Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“I did nothing of the sort, sir,” Nelson blustered indignantly.
The lawyer met Essie’s gaze and nodded slightly to underline the truth of his previous statement before continuing.
To Nelson Ferguson, I leave a lump sum of one hundred thousand dollars with the proviso that if he legally challenges the will, that amount will drop to one dollar. The funds will be held in the local bank and dispensed at ten thousand dollars annually for ten years.
“What the hell! Ten thousand dollars a year won’t help me! That old biddy was worth a million at least.” Nelson twisted in his chair to glare at Essie. “This was your plan all along, wasn’t it, Essie? You returned from Chicago in a grandiose play to make yourself the heiress of her fortune, didn’t you?”
Marmalade stood up to arch his spine at Nelson and hiss. The cat turned away as if he couldn’t stand to look at Nelson and sauntered out the door.
“I came back when she broke her hip because she needed me. We never spoke of her money. That wasn’t important!” Essie defended herself. She glanced around the room, hoping everyone didn’t think she’d had some ulterior motive. Sara stepped forward to wrap her hand around Essie’s shoulder in silent solidarity.
“Nelson, you’re an ass. You lived in town and visited the hospital once when Esther broke her hip. When you figured out she wouldn’t die, you never checked on her there or at home again,” Zander said in a bored-sounding voice.
“I…. I didn’t want to tire the old lady out,” Nelson blustered.
“Nelson, please make an appointment with me if you wish to contest the Will. I’ll have a crisp one-dollar bill ready for you. By the way, you’ll need to sign a contract that you accept the terms of the Will before you receive your first payment. If you decide to sue after that, the funds dispensed to you will have to be repaid with interest.”
Nelson stood and stomped to the doorway. He spun on his heel and spat, “I will consult my own lawyer before signing anything.” With that, he disappeared from view.
When Sara moved to open the door, Essie tightened her hold on Sara’s hand still resting on Essie’s shoulder. “He can see himself out, Sara.”
A moment later, a human shriek sounded from the circular drive, in front of the mansion. “I’m going to kill that cat. No one shits on my Ferrari!”
Zander coughed, sounding remarkably like he’d covered up a laugh. His dancing gaze met Essie’s as she struggled not to celebrate openly. Dragging her attention away from Zander, she sternly reminded herself that the amusement they’d often shared years ago couldn’t happen anymore.
She did send mental kudos. You go, Marmalade. Essie made a note to dole out kitty treats to the tomcat when everyone left.
Totally stone-faced, Mr. Woods continued. Other than a few random smaller amounts of funds, Esther had willed the remainder of the estate, including the house, land, and investments, to Essie.
Essie wasn’t surprised that her aunt had left her beloved Ferguson’s Folly to Essie. Thrilled that she could continue to live in the home she’d loved since childhood, Essie leaned back against the upholstery. She nodded when Mr. Woods asked her to visit his office at ten o’clock the next morning for all the details and accepted the sealed letter her aunt had left in his care for Essie. Esther had emblazoned Essie in her familiar script with a heart on the crisp envelope like one final hug. Tears prickled Essie’s eyelids.
Everyone stood and chatted for several minutes on their way out. Zander paused to talk to the attorney. Zander’s face looked tense. Well, tenser than normal. Frankly, he always seemed stressed these days. She moved toward the desk, but a relative stopped her to express her sympathy, preventing Essie from overhearing what Zander and Mr. Woods discussed. Zander headed for the door immediately afterward without talking to anyone else. Essie watched his broad shoulders disappear with both regret and relief.
As soon as the last person left, the last of Essie’s energy evaporated. She melted down to sit on the bottom step of the curved stairway to the upper floor as Sara finally closed the door behind the lawyer. She met the housekeeper’s gaze.
“That didn’t go as I planned,” Essie whispered.
“I expected every bit of that. Funerals bring out the worst in people,” Sara declared.
“Everyone thought Aunt Esther would will the estate to them.” Essie shook her head in disbelief.
“No, Essie. Everyone fantasized that Mrs. Ferguson would leave them this legacy. She was honest with everyone, especially Nelson.” Sara’s expression told Essie exactly what she thought of that young man. No one fooled the astute housekeeper for long.
“Nothing surprised you?”
“She shouldn’t have left anything to me.”
“Of course she should have. You’ve been her housekeeper and companion for years. Of course, she took care of you.”