Chapter 4
FOUR
leo
Our footsteps echoed as we made our way down the long, narrow corridor.
“And here we are,” Carla, the woman who greeted Ivy and me when we arrived, said as she gestured into the office. “Mr. Grant will be with you shortly. Can I get you two anything?”
I shook my head in response as I entered and took a seat.
“We’re fine,” Ivy said, trailing behind me. “Thank you.”
The last four days had been a blur—a literal lapse in time that seemed to happen completely out of my control. I hadn’t slept right since getting the news. Every time my phone rang after a certain hour, my heart would jolt in my chest.
Ivy sighed as she slumped in her chair beside me.
Neither one of us had been okay. I had a game the day after getting the news about Tyrell and Kendra. I played like shit, which was to be expected. Instead of my coach getting at me for my terrible performance on the court, the man just hugged me after the game in the locker room.
Everyone I knew, both professionally and personally, had been very understanding. And while the sympathy was appreciated, the only person I felt truly understood what I was going through was the woman sitting silently beside me, her shoulders slumped in her chair.
For the past four days, she and I had spoken on the phone for hours—sometimes saying nothing, just sitting in silence and listening to each other breathe. That simple sign of life had become a source of comfort for me.
I still couldn’t believe this had happened. My boy, Tyrell, gone. Just like that.
“Good morning,” a gentleman said behind us as he entered the office. “I’m Mr. Grant. I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
Ivy and I both sat up in our seats.
We’d gotten a strange phone call the day before—first her, then me. It was from a woman who identified herself as Carla Carey, the same woman who walked us into the office. She’d called to ask for our availability to meet with Kendra and Tyrell’s estate lawyer.
I had no idea they even had an estate lawyer.
I was pressing my hands into the arms of the chair when Mr. Grant held up a hand. “Please, Mr. Vanguard, you don’t need to get up.”
The phone call had been to set up a meeting for the reading of Kendra and Tyrell’s last will and testament with Mr. Grant.
“Very nice to meet you two,” Mr. Grant said, extending his hand first to me, then to Ivy.
We both shook it in turn. “I’m sorry we are meeting under these circumstances, but I’m happy you were able to meet me on such short notice.
My condolences for your loss. Sincerely.
I’ve known Kendra all her life, having also managed her parents’ estate.
And Tyrell seemed like a great guy as well. ”
“Thank you,” Ivy replied. “Kendra and Tyrell were great. The best.” She glanced at me briefly before turning back to Mr. Grant as he took a seat across from us at his desk. “I think I speak for both of us, though, when I say I have no idea why we are here.”
“Oh.” Mr. Grant wrinkled his bushy brows. “Did my assistant Carla not detail to you—”
“Oh, no.” Ivy held up a hand. “She did. She explained that today’s meeting would be for the reading of our friends’ wills, but I’m not understanding why we are here and not their parents.”
“Yeah,” I concurred. “Although Ivy and I are like family to Kendra and Tyrell, we aren’t actual family.”
“The meeting with their parents occurred yesterday,” Mr. Grant informed.
That made me tilt my head slightly.
“This reading of the will and testament is specifically for you two,” he revealed. “Only you two.”
“Really?” Ivy quizzed.
“Yes,” Mr. Grant replied, his attention lowering to the filing folder he’d brought into the office.
The door opened a second later, and Carla stepped in holding a similar folder.
“As you know, this is Carla, my assistant,” Mr. Grant said. “She’ll be present during the reading and will handle document management.”
Ivy and I glanced at each other before focusing back on Mr. Grant.
There was so much unknown, and the mystery was starting to make me lightheaded. I knew we were here for a will reading—something I’d never attended in my life. But a will reading for what? What could Kendra and Tyrell be leaving us?
When the call came in from Carla, I called Ivy immediately, and she confirmed receiving the same phone call. Nothing had been disclosed regarding why our attendance was necessary, but still, we showed up—because it was for our friends.
“First, I want to thank you two for coming in today,” Mr. Grant started. “I know this must be a difficult time for both of you. I’ll do my best to explain everything clearly so you understand what your friends, Kendra and Tyrell, have outlined in their will regarding your roles.”
Roles? What roles?
“So, let’s get started.” Mr. Grant smiled politely, pushing back his large glasses up the bridge of his nose.
“We’re here today to discuss the last will and testament of Kendra and Tyrell Love, as you both know.
Before we begin, I want to ensure you both understand the terms we will use and what they imply.
Please feel free to stop me at any time with questions. ”
My heart started to thump in that instant.
Mr. Grant pulled out a document from the folder and fixed his attention on it.
“This document I’m holding—and that I will show to you shortly—is legally binding and was drafted according to Kendra and Tyrell’s instructions.
To start, they have named both of you as guardians of their child, should anything happen to them. ”
Guardians? What does that mean?
I blinked rapidly, unable to process what I was hearing. It still hadn’t registered.
“They have also left you their home in Greene Gardens,” Mr. Grant continued, “which they intended to be a family home for them and their child.”
“Wait, I’m sorry,” Ivy exhaled, pressing her hand to her chest. “Perhaps I’m missing something. What do you mean they’ve named us guardians? Like, what exactly do you mean?”
Mr. Grant lifted his eyes to Ivy.
“I know Kendra wanted us to be godparents,” Ivy informed. “Are guardians godparents, or…?”
“No, a guardian has more rights than a godparent,” Mr. Grant explained. “I can clarify if you like.”
“Yes.” I nodded. “Please do.”
“Sure,” he said. “I’ll outline what guardianship entails—not just in the immediate future, but long-term.”
Long-term?
“Accepting guardianship of a child is akin to stepping into the role of a parent.”
“Parent?” Ivy quizzed.
“Yes,” Mr. Grant replied. “You’ll be responsible for making all decisions concerning his health, education, and general welfare.”
“Like parents,” I said, more to myself. My eyes scanned the space around me, Mr. Grant’s words sinking in and weighing on the panic slowly rising within me.
“Oh, shit,” Ivy uttered, slapping her hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry.”
Mr. Grant chuckled. “It’s fine.”
“Does it really say that?” Ivy asked, scooting to the edge of her seat and pointing at the document in Mr. Grant’s hand. “Does it literally say they are leaving their actual human child with us?”
“Yes,” Mr. Grant replied with a nod.
“They really didn’t have anyone else in mind?” I asked. “Their parents? Other family?”
“People who know what to do with babies?” Ivy added, her exhales becoming audible beside me. “Because I assure you, that is not us.”
“They were very specific in wanting you two. It seems they trusted you to provide the care and love their son would need.”
“Why in the fuck…?!” Ivy’s voice echoed around the room before she slapped her hand to her mouth again, only to remove it a second later to press against her chest. “Okay… um… legally. What does being a guardian look like, legally? Are we talking about something temporary, or…?”
“He said long-term, Ivy League,” I interjected, hoping to lighten the moment—or at least myself. I was one inhale away from passing the hell out.
“Not right now,” Ivy said, whipping her head in my direction. “Now is not the time for that shit, Leo.”
“Guardianship is indeed a legal commitment, but not just temporary,” Mr. Grant clarified. “Think of it as permanent—much like parenthood.”
“There goes that parent word again,” Ivy muttered, slumping back into her chair.
“You would be his legal guardians until he reaches adulthood or until the court deems otherwise. Should you choose to accept, I’ll file a petition for guardianship with the family court. This process will officially recognize you as his legal guardians and grant you all parental rights.”
“I’m gonna pass out,” Ivy acknowledged, nodding her head as her hands shook. She lifted them to her head, as if trying to get a grip. “I’m gonna fucking pass out.”
I couldn’t even compose her because my ass was freaking out more than what she was showing.
Everything was happening so damn fast. Why would Tyrell not tell me this was what he and Kendra planned in the unlikely event of their passing?
Most importantly, why the hell would they leave their baby with Ivy and me of all people?
“There’s no way they would trust us with this.
” Ivy shook her head incessantly. “Absolutely no way. I don’t know the first thing about caring for and loving a child, and Leo over here…
” She laughed nervously, glancing at me.
“Leo.” Ivy started waving her hand in the air and gesturing toward Mr. Grant.
“Tell him how horrible we are. Tell him!”
I grimaced. “I wouldn’t go as far as to say horrible.”
Ivy placed her hand at the top of her head, going from sitting back to moving to the edge of her seat again. She never could keep her anxiety concealed.
“Kendra and Tyrell had the utmost confidence you two would manage this responsibility,” Mr. Grant assured.
Ivy and I both focused on him.
He nodded. “It’s a big responsibility. I get it. I have four children of my own, and not one of them was a cakewalk to raise. But Kendra and Tyrell insisted it be the both of you, and they’ve set aside a trust fund for the baby, which you’ll manage for his needs.”