Page 76 of Mountain Grump

---

I’ve never seen Jack’s handwriting before. Never had cause to. But looking at it now, I know it’s his.

I pull out the single sheet of paper and unfold it.

Dear Ethan,

Chapter 50

Tilda

Dear Matty,

I hope you’re enjoying the house. If my timing is correct, you’ve been here for about a week. Plenty of time to fall in love with the property.

I’m sorry for springing all this on you.

And I’m sorry to do it a second time. But I need one more favor from you. I need you to go back to Vegas.

Tomorrow.

It’s just for the day, and I’ve already arranged everything.

A man will meet you at the Peaks Airport. (See addresses below.) He will fly you to Vegas, drive you to the meeting with my lawyer, drive you back to the plane, and fly you home. You’ll be back before you know it.

But I do need you to go.

The rest of our family will also be there to hear the reading of the will. And I know it will be unpleasant, but I also know you can do it.

You can do the hard things, Matty.

I believe in you.

Love from the Beyond,

Uncle Jack

I smooth the paper on the kitchen counter and read it again.

Back to Vegas.

Back to my family.

I swallow.

I don’t want to go.

I don’t want to see them.

I don’t want to hear whatever crap they’re going to say to me.

I don’t want to do it.

Not at all.

You can do the hard things, Matty.

I press my teeth into my lip.

If it wasn’t a handwritten letter from Uncle Jack, I might ignore it.

---