Chapter 4
Magnolia
Momma’s words floated over me, causing an almost electric feeling around me, sending small zaps along my spine, making me a little uncomfortable. I wanted to crawl out of my skin. She never hesitated to call me on my crap, but she was the first whose words seemed to elicit some kind of emotion in me, and I didn’t think I liked it.
“Magnolia, dear, it’s just amazing to see you.” Mr. Jensen pulled me up from my seat and gave me a hug. He smelled like spearmint and leather, which was comforting in a grandfatherly kind of way.
Jeez, I’ve been hugged more times in the last twenty-four hours than I have in the last year.
“Mr. Jensen. Please, take a seat.”
“Pish posh, you must call me Ted,” he said as he took off his coat. I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped me; his name was Ted, and boy, did he look like Ted.
“Okay, Ted.” I smiled, feeling at ease for the first time since I returned.
“Have you ordered yet?” He gestured to the coffee in front of me.
“No, I just got some coffee while I waited. Is everything here still fabulous?”
A loud crash sounded from the back kitchen area, and Papa Tucks face appeared in the window that gave you a glimpse into the kitchen in back. “Miss Magnolia, how dare you question my food,” he scolded. “You should know I never send a bad plate out.”
I raised my hands in mock surrender. “I only tease, Tuck.”
“Damn right, and for that, you both will get today’s special, no complaining. ” He waved his spatula at me, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the poorly delivered threat.
“Well, that works for me, Tuck!” Ted responded rather cheerfully, then he turned his gaze back to me.
“I prefer to handle business after the meal, and I’d like a chance to get to know you a little better. Your dad talked about you a lot before his passing.”
“You knew my dad?” I asked, curious as to why he never mentioned him. You never asked, either.
“Toward the end, when his health was deteriorating, he confided in me so we could get his will exactly the way he wanted it.”
“Oh, I see.” A pang of guilt shot through me as a frown formed on my face. I should have been there for him; I should have made more of an effort.
I saw Momma coming out of the kitchen, knowing Tuck got our food out before other orders—also did a good number at thawing out my insides.
“Two specials of the day coming right up: lobster eggs benedict, with a homemade lobster sauce and American potatoes instead of hash browns. I’ll get you a refill on coffee, but do you two need anything else?”
“No, I am perfectly okay.” My mouth was watering, and I dug in before Momma had even left the table to get the refills.
Ted chuckled, “You must have been starving.”
I couldn’t help but grin while inhaling my food, “Sorry, it was a long drive yesterday, and then I crashed before I could pick something up and I didn’t bring anything to make.”
“No worries at all, dear. You eat, I’ll ask questions, and then we will get down to business.”
He wanted to know about my life, like if I liked it in Iowa, and why I stayed after school. I answered them all politely and without much emotion because there wasn’t much about my life that was interesting other than my job—it was my one passion. If I could get the funding, I would open my own clinic that operated at as low a cost as possible, while keeping a dedication to quality of care, and with the hopes that we would never have to turn anyone away for lack of funds. It was a pipe dream and I knew it, but that was why I worked so hard. I wanted to be able to make a difference; I knew I couldn’t save them all, but I was doing my best to try.
Luckily, Ted noticed how passionate I was about my job, so we kept the conversation mostly centered around that. “So, technically, you could open your pipe dream clinic anywhere,” he said while he finished the last bit of food on his plate. Mine was already long gone.
“Yeah, I guess, technically I could.” I side eyed him, wondering where this was going.
“Well, Magnolia, I think it’s time we get down to it.”
“Yes, that would be great. I’m sure there’s a lot to do, and I need to be on the road in the next two weeks.”
Ted gazed at me with a puzzled look. “Magnolia, had your dad ever talked to you at all about his will?”
“Err…not really, no. We weren’t very close, per se. Our relationship was more of, ‘How’s the weather? Read any good books lately?’”
“This complicates things a bit…”
Dread pulled at my stomach, but at least Ted had the decency to look a little frazzled, like he had expected a totally different interaction.
He pulled out a thick binder with what looked like lots of legal documents. “Magnolia, as I’m sure you know, your parents were wealthy due to some family money that was very well invested—your mother’s inheritance, and your dad made a good living as a deep-sea fisherman.”
“I don’t know much about that if we are being honest. I got scholarships, and I worked my way through college; my dad paid for my room and board and meal ticket, but that’s about it. Not that he wouldn’t have helped more, I just didn’t need it. I got hired right out of school and started making my own money very quickly. We never talked about his financial state of things; I guess we both just figured we had more time…”
“Oh well, I’m pleased to inform you that your dad’s investment portfolio is around one-point-two million dollars. Now, all this money is currently tied up in stocks, but you could pull it out if you chose to.”
I choked on coffee, unsure of what to say. One-point-two million dollars? I could open my own clinic. For the first time in a long time, I was feeling hopeful.
“Now, onto the house, which was also left to you. It was appraised at three million dollars, give or take the state of the market. It does have some severe issues since it was laid in a state of neglect for the last eight or so years. There was a pipe that burst last winter that caused some damage to one of the rooms downstairs, which will need to be restored before being placed on the market. According to your dad’s last wishes, you must live in the town of Rockland for one year before you can have access to the investment portfolio, and you must live in the house for two years before the deed is transferred into your name to do with what you will.”
My mouth dropped open.
“ Live here?” I all but screeched.
“Yes, your dad wanted you to come home. He said it was time, and he figured this was the way to do it.”
“That’s not possible. I have a job, a career. I couldn’t possibly stay here for two years! What an odd amount of time… Why two years, anyway?”
“One year was for healing, one was for moving on.”
My blood turned to ice. “Excuse me?”
“Like I said, your dad and I got close toward the end, and he confided in me. Look, I know I’m not your favorite person right now, and I also know that you need time to process what I’ve told you, but your dad wrote you a letter. I suggest you read this; it will explain everything a bit more. Call me when you’re ready to discuss the finer details.” He started to get up to leave.
“And what happens if I refuse? If I go home?”
“Then your dad’s investment portfolio will be divided up between charities of his choosing, and the house will be awarded to the historical society.”
This was a lot to process, and my dad’s letter felt like it was a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off. Ted threw down multiple bills to cover breakfast.
“Call me and we’ll go over everything once you’ve had time to digest it.” He squeezed my shoulder and strode out the door.
I needed to get home to read that letter, I couldn’t do it here. I grabbed my purse, made sure to make eye contact with Momma and Papa Tuck on my way out, and offered a small wave to both.
“Don’t be a stranger, Magnolia, I mean it.” Momma’s playful tone held a serious note to it.
I’m sure I broke multiple laws with how fast I drove back to the house. Once inside, I sat on the sofa and tore open the envelope.
Magnolia,
Hey, kid, well, I guess if you’re reading this, I’m long gone. I gotta say, I’m sorry, kiddo. I’m sorry I fell apart after your mom passed; I wish I could give you a good reason, but I can’t. I fell into my grief, and I forgot about you. If I could turn back the clock…just know, I would. I wish I could fill the pages with excuses, but there are none. I lost the love of my life, and my soul fractured. I thought nothing mattered anymore, not even you. I’m sure that’s hard to read, and believe me, it’s hard to write. It took me a long time to realize how wrong I was. I know I had a part in you leaving and never coming back, and that’s something that will haunt me long after I’m gone. I know you’re questioning why I would make you stay here, kid, you’re going to have to trust me on this. There’s magic here, you can find yourself here. I fell in love with your mom here, you were born here, you took your first steps here. I know all you remember right now are the bad times, but there were years of good that you’ve chosen to forget. Don’t give up on this place, Magnolia, please. For me, for your mom, and most of all, for yourself.
I’m sorry.
I love you, kid,
Dad.