CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
-:- Paisley -:-
Following Davinia into the lawyer”s office, I feel a hand on my elbow. Turning, Soloman is guiding me to a seat, then takes the seat next to me which keeps me away from the Wicked Witch of the West mother-in-law. I”m grateful for that because she is a spiteful woman. She doesn”t care what she says to people, taking pleasure if she hurts someone while spitting out her vitriol.
Laurance LeBrun gives a down-the-nose look to Davinia before looking at Soloman and me. I”m more than a little nervous and Soloman must sense it as he slides his hand over to me, grips my hand, and squeezes it before sliding his own back to his lap.
The lawyer starts to speak and all three of us wait quietly. I”m thinking it”s a miracle that Davinia hasn”t started spouting all her bullshit as yet, but there is still time. ”You are here today for the reading of Senator Maurice Brooks’ ‘Last Will and Testament’. He updated his Will every year and I”ve never had a more proactive client in having his wishes followed. Now, let”s get this done.”
Picking up the will LeBrun starts the reading. ”To Davinia Brooks, mother of the deceased, I leave $50,000. No stipend, no other inheritance. Mrs. Brooks, your son leaves these words, however, ‘Mother, it”s time to stop using everyone around you to make your life complete. Get a job, clean your own home when you get one. I”m not continuing to be your ATM. I”ve been that too long, and I’m not going to carry on doing so now that I’m dead.’”
”What the hell!” Davinia screeches. I am having to hold myself back from applauding Maurice, and his cutting off his mother from financial gain. He”s right, he has been her ATM for too long, and he shouldn”t have to do it when he”s dead. ”I”m going to contest the will. This is not right.” Whirling around to face me, she spits out more nastiness. ”You did this. You persuaded him to cut me off, didn”t you? Well, I will get the best lawyer to fight you on this.”
I remain calm, and so does Soloman. We both sit watching this shit show play out, maintaining our decorum.
”If you contest the Will, I am instructed to remove the $50,000 from you and take you to court for the return of the money you took from Mr. Brooks” account without his permission. That”s called theft Mrs. Brooks, and it”s a felony to take money from a bank account that is not your own.” LeBrun who had placed glasses on his face when he started reading the Will, is now looking over the top of them at her. It reminds me of the principal at one of my schools.
Davinia is not happy but she must think better about causing any problems as she sits back quietly. Soloman snorts when he sees this and I give him a small smile, because why not?
“Paisley, the Senator loved you dearly, but he wanted to protect you, and make sure you would survive no matter what happened to him. He knew the risks going in with the FBI’s idea and that’s why he pushed you to divorce him.”
“I know. He told me as much as he could and I will always know he loved me and cared enough to let me go,” I reply, which earns me a gentle smile and nod from him.
Giving a small cough, he continues. “Mr. Brooks left you a figure of one million dollars. Which he knew you more than likely wouldn’t keep, but he wanted you to have it, nonetheless. He said for you to keep it for a rainy day, a safety net that would always leave you knowing you had something to help if needed. He also left you the jewelry that you had in the safe at the house. I have that here for you. You will need to sign for it.”
“What the hell? He left me a miserable fifty-grand and left you a million. What did you do to my son to make him do this to me?” Davinia squawks and I cover my ears or my eardrums could have burst.
“Will you shut up? Act your damn age and get some decorum because lady, you are a nasty old woman,” Soloman snaps and I grab his hand this time to show I’m supporting his words.
”Soloman, the Senator always felt terrible that he wasn”t always there when you were growing up. He tried to do his best, but he felt he let you down. He did, however, ask me to say that he saved you from the terrible fate of knowing your grandmother, Davinia.” LeBrun blushes slightly but recovers fairly quickly and I”m watching Davinia out of the corner of my eye, because she looks like she”s going to explode.
”Well, that”s a godsend. Let”s be honest,” Soloman drawls, and I can”t help the giggle that escapes.
Davinia again starts to create a fuss, but LeBrun quickly stops her. ”Mrs. Brooks, if you cannot sit quietly, then you can leave. In fact, the part of the Will that concerns you has been read. As that is the case I”m asking you to leave so I can complete the reading.”
Both Soloman and I watch as Davinia storms out of LeBrun”s office, and we both turn back in time to see the smirk on LeBrun”s face. ”I always wanted to kick someone out of my office, and it could not have been a better someone to do it to.”
“Well, we can all agree on that, and I want nothing to do with the woman, grandmother or not,” Soloman says clearly and with somewhat of a curl on his lip.
“Back to the reading,” LeBrun quickly regaining control of the room. “Your father left you everything else, Soloman. His home, vehicles, $6 million in his account, the insurance that will come once I have that completed from them, and the contents of the safe at the house. Even the service is arranged and paid in full.”
“He knew, didn’t he?” I ask LeBrun, and with tears in my eyes I only see a blurred image of the man, but I see him look at me with sympathy on his face.
“Yes, I think he did,” LeBrun quietly answers. I know that he and Maurice were great friends and had been since they were around nine years of age. This has to have come hard for Laurance too, but as Maurice’s lawyer, he has to hold back his personal feelings.
“I’m sorry, we all lost him. You included Mr. LeBrun,” I quietly say, and Soloman stiffens in his seat before pinching the top of his nose. Trying to stop himself from crying, I’m sure, but I grab his hand and squeeze, giving him the same support he has given me.
“The Memorial Service will be next Thursday. He didn’t want a fuss, so the service will be quick. He will be cremated, and Maurice wants his ashes to be scattered in his garden, amongst the roses.”
“We can do that,” Soloman replies. “Would you like to be with us when we do that, Paisley?”
“I would like to attend the service, but I’d rather not see his ashes scattered, Soloman, I’d like to remember him how he was if that is okay?”
“That is fine. What about you, Mr. LeBrun? As his friend, would you like to attend his ashes being scattered?”
“Yes, Soloman, I would. Thank you for that honor,” LeBrun responds.
I am given the jewelry which I sign for, then I walk out and over to TwoCents, who is quickly on his feet and walking toward me.
“You okay, Pais?”
“Yeah, I’m good. I just want to ask Soloman to keep in touch. He has nobody now. His mother is deceased and so is his father and let’s face it, who would want Davinia as their grandmother?”
“Not me, that’s for sure.”
Turning at hearing that, I grin at Soloman, who is standing behind me now and grinning at his own comment. “Of all the grandmothers I could have had, I got Davinia Brooks. What sort of shit luck is that?”
Knuckles gives out his deep, rumbly laugh, and we all join in because it’s true. If you had a choice, you sure wouldn’t want her as a grandmother.
“You be careful, Soloman. She will be around to the house, trying to get you to help her. She’ll not give in trying to get what she can from you, and she will want to live in that house because it’s a mansion, after all.”
TwoCents wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me to him, kissing the top of my head. “You are welcome to come and see Pais anytime you want.”
We don’t take long to get back on the road and head for home. I realize I don’t have Soloman’s contact details and I was happy for us to keep in touch. That’s something I can remedy easy enough in the future. He’s not family, but he’s as close as with being Maurice’s son.
We don’t get back to the clubhouse until late as we stopped to eat and use the restroom, too. Jo and I talk about what happened at the lawyers in the back of the SUV, with TwoCents and Knuckles throwing questions over to me now and again.
Saturday morning and I’m working on the crib. I’m putting on the primer, and doing it carefully even though my mind is still thinking about Maurice, him doing what he felt was right to take down the ring.
I’m going to hold a grudge against Boardman Charnwood forever. He saw Maurice as collateral damage, I’m sure, and if I ever get the opportunity, I’ll make sure he pays for that.
All primer on, it’s going to take two hours to dry according to the can, so I wash my hands and make sure everything is put away for the next session, which will be another light sanding, before the actual painting happens. I have a specialized paint for cribs that Specs found, and it ensures that even if a child chews on it, it will be safe.
Walking into the clubhouse, I look for Mia as I had an idea while watching the twins eating breakfast in the morning. They are the cutest kids and they are going to be good looking and more than likely cause Mia some trouble as they grow up. I can imagine them being chased by girls later, too.
I walk over to Mia in the common room where she is putting shoes on the twins. “Where are you taking them?” I ask, which has her jumping in surprise.
“Shit, Pais, you scared the crap out of me, then,” Mia says, holding her chest. We both turn and look at Carter, and I only know that because his t-shirt has his name on.
“Rap,” Carter giggles and gives us both a huge grin.
“I’m going to have to curb my language because these two are picking up some bad words,” Mia states, and we both look at each other as Knuckles, Mav, and Colton walk past. All three dropping the F-Bombs in their vocabulary. Mia and I look at the twins, then each other, and bust out laughing. “I’ve no chance, Pais.”
“Can I steal the twins, along with you, of course, for around an hour?”
Mia gives me a grin. “You can steal the twins for five hours if you like.”
“No, I think an hour is enough, as long as I’m not on my own with them. Honestly, I’ve watched you with them and you are a miracle momma in my eyes.”
I look at Mia sharply when I hear her sniff, and I’m mortified when she has tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Paisley. That means a lot to me. They are hard work, and even more now I’m carrying this one,” she says, rubbing her stomach, which is getting to be like a pot belly now.
Jo has tagged along as she saw us walking out the kitchen door with one of the twins each. An hour later, we have reels of film taken of the twins, and I even got some with Mia and Jo fighting with the pair of them. The one I’m more than happy with is with the twins sitting sideways, back-to-back, but with their heads turned to the camera. It has caught them beautifully, and I’m sure when I get it framed for Mia, she’s going to be delighted with it.
Back in the clubhouse kitchen later, I answer a message from Garth.
Garth: Do you need me this coming week?
Paisley: I don’t think so, but I will text you if I do.
Garth: OK. I’m going to be at the Swap Shop every day this week, so I’ll come for you if you want to stop in.
Paisley: OK, thank you.
After running to our room, I freshen up before heading to the kitchen, where I want to get a coffee and chill out in the common room for a while. I know TwoCents is busy today as he said he’d meet me for the evening meal.
Walking into the kitchen, I come to a juddering stop because I’m seeing Meat and the Three Stooges shouting insults at each other and throwing food. A damn food fight at their ages. Honest to God, this is good.
I tiptoe to a seat at one of the tables and watch, because I’m not going to miss what is happening here. I take out my phone and send a message to Jo to get her ass in the kitchen fast, and bring popcorn with her.
“Oh,” I can’t help whispering as Bitty throws a handful of Jello at Meat, hitting him in the chest. He, however, grabs a bowl of cake batter and pours that over Bitty’s head.
Jo runs in and slams her ass into the seat next to mine, and murmurs, “What’s going on?”
“I’ve no idea. They were already at it when I walked in,” I whisper back to her, but we both have our eyes glued on the fight that’s happening. “Text Mia and tell her to get her ass in here.”
Jo giggles as she taps out the message on her phone, but her eyes are flicking to the scene in front of us as much as she can.
Amelia picks up a spatula, and uses it like a sling, sending chunks of banana at Meat. When one smacks him on the forehead we hear the slap and as it slides down his nose and drops to the ground, we all see the red mark it has left on his forehead. I wince because that had to hurt.
Jo giggles, and whispers, “You said that out loud.”
Sybil, Bitty and Amelia all grab something out of a large bowl, but I can’t tell what it is from where we are sitting. But Meat must recognize it as he turns and bolts from the kitchen with the Three Stooges right behind him.
Mia rushes through the door from the common room, and seeing the mess, asks, “What’s going on?”
We tell her what we saw, and she looks annoyed she missed it, until I hand her my phone where I filmed it all.