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“I get it, Callum. I know I wished I’d reached out after I left home. Me, Jessa, and Mo talk about that all the time. We’ve been keeping up with you, though. I see you’re doing well for yourself. Bella too. We’re proud of you. I know your parents would be proud too.”
He stood and headed for the door. His hand lingered on the knob momentarily. Turning, he looked back at me.
“Whether or not you come to the funeral, we’d like to see you and Bella more often. Life is short, and we are family.”
I nodded as he walked out the door. Then I pulled out my phone to call Bella.
“Princess, Mommy is working—”
“It’s me.”
“Oh! What’s wrong? Why do you sound like that?”
“I just got a visit from our cousin William. Uncle James is dead.”
“Oh... Well, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“The funeral is this Saturday at one. He said everyone is meeting at the house around eleven.”
“You thinking about going?”
“I don’t know, Bells. He told me he misses us.”
“Well, we used to be close to them before Aunt Sheila nipped that in the butt.”
“I know... How would you feel about going?”
“I’ll go if you go, and I want Martin to be there. Somebody has to be able to hold you back if anything happens.”
“Maybe you’re right. I won’t go to the house beforehand, but I’ll go to the funeral and burial.”
“Okay.” She sighed heavily. “This just takes me back to Mama and Daddy dying.”
I knew exactly what she was talking about.
It was two weeks after the funeral. My father’s lawyer had gathered us together to read his final will and testament. Bella sat beside me on the couch in my father’s office with her head resting on my shoulder. She hadn’t been herself in days, and I honestly hadn’t either. Our house had become a revolving door of relatives coming in and out. Mr. Charles wasn’t keen on discussing my father’s personal matters in front of everyone, so he brought us in here.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” he said softly. “Your parents were good people. I have known your father for a long time, and he spoke so highly of both of you. He was very proud of you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Charles,” I said quietly.
“Let’s get to it then. Your father had an accountant who kept track of his expenses. He’ll be available to help you figure out what you need to do with the money he left you and your sister.”
“He left us money?”
“Well, upon his death, everything was supposed to go to your mother had she outlived him. With both of them gone, it defaults to you and Bella. Between his insurance policies at work, retirement benefits, and their personals, there is a total of about $400,000. Since you are of legal age, Callum, that goes to you. This is just my opinion, but that is a lot of money for you to hold on to at such a young age. Maybe it would be better to put it into an account and allow one of your relatives to oversee it until you’re older.”
I didn’t trust that. My relatives were acting suspiciously. They’ve been over here every day like they were looking for something. I even caught my aunt in my parents’ bedroom, searching for something in the closet. She claimed she was looking for something of my mother’s that she wanted for a keepsake, but I didn’t buy it.
“No. If I did that, Bella and I would have nothing. None of them are willing to take us in without financial compensation. I get that. Taking on an extra mouth is a lot. I can take care of myself, but I have to think about Bella. I have to make sure she’s okay, not just for the time being.”
I looked down at my sister. Sadness had become a permanent fixture on her face.
“I want to adopt her, Mr. Charles.”
“You’re eighteen, Callum. You’re barely an adult.”
“But I’m legally an adult. They have to consider me, right?”
