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“Hello?”
“Sis!”
“Fiona,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “What do you want?”
My sister was almost twenty years older than me. It sounded ridiculous, but my familywasridiculous.
“Nice to talk to you too, Helen. It’s been a while. Just thought a sisterly check in was in order,” Fiona responded, with that mischievous tone I had grown accustomed to.
“I’m sure that’s exactly why you called. Goodbye Fio—”
“Wait! Okay, you got me. I really called to hear how you were doing. You must have heard the news of Uncle Dudley by now. So sad, isn’t it? They say he died peacefully in his sleep, so at least we can find solace in that.” She faked a couple sobs and pretended to blow her nose.
“Fiona, cut the crap. I had never even heard of Uncle Dudley before his death, so I doubt that you and him were besties.” I was not dealing with her bullshit today.
“Not in so many words, but he was close enough to me, and mom and dad for that matter, that we expected him to leave us something. Did he…did he leave you anything?”
Ah, so this was what this phone call was all about. I debated keeping the arrangement between Dudley and me a secret from my family, but then I remembered what he had written in his note about their greed. He had said they’d fight me, but they had no business claiming his property or his inheritance. It was mine.
“Actually, he did. I’m at his home right now, or should I saymyhome? So to answer your previous question, I’m doing quite well!” I reveled in the minimal power I held over my scheming sister at this moment.
“We’ll see how long you’re feeling that way, sis. Wills aren’t as binding as you may think. Not when family is involved. We’ll find a way to buy that house, mark my words.”
Fiona hung up before I could come up with a witty response.
“Shit,” I muttered to myself.
I was sure my family wouldn’t be able to buy this house while I was still living in it, fulfilling Dudley’s final wishes. But if I backed out at any moment, the house and potentially the inheritance could go to them. If they found the journal before me, who knows what they’d be able to do with it. It was settled: I had to stay in Oakville and I had to find Dudley’s journal.
