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Walter on the other hand was sitting calmly behind his grandfather’s desk, as if he had expected nothing less. But then… maybe things were not as they seemed. Maybe it was all a big, enormous, gigantic misunderstanding. It had to be. It just had to…
Ava had been getting ready to leave for the shelter when her father called her into the living room. She’d rushed there hastily, replaying his voice over again in her head to see if she’d missed any sign of distress. Ever since Elijah Radcliff’s funeral she’d felt more scared for her father. If death could claim a previously healthy-looking man in a matter of weeks, then… she was too terrified to even complete the thought.
“Dad?” she called out for him. “Are you feeling alright?” She let out a sigh of relief when she found him with his normal smile sitting in his TV chair. The news was running in the background, muted.
“I’m alright, my dear.”
“Are you sure?” she pressed.
“Stop fussing over me, young woman,” he said almost cheerfully. “I said I’m fine.”
“What do you need then? I have to go to work soon.”
“I know. Sorry. I called you because just a moment ago the strangest thing happened.”
“Dad… if this is about that racoon going through our trash again then I—”
“Walter called.”
“Walter? Who is Walter?”
“Elijah Radcliff’s lawyer.”
She instantly felt her chest tingle, her first clenching.They want to chase us away now that the billionaire’s dead. Out of our home.Her anxious thoughts were cut short by her father’s calm voice.
“Don’t look so worried, my dear. It’s not something terrible, at least I don’t think it is.”
She rubbed her hands on her thighs.
“So, what was the message?”
“You’re needed in there for some reason. I was told to inform you that there was a meeting at the house this afternoon at 4 PM and that you are required to attend.”
Ava’s frowned. “Are you sure they don’t mean you? I don’t see any reason why they’d want me in there in some meeting, I don’t even work for them.”
“He said your name specifically. Ava Burns. I was assured that we are not in trouble of any kind.”
Ava crossed her arms. Just the thought of having to attend a meeting with Lucy and Benjamin Radcliff was more than daunting.
“Please, go and find out, will you? I don’t want us to be ungrateful. We are highly indebted to Elijah Radcliff, you know.”
“I know, I know. He took you in when nobody else did and gave you a roof over your head and so on and so on,” Ava repeated the tale for the thousandth time before her father could.
“Will you go then?”
“Yes, yes. I will. For you.”
“I knew my angel girl would go for her old dad.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “Going too far, Dad.”
He smirked. “Nothing but the truth. Now sit down so I can tell you about that racoon before I forget…”
Her frown deepened as she sat down next to him. Her thoughts were running wild. It was truly puzzling to her why she would be asked to attend a family meeting. Maybe they did want them out of the garden house after all. To turn it into Benjamin’s personal movie theater or something. But then, she was almost certain he already had one at the main house. Perhaps he wanted a second one.
She checked the time on her cell screen. It was not even 9 AM yet, so she could still go into work and just leave a bit early. But what in the name of God did they want with her? Something about this whole thing made her nervous.
Her gaze wandered over to the part of garden visible though the small living room window. Admiring its beauty, it instantly calmed her. She always thought her father was some kind of magician, especially with the way he managed to nurture the flowers into such a glorious tableau.
Her father’s loud laughter got her attention.
“And then it ran off, just like that. Can you believe it?” he said hitting his leg in amusement. She smiled at him.
“That’s really funny, Dad.”
What the hell do the Radcliffs want with me? Eight more hours to find out. Dear God please, just this once, let it be something good…
