Chapter Twenty-Nine #2
Tristan and Zach nod in response as they remain silent.
The two of them get out of the SUV and lean against it as Judge and I walk in the office.
Judge stands back while I give my name to the receptionist and am told to take a seat while we wait for Mr. Vanguard.
Lacing our fingers together again, I make my way to the seats but don’t take one as Judge follows close behind me.
Instead, I look out the large window onto a park.
It’s empty right now but I’m not really seeing the park or anything else in front of me.
I’m way too anxious to see or hear much of anything right now.
“Miss Thompson?” a man in his late forties asks as he walks up to us.
“Yes. Mr. Vanguard?” I return, turning to face the man and holding Judge’s hand tighter than a few seconds ago.
“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Thompson. I wish it were under better circumstances. If you’d both please follow me,” he says, turning and heading toward a hallway.
Judge and I are led into an office that’s large and warm.
There are pictures of the lawyer and his family all over the walls of the room to make it more personal and not as cold as a lawyer’s office usually is.
At least in my experience the few times I’ve had to meet with a lawyer for various reasons.
“Miss Thompson, as I stated on the phone, Leah had a will and you are the sole beneficiary of her estate. She’s left you everything.
This includes the diner with the apartment above it, her home, both of her vehicles, another property in Italy, and approximately fifty million dollars in an account at the local bank.
She also had an investment portfolio that now belongs to you.
She’s left you a letter and detailed outline of what she wants you to do with the diner now that it will belong to you,” Mr. Vanguard says as I sit up straighter in my chair.
“Um, are you sure this is right? Leah left me all of that?” I question the lawyer while reaching for Judge’s hand.
“She did. Leah was very certain about this and I have a feeling everything will be explained in the letter. I can hand everything over to you once you sign the paperwork,” Mr. Vanguard responds with a gentle smile on his face.
I sign the paperwork in a daze. The second everything is signed, Mr. Vanguard hands over a large manilla envelope.
When he stands, Judge follows his move and shakes his hand before helping me up.
I’m in shock and need some time to process what just happened.
Mr. Vanguard walks us out to the entrance and I finally thank him before shaking his hand.
He tells me to call if I have any questions and he’ll help me the best he can.
That he’s really sorry about Leah and she was a true friend of his wife and him.
Judge helps me get back in the SUV once we’re outside.
Tristan and Zach look to me with curious eyes and I simply shake my head no because now is not the time to talk to them about what’s going on.
I need to process the fact that I’m now a millionaire with multiple properties to my name.
Including one in Italy. Our ride back to her apartment is silent.
“Why don’t you two go grab us some lunch?” Judge asks Zach and Tristan when he pulls back up to the apartment. “Wren hasn’t had a milkshake yet today and I’m sure she could use one about now. And fries with gravy.”
“We’re on it,” Tristan says as Judge gets out and leaves the SUV running.
Judge helps me up to the apartment and locks the door behind us. I take a seat on the couch and lay the envelope in my lap.
“Is this real, Braydon?” I ask Judge when he sits down next to me.
“It is. I told you Leah loved you, Little Bird. Take your time and go through all of this when you feel you’re ready.
It’s not gonna go anywhere. Then, when you know what you’re dealin’ with, you can start makin’ decisions about what you wanna do with everythin’.
For now, get some rest while Tristan and Zach go grab us some lunch,” he answers while grabbing the throw blanket off the back of the couch, removes the envelope from my lap, and covers me with the blanket.
For me, being covered is more of a comfort thing instead of keeping me warm since it’s already hot outside.
Judge holds me close once I’m wrapped in the blanket.
“I want a milkshake,” I say as Judge starts laughing.
“Already told them that. Along with fries and gravy. Anythin’ else you want?” Judge asks me because he knows I’ve been having a lot of cravings over the last week.
“A hot fudge sundae with extra hot fudge and some of that peanut butter topping stuff added to it. If they go to the ice cream shop in town, they know exactly what I’m talking about because I have it there.
Maybe a bacon cheeseburger with extra bacon, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and ketchup.
Nothing else on it. I think I’d also like some cheesecake for later.
That sounds really good right now,” I say before burying my head in Judge’s chest and he holds me tighter.
Judge grabs his phone and I listen to him type a message.
I’m guessing he’s sending out my updated order to Tristan and Zach.
My eyes land on the envelope Judge removed from my lap and it feels as if it’s burning a hole in the table.
Leah’s letter is in there and I know I should read it now while I’m already upset.
It’s the last thing I have of hers and I don’t want to pull it out right now.
I don’t want to read the words she wrote me at some point before taking her last breath.
No matter when I decide to read Leah’s letter, I know Judge will be there to hold me as I sob before slowly starting to put the pieces of my shattered heart back in place the best he can.
Judge grabs the remote from the end table and puts a movie on as we wait for our lunch to be brought back.
I’m exhausted, but I know I won’t be able to sleep because it feels as if so much is weighing heavily on me.
Learning of everything Leah left me has sent my head spinning because it’s the last thing I expected to hear when we walked in that lawyer’s office today.
For now, I simply let Judge hold me in his arms and relax the best I can.