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Genni
The morning was a whirlwind and basically a blur in my mind. I felt like a zombie going through the motions. Now, I stood in front of a large reception desk being scrutinized by a sharply dressed secretary.
“I have an appointment with Mr. Daniels.” I squared my shoulders, still reeling from the heat of Brian’s gaze.
“As I just stated, your name isn’t on his schedule.” Her haughty voice grated on my nerves.
“I am sure, if you call him, he will tell you the same thing. I am here for the reading of my grandmother’s will.”
“I am sorry for your loss, ma’am, but unless you have an appointment, I can’t help you.”
I had just about enough of this woman’s rudeness and lack of empathy. I opened my mouth to give her a piece of my mind just as the door to Terry’s office opened.
“Genni, right on time.” He came out and took my hand. “Please accept my condolences and apologies for being unable to attend this morning’s service.” He gazed at his secretary. “Gertrude, please hold all my calls while Miss Brown and I are in our meeting.”
“Oh, she wasn’t on your schedule,” she scoffed and clacked on her keyboard.
“Yes, she is. If you’d check your desk calendar, I wrote her in yesterday when I returned from the visitation.” He opened the black planner on her desk and pointed to my name scrawled in red ink.
“Well, you didn’t put her in the computer calendar I set up for you.” She sniffed at him.
“No, that’s your job, Gertrude. I have told you multiple times to check that planner when you arrive every day and transcribe anything I add.” He took my hand and placed it in the crook of his arm. “Come, Miss Brown, let’s get you settled in my office.” He effectively dismissed his secretary. “I apologize for Gertrude; she is trying to get me to go completely digital and has yet to learn that it won’t happen. I am old school in some things, and schedules are one of them.”
He led me to a large leather sofa set off from his desk in a nice little nook of his office. His office was on the larger side with an ornately carved desk with two club chairs sitting in front of it. Built-in bookshelves framed the window behind his chair and running the length of the walls. His law degree was framed and hung on the small wall separating the two windows behind his desk, along with a framed picture of what I assumed was his graduation. Grand tomes filled the shelves interspersed with small decorations.
The couch I sat on was situated in a nook separated from his workspace. A low coffee table was before me, and two wing back chairs were opposite me. A coffee bar was set up against the wall to the right, and a colorful throw draped across the back of the couch—a small corner of home in a room of business.
“Thank you for fitting me in today, Mr. Daniels.” I sat on the edge of the couch, ankles crossed and hands folded in my lap.
“Please, call me Terry.” He smiled. “Can I get you anything to drink?” He motioned toward the coffee bar.
“No, thank you, I’m fine.”
He picked up a packet and a large leather folder before sitting in one of the chairs across from me. “I won’t drag out your time today, Genni. Your gran’s will is pretty straight forward.” He placed the packet on the table and opened the folder. “The house she lived in is paid off and yours to do with as you wish along with all the contents inside. The funeral is already paid for—she had the foresight years ago to meet with Kendra and iron out everything. She had two life insurance policies. One was to be used for any medical bills that may have accrued, and the other was meant solely for you.” He spread out the paperwork for both. “Since natural causes took your grandmother, both policies will be released to you.” He paused and looked at me, I assumed to gauge my reaction.
“Okay, is there anything I need to do with them?” I tried to read the paperwork, but it all jumbled into nonsense before my eyes.
“Not really. I can handle submitting the required documents. I will only need a couple signatures from you. The checks can either be mailed to you, or I can have them delivered here, and you can pick them up at your convenience.”
I wasn’t sure where I would be when they were released, so I chose to have them sent to his office for safekeeping until I could get them. I signed where he indicated and pushed the papers back to him.
“The last thing your gran wished me to do was to deliver this envelope. I do not know what it contains, only that it was to be delivered to you upon her death.” He handed the package to me. It was thick but not heavy. “She asked that you open it alone. The contents are for your eyes only.” He closed his folder and sat back. “And, Miss Brown, that’s the extent of her will. As I stated, all very straight forward.”
“Thank you, Mr. Daniels.” I stood, needing to get out of the building. The reality of all that had transpired so far today came crashing down on me, and my emotions were close to breaking.
“Terry, please, and if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call me. I will make sure to impress upon Gertrude that any call from you is important.”
I shook his hand, thanked him again, and left the building, clutching the large envelope to my chest. I took my time walking home, stopping about halfway to take off my shoes. It took me about fifteen minutes to get back to Gran’s house. I entered through the front door and sauntered straight to my room. The cadence of Brian’s voice as he spoke on the phone in the kitchen comforted me, but I didn’t want to talk to or face anyone at the moment. I sat on the bed, staring at the envelope in my lap, unable to bring myself to open it.
Instead, I lay down as the stress of the day descended upon me. Exhaustion permeated every fiber of my body, and sleep dragged me under quickly.
* * *
The scentof coffee roused me from my nap. One of Gran’s quilts was draped over me, and sitting on the nightstand was a steaming cup of coffee as well as a folded piece of paper. I sat up and leaned against the headboard, grabbing the note.
I didn’t want to wake you. I hoped the coffee would do it for me. I took the liberty of choosing a dress for you to change into. Take your time waking up, enjoy your coffee, and when you are ready, join us in the living room. A buffet of food has already been delivered by friends of your gran. Many have stayed to celebrate her life and would love to see you.
Brian
