Chapter 22 #2
one. Think I’ll wash it and use that. Word’s gotten quietly around about my barter system. One book for one old key, no questions
asked. When this next one’s full I’ll take it to the scrap yard, then donate the money to the literacy fund. Can’t think of
a better way to get folks back to reading and away from those computers.
Leo stopped. So that’s where all those keys came from. He’d forgotten about the charity in Earl’s will. How many keys had
he collected in twelve years? How much money had he donated? Had to have been a lot.
He got up to pour another glass of apple cider.
The stuff was addicting. It also took his mind off what he’d been reading for a few moments.
How many birthdays had he spent alone since moving to LA?
Most of them, although sometimes a thoughtful coworker had thrown him a party or put a cupcake on his desk.
He didn’t like a fuss either. The total opposite of Constance . . . but just like Uncle Earl.
Once he was seated again, he quickly read through the next twenty or so pages that covered the next ten years. Over that time,
Earl recorded going to baseball games, more lunches with Bennett, birthdays that came and went with almost no fanfare, and
his book hauls, which he recorded with the same matter-of-factness he’d recorded other details of his life. There was very
little switch in tone from marking his mother’s death to listing the five best places in the area to find junk.
Then suddenly, an entry got his attention.
June 2, 2022: New tenant moved in yesterday. She’s chatty. Nice smile, but chatty. Has a strange-looking cat. Calls him Sir.
Don’t know about this cat café business, but if she pays her rent on time, keeps to herself, and makes sure to wrangle the
felines, we’ll get along fine.
Leo couldn’t help but smile. Via.
October 1, 2022: Probably should clean up the apartment today. The dust is gathering dust.
April 3, 2023: Via asked to organize my shop again. I told her no. Again. Nice that she wanted to do that, though. She runs
a tight ship next door. Impressed.
January 28, 2024: Decided to sell Via her half of the building.
She’s been the best tenant I’ve ever had.
Best neighbor too. She’s still too chatty and her cat is still weird looking, but she’s been here two years and I want her to stay.
Don’t have to deal with flighty, annoying renters anymore.
That’s if she wants to and wants that half of the building.
Gonna surprise her tomorrow with an offer. We’ll see if she takes it.
PS: She took it.
November 1, 2024: Doc wants me to have a stress test. Told him I’m not interested. The good Lord will take me when He takes
me.
November 15, 2024: Need to call Bennett this week. Want to change my will.
Leo sat up. Read the sentence again, then finished the entry.
Via’s had great ideas to improve the shop. Didn’t know it needs improving, but hearing her talk, she’s right. It’s been thirty
years since I opened up Second Chapter. Time for a change. Via said I’ve built something here. A legacy. Can’t think of a
better person to carry that on. We talked a little bit about her taking over, maybe combining our businesses. But if I go
before that, I want her to have it free and clear. I’ll never meet Leo. Don’t even know where he is. Suppose I should have
tried to find him. But he never tried to find me either. No reason to leave him anything.
Leo’s chest compressed. His uncle died thinking no one cared. Thinking Leo didn’t care enough to look for him. “I didn’t know!” he yelled at the book. Then more quietly, “I didn’t know.” He turned to the last entry, his eyes aching now.
November 25, 2024: Fell down the dumb stairs. Via’s been a godsend. Helps me with everything, makes sure I eat properly. She’s
the daughter I never had. As soon as I recover, I’m changing my will. It all goes to Via.
The journal lay on Leo’s lap as he read the last sentence over and over. She was right about Earl’s last wishes. Bennett had
said so, and Leo ended up believing her as he saw how much she cared about Second Chapter. The flicker of grief in her eyes
whenever Earl was mentioned. She loved his uncle, just when he needed someone to love him.
He stood, the cider forgotten, the lump in his throat nearly choking him. Earl’s last wish was in writing. Would it be enough
to change the inheritance? Maybe. Enough to contest it. Possibly. He was so close—only two days left and a quiz to meet all
of Earl’s stipulations. He could close the journal and tuck it under his bed. No one would know but him.
And that was the problem.
Leo sighed. He didn’t have any other choice, and the one he did wasn’t hard to make. Bringing this to Bennett’s attention
would complicate things, but he had a duty to his uncle and to Via to do it.
But . . . what if he fulfilled Uncle Earl’s and Via’s wishes a different way?
He was used to taking financial risks but rarely missed due to his keen financial mind.
He’d taken a personal one by leaving New York and moving to California, but that was because Constance had killed their relationship and his future in the company.
What if he went all in on Second Chapter . . . and Via? It would be the biggest risk he’d ever taken, the highest stakes he’d
ever faced. She was worth it.
Picking up the phone, he dialed Bennett’s personal number, even though it was well after business hours. Leo didn’t want to
wait until morning. “Bennett,” he said when the lawyer answered the phone. “There’s something you need to know.”