The Reading of the Will

              The next morning, the two girls walked to the lawyer’s office. As expected, they entered the waiting room lobby of the law firm to find a frosty reception from Gemma’s family. They were all there for the money, but no one wanted to share or deal with anyone else.

              Evan and his wife, Sara, stood in a corner. “Clearly, something’s wrong in paradise,” Becky whispered from behind Gemma. The girls never got along well with Sara. Partly because of what she was doing right now. She was in the midst of telling Evan what he should do and how to do it. Long ago, Gemma discovered Sara acted like this when money became involved.

              “Well, that’s all the money-grubbing relatives.”

              “Well, that includes you too, Aunt Rosa, and hello to you, too. How’s your latest boy toy? I don’t see him.” Aunt Rosa turned a bright red and blustered a bit. Her excuses weren’t clear in her false outrage. Gemma got the idea from Aunt Rosa’s words. Her latest boyfriend woke up one day and got a job. This translated into Aunt Rosa got bored, felt neglected, and stopped funding his video game lifestyle. Which sounded like he could now do on his own.

              Uncle Dave still apologized for not making it to Gemma’s parents’ funeral. It was two years ago, and he’d been in the hospital at the time after having surgery. Neither Evan nor she faulted him for that. The man needed back surgery. He couldn’t have visited while her parents were ill. The virus would have taken him too. Travel for him was out of the picture for many months after their deaths.

              “Who else is glad we didn’t need to fight to have her admitted to an elder care facility? I think this turned out to be a far more cost-effective way of dealing with her?” Uncle John was a cost efficiencies expert with a serious lack of empathy.

              Crystal and her brother Eric sat opposite where Evan and Sara stood. Both were too busy with their social media to even say hello. The two competed in a catty competition about who’s the better influencer, so this wasn’t new, and they probably were using the sympathy card to gain more followers. Gemma couldn't care less, but at least they weren’t drains on society.

              “Uncle John, really? She never appeared crazy to me. I think you just wanted to estate to sell for a fast buck. I never heard a bad word about any of you from Great Aunt Esme. The woman welcomed everyone into her home.”

              “Oh no, she was crazy. She always spoke about witchy things, guarding some mysterious thing in the garden, or searching for something or other. The woman was obsessive and crazy by the end.” Aunt Rosa declared to the room as if she knew everything.

              “I can’t confirm or deny that, but how would you know that? When was the last time you visited her?” Aunt Rosa’s mouth gaped like a drowning fish that’s been just pulled from a river. “Yeah, not recently. So, you can’t say that as a fact.” Becky put a hand on Gemma’s arm to help remind her that confrontation wasn’t what she was here for.

              To Becky’s relief, the receptionist received a call from the lawyer, and she could show them into the conference room. There, she offered them drinks and told them that Mr. Winters would be in shortly.

              Mr. Winters was a throwback to a time when wealthy families had personal family lawyers that handled every aspect of all family member’s legal needs. From wills, pre-marital agreements, among other things. With his sparse white hair and three-piece suit that was a couple of decades out of date, he looked the part of a dusty dinosaur when he entered carrying a stack of files.

              “Well, now that we are all here and seated. Just a couple of rules as I read. They exist so that we can get through this with the least amount of interruptions. No talking over me. Please listen to me carefully. If you have questions, write them on the paper provided and we’ll take them up at the end of the reading. Now let’s begin, shall we?”

              Mr. Winters shuffled the file folders about before he down at the head of the table. He looked at the people sitting at the table and waited until he had everyone’s undivided attention. “Now that we are ready, I will begin reading the last will and testament of miss Esmeralda Edith Conlin. She has clarified that I am 2 ensure you understand the nature of your family’s estate.” Gemma watched her relatives glance at each other in confusion. They didn’t know what it meant anymore than she did, that’s for sure. “Your family has never owned Helencia Gardens. The truth is, you are the guardians of the estate and everything within it. With that said, it is a hereditary position and one of you must take up the post of caretaker and guardian. What this entails is overseeing the complete refurbishment all over the estate and after that’s done maintaining tours through the historic building and managing the buildings where researchers can come and study the objects and architecture of the estate. For this you will receive lodging for free, an income equal to or greater than what you’re used to currently for the rest of your life. If you decide to marry or have children, they too will fall under this category as long as they live on the estate. The estate for you, your spouse, or children will pay for any education costs. If no one accepts this position, then the house, outbuildings, and lands will go to the city and the money from that will revert to the estate. I will stop right here and ask you right now. Do you have questions?”

             “Yeah, I have one. Why are we here if there’s nothing? I mean, if everything is a lie and there’s no money and the land and house aren’t ours. Why are we bothering with this?” Of course, Uncle John would have to say this. After all, he hated wasting time, money, or practically anything else. Becky stood at the back of the room, near to where Gemma sat. She looked at Uncle John and tried not to snicker at his annoyance.

             “I’m glad you asked that, and the answer I have for this is. We don’t know who put your family into the position of guardians and caretakers of this estate. The records are murky who originally owned this land and why it’s being cared for and protected by your family. But it has instructed me to follow through and continue this tradition and fulfil the position of caretaker from your family line. Now before we get down to the brass tacks of all this. Who is interested in this position at this table right now? Shall we go around the table and see where we stand for interested parties.”

             “Refurbishing that dump isn’t cost effective in time or money. I am not interested in that. I have no interest in it.” John stated this sweet fact as the authority he was. Sadly, he always failed to consider the historical value of a place like Helencia Gardens. The gardens themselves made it a landmark, but the buildings were all functional with refurbishment and care. Gemma knew that as she and Evan, both wandered them over the years.

             “I’m prepared to leave on a six-month cruise. I’ll be singing in the Captain’s lounge.” Eric snorted at Aunt Rosa’s reasoning. He mumbled something about her being allergic to hard work.

             Uncle David shook his head sadly. “It will take many months for me to function for any length of time. I’m pretty much done for the day already. I’m sorry. It must be no for me.” Gemma knew his words were reasonable. It surprised her he could make it this far. His back never fully recovered from the surgery and the doctors were hesitant to do any more. He’d have taken the job if he could.

             “I have too many sponsorship deals right now. I can’t afford to go without internet or cellphone reception. That place is too far out for me.” Eric’s excuse was no less lame in Gemma’s estimation than ridiculous. They didn’t want or couldn’t put in an effort to carry on the history of their family if they couldn’t own it and lord it over the rest of the family.

             Crystal sat beside her brother. “I don’t care about that rat trap of a place. There’s no shopping or nightlife. So I’m out.” The ever-party girl. Give her a few years and she’ll compete with Aunt Rosa for the position of sleazy cougar.

             Sara tried and failed at telling Evan what she thought of the deal. Which in her mind possessed far too many cons to pros. Evan reminded her of better money? She countered with isolation. He countered plenty of space for kids; she countered with poor entertainment activities and no education nearby. In the end, Evan got verbally battered down until he turned to Mr. Winters and informed him, “I don’t believe we can take the position. Thanks.”

             Finally, Mr. Winters turned his sights on Gemma, and it took her a moment to realize the turn was hers. “Oh, me? I’m going to need to think about it. What I mean all I just got the job I have, and I live with Becky. Meaning, I have responsibilities to her. I can’t leave her high and dry without a roommate on such short notice. I’m not sure whether I have enough money to make the move.”

             “That isn’t an issue. If you will take the position, the instructs left for the estate clearly state I am to make things happen for the one that wishes to take on the position of caretaker. If you accept the position now, I am sure we can later come to an agreement on the finer details.” Gemma looked at Becky from the corner of her eye. Becky didn’t bother pretending to be subtle at all. She waved Gemma on encouragingly. Mouthing ‘Take it.’

             Gemma finally nodded. Seeing now as usual, it ended up in her lap to keep the family’s interests going. When her father was alive, it fell to him. Gemma only picked up the reins in his stead. “Fine, I’ll take it, but we’ll discuss my requirements later than.” Telling Mr. Winters they’d talk about requirements tasted wrong and almost alien in Gemma’s mind and made her uncomfortable.

             “Very good. If you didn’t accept, the estate will revert to the city at the end of the month. This makes everything much more simple. Now let’s get on with reading the will and distributing Miss Conlin’s belongings. This won’t take long, and much of it is here in the office. Those receiving it make take it from the office when you leave after signing that you received it.” Mr. Winters explained that each person at the table did, in fact, receive something. From investments to antiques. A few pieces of jewellery, and china were divided between everyone.

             After that, the family barely said goodbye before they left. No one mentioned visiting or seeing another soon.