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HELEN
“Seriously?!” I screamed as I felt my pink Steve Madden stiletto snap beneath me. I splurged on those only a few weeks ago. I stumbled up the gravel driveway on perfectly manicured feet and a now broken heel, huffing in utter frustration. This trip was destined to be a disaster the moment I got into my car and drove it away from San Francisco.
“Go to Napa Valley to get your inheritance, they said. It’ll be fun, they said,” I muttered to myself, limping up the drive. “Yeah, well this isn’t my idea of fun!” I screamed to the seemingly empty estates surrounding me.
First of all, I wasn’t even in Napa Valley. I was in the hills far above Napa Valley, with limited cell phone reception and no sign of human existence aside from the few insanely large homes I passed on the way here with more acres than I could count. Second of all, why would a man I didn't even know leave me a fortune?
When I answered my cell phone on Monday morning, I had not expected the strange caller to be a lawyer. I was afraid it was my ex boyfriend, or worse…my sister.
“Helen Washington?” he said confidently on the other end. “I’m sorry about the loss of your Uncle Dudley. I’m his lawyer.”
“Uncle who?” I responded, completely confused.
“Dudley K. Washington. You two had never met, but I was given clear instructions to contact you after his death, and only you.”
“Um, okay. What can I do for you?”
“I am entrusted with the carrying out of his will. Essentially, Dudley wanted to give you his property and his fortune. There are some caveats, however.”
“Listen I—”
“Helen,” he interrupted. “Let’s meet at his estate in Oakville this coming Saturday. I’ll explain everything then.”
“Oakville?” I was shocked. Living in the hills of Oakville meant you had serious money. How had I never heard of this man? My greedy family surely would have mentioned him before.
“Yes, I’ll text you the address. See you then!”
I tried to decline the invitation, uninterested in being caught between more dirty family money. But over the next few days, Dudley’s lawyer called several times to confirm and wasn’t willing to take no for an answer, so here I was trudging up Dudley’s stupidly steep and untarred driveway.
I finally made it to the house. I noticed a garage off to the side, which I made note to pull up to next time, if there ever was a next time. My mouth dropped as I took in the exterior of Dudley’s estate. The home was made entirely of white brick, an old build that must have been refurbished recently. The brass front door showed clear signs of aging, but it was awe-inducing nonetheless. Its golden hue was illuminated by the sun rays, practically calling me inside.
For a moment, I let myself imagine coming home to this house, opening this door, and having it all be mine. I could put two big potted planters on either side of the door and a welcome sign above it. Of course, this was just fantasy. I had a career to get back to in the city, my writing dreams. The faster I can sell this place and cash out, the better.
I turned to inspect the rest of the property. I looked past his lawn to the mountainous escape that I had just driven up. I could faintly see the city of Napa in the distance, lit up with traffic and businesses. I sighed, jealous of the city-goers, so close to wifi and lattes while I stood among dirt and sticks. Hopefully, I’d be back home before lunch.
Though I had to admit, the view was stunning. The sky was perfectly blue, with a few low hanging clouds soaring above me. Directly next door to Dudley’s mansion stood acres of land with perfect rows of trees, seemingly thousands of them. I squinted, noticing smudges of red among the leaves.Apples? I thought only grapes grew in Napa.
I tried the front door, which was locked. I went to pull my phone from my purse to check for messages from the lawyer, when I heard a crash from the back of the house.
Good lord, that better not be some rabid wildlife,I thought as I walked slowly around the side of the house, grabbing a long stick I found for protection. As I approached the backyard, I saw a tall, burly man standing in the middle of it, looking up at a single apple tree. The apple tree was planted above the rest of the land on a large, raised platform surrounded by bricks. The rest of the yard was entirely empty, aside from a few rose bushes.
Next to the fence that encircled the backyard, a pile of gardening tools were splayed about and the fence’s gate was open, blowing back and forth on its hinge. I eyed him again, curious. He was wearing a tight white t-shirt and jeans. As he stroked the tree’s bark, I noticed the muscles on his forearm flex. I couldn’t take my eyes off his arm, and in spite of myself, I let my eyes trail up to his hard biceps and onto his sexy beard. He raised his arm to wipe sweat off his brow and my heart fluttered. Damn, he was hot! – I sure wouldn’t hate it if this guy came with the house.
I was searching for the courage to say hello when I heard someone calling my name from the front of the house, so I turned and made my way back. I’d say hi to the groundskeeper later.
When I got to the front, there was a man with graying hair, wearing an ill-fitting suit cursing under his breath while jiggling a key in the lock.
“Helen!” he said just as the front door opened, pulling him slightly off balance. He extended a sweaty palm that I shook. “I’m Wallace Erickson.”
“Great to meet you!” He said. “Follow me in.”
I took a deep breath as I stepped inside. Who knows what Uncle Dudley had left for me in his house?
As I walked through the brass door, I was greeted by the smell of must mixed with fresh oak. Within seconds of entering, I caught my broken heel on an intricately decorated rug and went crashing down. Dust surrounded me as I coughed and waved my hand in front of my face to fend it off. This house was giving me the creeps already.
The lawyer turned his head around to notice me on the ground. He extended a hand to help me up, but just kept on talking.
“I won’t waste your time. I’m sure you’re a busy woman. This letter is for you.” He handed me an envelope. “It should help to answer some of your questions. I’m going to see myself to the bathroom, and when you’re done reading, we can chat in the kitchen,” he said, nodding to the back left of the house.
