Page 2 of Keeping My Wife
I scooted in beside her, my eyes burning.
She reached over and took my hand, bringing it to her lap. One tear finally escaped and trailed down my cheek as we made the winding trip up to the mansion.
A Cadillac was waiting near the front of the house. Robert Templeman stepped out of the driver side as the limo made its way up the driveway. He’d been the family lawyer for as long as I could remember. He was a tall scarecrow of a man and his white hair ruffled in the whipping wind.
He’d been at the ceremony but escaped to the house soon after so we could get the will over with.
My mother roused enough to follow us inside and into the library, leaning heavily on her man du jour.
“I’ll get right to the point.” Robert sat beside the desk.
A sudden sense of unease hit me as I noticed how shabby the room looked. There was dust on the shelves and when I looked a little closer, I noticed the wallpaper was peeling in spots.
“Lucinda made some very specific provisions in her will.” He opened his briefcase and pulled out two folders. He set one in front of me and one in front of my mother.
“The old battle axe is controlling the purse strings even from the grave.” My mother’s smooth voice held a slurring bite.
Robert arrowed his shrewd gaze at her. “You have little to complain about. She always added money to your trust even when you went beyond your monthly allowance.”
“I’m not some child!” Her voice rose, shrill and a shade away from hysterical.
“Calm yourself, Marcella.”
She sat back, crossing her legs as she pulled out a cigarette.
“Mother.”
She pulled out a lighter. “I can smoke in here. It’s my house now.”
The sharp scent of tobacco hit my nose followed by the heavy stream of smoke she blew my way.
“Actually, that’s not the case.”
My mother narrowed her eyes and sat forward. “Explain.”
“The finances have been drained over the years as well as the cost of the upkeep of this house.”
Marcella sat back with a curse. “Burn it for all I care. The insurance is probably worth more than this ugly museum.”
I fisted my hands in my lap.
Eloise reached over and closed her hand over mine.
“There are some stocks of course. She didn’t have a lot of medical expenses since Lucinda’s death was so sudden. Essentially, the money will be split between you and Maxine. However, the house is another matter. It comes with a provision.”
My mother took a deep drag and blew a plume of smoke toward the ceiling. “Of course it did.”
“The only way to inherit the house is to be married.”
“Screw that. Can we just sell it?”
“Yes, but then you forfeit the five-million-dollar trust that comes with the house.”
“What?” She sat forward. “She can’t do that!”
This time, it was me who slumped back into the seat.
“As you’ll see in your copies of the will, you’ll each inherit five hundred thousand dollars. Marcella, you’ll inherit your mother’s jewelry and the Mercedes.”
