Page 97 of Day Break

“Get on with it,” someone barked when the room grew silent.

I didn’t look up from Byron, but I assumed everyone was watching me. I didn’t care. I was so happy that no one could ever take Byron away from me.

The fact that George had cared this much about me and Byron being together touched me so deeply. Whatever happened to me in the future, I knew that I could handle it with Byron by my side.

“Second,” Lee continued. “I leave my home at 20 Beachwood Lane, Whidbey Island, to my grandson Lane. Boy, I hope you have many years of joy in it, as I did.”

“This is bullshit,” Robert said, tossing up his hands and standing up.

Lee glared at him until he sat down again.

“Lastly, I leave the following items to the following people.” At this point, Lee handed out a slip of paper to everyone in the room, including me. “I’ll let you read the list yourselves.”

On it was a list of items with names beside them.

I scanned the list, surprised that I found my name. Beside it said, Silver Ford Truck, furnishings in the apartment above the garage, all of Byron’s belongings, the contents of my safety deposit box at Regionals Bank on Whidbey Island.

I had to read this three times before it sank in. I owned a truck. I’d never even driven before. Now, I had a truck.

“This is bullshit,” Robert said. Several other people agreed. “He was my father and all I’m getting is a dumb grandfather clock?”

“What the hell am I going to do with an old radio?” Donnie asked.

“You’re lucky he mentioned you. Phillip and I aren’t even on this.” Derrick tossed the paper down.

“Let me finish,” Lee said, getting everyone’s attention. When the room grew silent, Lee continued. “As to the reason I have left my two grandsons out of my will, they know the reason. They are not to receive a dime of mine nor any property. As far as I’m concerned, the Robinson name would have been far better off if they had never been born. If I could, I would strip them of even my name.” Lee glanced up as Phillip jumped up and kicked the side table, knocking over the lamp and sending glass shards scattering everywhere.

I jumped and cried out, then jerked back as he stormed towards me.

“You little slut,” Phillip said, charging me.

Byron let out a low growl, then Lane was there, blocking Phil from getting near me.

“You slither your way into my grandfather’s bed and steal everything out from under those who deserve it,” Phillip growled. Then he reached over and toppled over a bar stool before leaving out the back door.

Derrick stood up and followed him without a word.

“There’s more,” Lee said with a sigh. Everyone turned back to the lawyer. “The cash and funds from assets I have that can be sold should be split in the following way. Seventy percent of any funds should be split down the middle between Lane Robinson and Chloe Dawn. Ten percent to Tiffany Wallace. Ten percent should go into a trust fund for Johnny Wallace until he’s eighteen, to ensure not a dime is touched by his father, Mark Wallace. The remaining ten percent I would like to donate to the animal shelter on the island where I found Byron.”

“What?” This time it was from everyone in the room except for Lane, me, and the lawyer. The entire room burst into shouts and chaos.

Then we heard someone’s car alarm going off outside.

“Shit,” Lane said, rushing out the back door. Several people followed him, including me and Byron, who was barking and howling at the loud noise.

I was shocked to see every window on George’s truck shattered while the siren blared loudly. When I got closer, I realized that all four tires were slashed as well.

Then it dawned on me. This was my truck. The one that George had just willed to me.

“Where the fuck are Phillip and Derrick?” Lane growled, looking around just as a car sped out of the driveway. “Son of a bitch,” Lane said, pulling out his phone. “I’m calling the police,” he told everyone standing around.

“Are we done here?” Robert asked, glaring at Lee and Lane. Lane was busy on the phone relaying what had happened and the details and descriptions of his cousin’s car.

“The rest you can read in your copies of the will. If you’ll step back inside, I’ll supply each of you with a copy,” Lee answered.

I stood outside with the truck’s security system going off, listening to Lane talk to the police. When he hung up the phone, he turned and took my hand.

“Let’s go find the keys to turn off the alarm. The police will be here soon.”