and yellow sticky arrow pointing at where my signature goes under his.
“I think I’m happy to have Howard written out of my life.”
“That’s understandable,” Janice adds.
“Give me the pen, then.” The second my name breezes over the line, I feel lighter. I drop the pen on the desk as if it holds germs. Goodbye, Howard.
Shifting in my seat once again, I look up at Janice. “There’s a world of things I could say to you about what you did, but I’ve spent years holding onto grudges and losing my patience over things I can’t change. I also feel guilty for my behavior with Howard. I never knew he was engaged. Never dreamed other women could exist. And I’m sorry my pregnancy prevented your marriage to him.”
“We were both duped by him and hurt, but the emotions have been a waste. He wasn’t worth it to either of us,” Janice states, and I smile in agreement.
“With that said, I have another legal matter I need your help with. Your brother is very important to me, so I don’t want this to be another conflict of interest for you.”
Ram nods, and Janice purses her lips in curiosity.
“Could you help me with something regarding the land?” A smile crosses my lips. My land. Which I want to share with Jedd.
Epilogue
[Jedd]
With all that’s happened, I’m a week behind on my promise to till the back pasture, but I start the tractor I borrowed from Vernon and begin the first stretch of the field. It’s a glorious mid-March day, and spring has arrived in all its wonder. Butterflies flit. Birds flutter. And my heart is full. I’ve never been happier than to be here.
Boone was found buried in a haybed of his own making in the stables. Thankfully, he was cleared of any possible charges. I don’t know what he was thinking or if he was thinking at all when he started the fire, which I’m not saying he did…but my best guess is he did. He did it for Bee.
She’d agreed to let Boone stay in the old house under the guidance of Tower. His patient temperament is suited for someone like Boone. Boone and I would probably argue as we did when we were kids, but Tower understands him. Janice and I got him some medical attention after months of homelessness, and a psychologist is lined up to help us better understand what happened to him. I’m also hoping Tower can teach my brother a skill and give him something useful to occupy himself. However, it turns out my brother is quite the artist. Beverly already has him sketching larger art pieces for her.