Chapter 5 #2
“I am. I have the dogs at my place already, and I’m fond of them. Corky asked me to promise her that I would look after the dogs if anything were to happen to her, and I always said I would. They’re wonderful animals.”
He nodded. “Very good. That makes things much easier for me.”
“Was her daughter to get the dogs if Lyle was not able to care for them?” James asked. “She’s already tried to take them from Lyle. She clearly wants the dogs so she can sell them.”
The lawyer paused and pulled out some papers.
“Since the will needs to be probated and much of that is public, I can tell you that no, she would not get them. In fact, she states that her daughter Debbie is never to get the dogs because she doesn’t like them.
If you were not able to keep them, I was to find good, loving homes for them. ”
“Well, I’ll love them and care for them for as long as they live,” Lyle said.
“Is there anything else you need from me? Do I need to sign anything?” He paused.
“And I have one more question. Does Debbie know the full contents of the will? I want her to know that she wasn’t going to get the dogs or else she will hound me. ”
“I can make sure she is aware… and yes. There is something else.” He passed a sheet of paper across the table. “There is a small trust for the dogs. Please sign this statement that you will properly care for the dogs.”
“Of course I will.” He signed the statement, and Mr. Vincente put it with his other papers.
“Corky left two thousand dollars a year for the each of the next ten years to help with feeding and caring for the dogs. Here is the payment for this year, and we will send you a similar payment each year. Just inform us if you move.”
Lyle swallowed. “That’s all I have to do?” he asked.
“Yes.”
He glanced at James and then back to the attorney. “What about the taxes? Debbie stopped me while we were walking the dogs and asked me how I was going to pay them on the value of the dogs.”
“The estate pays them right off the top. Corky had resources, mostly in a retirement account. Those will be used to pay any taxes, and what is left will be distributed to the other heir. But that is not for you to worry about. All of that will be handled before final distribution.” He smiled gently.
“Okay. So you have everything you need?” Lyle really wanted to leave before he got bad news.
“That’s it for now. Take good care of the dogs.”
He stood and hesitated. “What if Debbie decides to contest the will? She wasn’t happy that I had the dogs, and she really believes that they should be hers.” He had looked them up and knew that King Charles Spaniels, with this kind of breeding, were very valuable dogs.
“If she does, then she would only delay her own inheritance. She would also need a basis for her challenge, and there isn’t one.
The will is carefully thought out, and it’s clear as to what Corky wanted.
There isn’t much room for Debbie to challenge anything.
So don’t worry about that sort of thing. If it happens, then I’ll handle it.”
“Okay. Thank you for everything.” He shook the lawyer’s hand, and then he and James left the office to walk back to his place.
“That was so easy. I kept wondering where the bad news was.” He smiled and looked across the street to where Debbie was getting out of her car. James hurried away, and Lyle followed quickly, anxious to get away from her and hoping she didn’t see them.
“You!” Debbie called and raced across the street, cars screeching to a halt so they didn’t hit her. “What do you think you’re doing here?”
“It’s a free country and I’m allowed to come downtown,” Lyle snapped.
He knew he was being a little petty, but he wasn’t going to give her any satisfaction.
“Go on in to the lawyer or you’ll be late.
” He flashed a smile. “Have a good day.” They continued away from her, and once she was out of earshot, Lyle broke into laughter.
“What are you doing?”
“I have a suspicion that once the lawyer explains to her how things are, she is going to seriously bust a vein. I have the idea that with the trust for the dogs, combined with the taxes, there isn’t going to be much left for Cruella de Debbie. I wish I could be a fly on the wall.”
“We could go back. I suspect we’d hear her scream out on the street,” James offered.
“There’s no need for that. But we need to get home because I need to get this check deposited so I can go out and get food for the dogs. I should have asked the lawyer if it would be possible to get into Corky’s townhouse so I could get the rest of the dogs’ things.”
“Call him,” James said, and Lyle shrugged and made a call to the firm. He got the receptionist and told her what he needed.
“Just a moment,” she told him. The phone clicked, and Mr. Vincente came on the line.
“I’m sorry to bother you. This is Lyle. I was wondering if I could get into Corky’s townhouse so I could get the rest of the toys and stuff for the dogs?”
“Of course. I’ll phone the office there right away and tell them to let you in. I suggest you do it quickly because… well, you can imagine what might happen.” He sounded as though he had just gone through round one with Cruella.
“I will. Thank you.” He hung up, and they continued the walk home. At one point James took his hand, and they walked quietly together. Lyle loved how neither of them felt the need to fill the space between them with sound. It was just nice being together.
The manager of the apartments was outside Corky’s when they returned. “Thank you, Henry,” Lyle said.
“Just lock up when you’re done.” He was one of those guys who didn’t talk much. He went down the walk, and Lyle entered the apartment. He walked through the living room, picking up dog toys.
“I’ll find a bag,” James said as he went into the kitchen, returning with a white trash bag.
They gathered the toys and put them inside.
Lyle also found an additional unopened bag of dog food, mats, extra dishes, brushes and grooming implements, as well as a second set of dog beds.
Lyle handed James the key to his place, and he started carrying things over.
It felt strange to be in this home without Corky.
He took a second to remember her as he passed her chair.
They’d have coffee together sometimes, and she’d always sit in that chair with the dogs around her.
It was like they were expecting her to feed them or drop something, but she never did.
Still, they watched her. And now that he’d had the dogs for a few days, he understood.
Those animals adored her. “You should have stuck around,” Lyle said to the empty chair.
“You would have loved it. Debbie was about ready to bust a gut when she found out you didn’t leave her the dogs.
” He could almost feel Corky’s presence in the room. “We’re all going to miss you.”
Footsteps behind him pulled Lyle out of his little pity party. He grabbed the last of the things for the dogs and slipped them into a bag. “Thinking about her?” James asked softly.
“Yeah,” he answered and turned away. This was probably the last time he’d be in here. Debbie was going to strip the place and take everything, he was pretty sure. For the moment Corky was still here, but not for long. All that would end quickly.
“Come on. I’ve got this.” James took the bag from his hands. “Say your goodbyes, and I’ll meet you next door.” He lightly kissed him on the cheek and left him to talk to the chair a little longer.