Page 2 of Requiem

Part One: Brett

Brett 1

The car is silent, save for the gentle swish of the wipers on the windshield. It’s raining just enough that I have to use them, and not quite enough so that they don’t make that dragging rubber noise as they squeegee across. Next to me, my mother is staring out the passenger window, watching the world fly by in a blur.

“Trudy, why don’t you let me cook for us tonight? I’d love to make a big pot of minestrone,” Maggie offers from the backseat.

My mother turns toward her with a faint smile on her face.

“You’re so sweet, Maggie, and I would love that, but why don’t we just heat up one of the casseroles that the neighbors have dropped by? I really don’t have room for all of them in my freezer.”

“Okay, maybe I’ll just fix a salad to go with it then,” Maggie suggests, determined to be helpful in some regard, no matter how minor.

“That would be lovely, Dear,” mom agrees, turning back to the window.

Ralph Fourquet has been our family attorney since before I was born. So, when we walk into his dark mahogany and leather office, he’s quick to pull my mother into his arms for a tight hug. He murmurs something into her ear that I can’t hear. She nods and wipes the tears that have sprung to her eyes.

Ralph shakes my hand, and I introduce him to Maggie. He ushers us to a sitting area on the far end of his office so that we are on couches, facing one another. He opens up a leather-bound pouch and produces some official looking documents.

“Okay, well, Trudy, you and Danny were very good about keeping your affairs in order so, thankfully, there isn’t much to be dealt with at this incredibly difficult time.”

He skims through the pile of paperwork and produces what I recognize to be a last will and testament.

“As we discussed last year, Trudy, you are the beneficiary of Danny’s life insurance policy and all joint savings and retirement funds will revert to your sole control. There is no mortgage on the house, and no outstanding debt to be paid, so this is all fairly cut and dried. As you know, Ray Page, Danny’s friend from Chicago, has made an offer to buy the business.”

“Wait, what?” I ask, leaning forward so fast that I nearly slip right off my tufted leather chair. “When did this happen?”

“A few days ago,” my mother replies quietly. “Ray and Pam would like to get out of Chicago and move here, to Owl Bridge.”

“And you agreed?”

I feel a little hurt not to have been consulted. She smiles at me sadly.

“Sweetheart, if you had even the least bit of mechanical inclination, I would have given the business to you in a heartbeat. But, you don’t want it. And Ray has always been a good friend to your father. Honestly, I rather like the idea of him and Pam being close by.”

I consider this for a second and realize she’s right. Ray and my father go way back to their days together as mechanics in the Navy. That was even before my father met my mother. And now that she says it, I also like the idea of the Pages moving to town. They can be another source of support for Mom when I’m not here.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be …”

She waves a hand at me.

“No, Brett, I’m sorry I didn’t mention it sooner. I didn’t mean to exclude you from the decision, it just slipped my mind.”

“Brett, you don’t have to worry. The Pages are in fine financial shape, and have offered full value for the business. We’d be hard pressed to find a better buyer.”

I nod. It’s just so strange to hear them talking about my father’s life’s work this way.

“It’s not him,” Maggie offers quietly, as if reading my mind. She takes my hand in hers and squeezes hard.

“So,” Ralph continues, looking at me, “your mother and father discussed what might happen in this event, and they made the decision – which your mother still holds to – that you should be the beneficiary of any funds collected from the sale of the garage.”

I look at him, then my mother, then back at him again.

“But, Mom, you need that money …” I start to protest, but that waving hand goes up again.

“I have more than enough with the life insurance and our retirement savings. And I plan to keep working, Brett. Once I decide to retire from the school system, I’ll have a very generous pension and healthcare. I have more than I need.”

“Mom …”