Part One

As we started to go to the interior office I didn’t know if I was being a gentleman or just hoping to learn if the rear view is as magnificent as the front view.. And trust me it was! So was the scent coming off her, a floral scent that was hard to tell if it was shampoo or some sort of designer perfume that was all the craze these days.

So in we went and not really trusting myself to quit concentrating on her, I waited until she took the first chair on the left side of the rather large desk. Then to make it appear as if I wasn’t more interested in her than why we were there I took the farthest chair on the right side of the desk.

“So, first off please accept our firm condolences on your loss. With that said Walter Caruthers left his last Will And Testament with us and we have gathered all in said will here to learn what Mr. Caruther wanted them to have!”

With that he returned to his seat behind the desk and started reading from a white single page. “So if my niece and my next door neighbour’s son are present then you have my permission to begin!” The Lawyer cleared his throat, “I Walter Caruthers begging of sound mind and semi-sound body feel that he doesn’t have to remind either of you that I wasn’t what one would consider a rich person except where it came to the two of you!”

I flicked my eyes over to his niece, whom I never knew existed before, how she was accepting what was going on. I wasn’t sure if there was a tear in the corner of her right eye or just a reflection off the overhead light. Other than that it was as if she was carved from a piece of marble.

Suddenly hearing my name made me return my attention to the lawyer, “Harold Collins, you were more like a son that I always wanted, more attentive to an aging old fool than his actual son ever was!” Then a paused, “Melissa Walton, even when told by other relatives to just ignore the old man, you went out of your way to make me feel special!”

I fondly remember some night sitting in front of a TV screen with Walter hearing how he talked about the females on the screen. Then a nasty thought came to my mind, what would he say about his niece, lord knows I was thinking similar thoughts about her myself.

“To my niece, Melissa, I leave the house, even though I know that it isn’t the kind of residence you are used to residing in. And to help you afford to live there, all my money!”

The lawyer stopped and looked up to Melissa, “And that brings to a conclusion your dealing in the reading of the will!” Then he lowered his head and opened a drawer, “And here are the keys to your new home, all yours in exchange for your signature on the proper paperwork that is!”

Then as is showing her true self for the first time, Melissa spoke up. “Is that all I have to do to get the fuck out of here!” She reached over and took both the property transfer paper and a copy of the will signed both, then turned and strutted her way out of the interior office.

I let my feelings about her be known “Christ I hope she’s a whole lot nicer to the person currently in Walter’s place!”

“Pardon me Mr. Collins, there isn’t anyone in Mr. Caruthers place to my knowledge!”