Page 123 of Blade

“Why is Declan coming in? My mother didn’t know him.”

“Actually, Connie, I’ve known Willow for the last five years. However, my daughter asked me to come to the meeting with her,” my dad asserted.

“Why?” My mother glared at me.

“Because she wants me there. Despite your interference, she wants me in her life.”

My dad glared back at my mother, and I wondered if I’d made a mistake asking these two to be in the same room together.

“Connie, love, let’s not make a big thing out of it.”

Chris, my stepfather, had always had a way of tempering my mother. I’m glad he was here with her today.

We entered church, and everyone took a seat. My father sat on one side of me and Micah was on the other.

“Don’t get used to that seat, fucker. It’s mine,” King chided, and Matlock just grinned.

“Let’s get started. I have allowed both the sheriff and Mr. Sawyer to be present at the request of Conifer Sawyer and Rebecca Washington.”

“It’s Connie,” my mother snarled.

“I beg your pardon, Connie,” Matlock apologized. “As I was saying, we are here to execute the last will and testament of Willow Washington. She had some considerable assets.”

He shuffled through his paperwork and began, “Mr. Kingston O’Rourke, Mrs. Washington left you the property the clubhouse sits on, as well as the surrounding fifty acres. It is yours free and clear, along with an account that contained the money you have paid over the last five years with interest.”

I looked over at King, and he hung his head.

Grams loved him, and he knew it now, without a doubt.

“She didn’t have to do that,” he said.

“No, she didn’t,” Matlock agreed, “But she wanted you to have it. She loved having us here and wanted to make sure we never had to worry.”

Matlock grinned at Micah as he continued.

“To Micah Spade, she leaves her granddaughter.”

I threw my head back and laughed out loud. That was Grams. She knew how to get her point across. Micah just shook his head, grinning.

“Nicely played, old woman.” He reached over and took my hand. “Best inheritance ever.”

He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed me. Grams made sure I would know Micah was alive, even if he didn’t tell me.

“Can we get on with this, please?”

My mother, ladies and gentlemen, always a pleasure.

“To Mrs. Conifer,” Matlock held his hand up, stopping my mother from objecting, “I have a note here to use your full name. To Mrs. Conifer Washington Sawyer, I leave the home she lives in as well as one hundred thousand dollars.”

Jumping to her feet, my mother screamed, “WHAT? We own our home. She can’t leave us something that belongs to us.”

“Connie, love, we didn’t own our home. Your mother did,” Chris admitted quietly, looking up at his wife.

“What are you talking about?” My mother scrutinized her husband.

“We had some lean times, and I didn’t want you to worry, so I spoke to your mom. She paid off the house by buying it from me.”

“I knew she hated me,” my mother whined, collapsing into her chair.

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