Chapter 5 #2
“But….” What little money Darren had he could see flying out the window, and he’d never have the cash to pay what he needed.
“Don’t worry. Skip is a trust-fund baby. He works for his father’s firm, but he likes to take worthy causes for people who need help. I’ll make a call, you get the copy of the will, and we’ll figure this out.”
Darren nodded and then began to shake. “What am I going to do? I’ve fought to keep treading water since Gramma died. She wanted me to have a home, so that’s why she left this to me, along with a little money. Regina has plenty, and she’s just being greedy, and these debts are false.”
Chet tugged him into a hug. “I’m sure they are. But this is a legal issue, and we need people with that kind of experience to try to help us. So, you get dressed and make your phone call. I’ll make mine, and as soon as you have a copy of the will, you call me. I’ll come pick it up.”
“Okay.” Darren didn’t have much of a choice. He went back to his bedroom, slipped out of his clothes, and hopped into the shower.
“Hey, Darren,” Chet said, popping his head into the bathroom. “Do you think the will is in the desk?”
“Yeah, maybe.” He tried to keep his voice calm.
“Do you mind if I look to see if I can find it?” Chet asked.
Darren wasn’t going to have time before he went into the store.
“Go ahead. Try the drawer on the left side, the large one, first.” He thought it might be there.
The bathroom door closed, and Darren washed quickly and shampooed his hair, careful of the amount of water he used.
Then he dried off and hurried to his bedroom to dress.
Once he was ready for work, he joined Chet in the living room. Chet lifted a set of papers and smiled. “I found it,” he said with the phone to his ear.
“Okay.” Darren checked the time. “I need to go to work.”
Chet stood and gathered the papers. “I’ll make copies and return the originals.
Keep them in a safe place because we’re going to need them.
” Darren nodded and tossed Chet keys to the house.
“I’ll lock up and bring these to you.” He got up, phone still to his ear, and kissed Darren gently.
“Don’t worry. We’ll get to the bottom of this. ”
Darren hoped that was true, but he wasn’t holding his breath. Not with his luck.
He nodded and was about to close the door when he heard Chet say, “Skip! Yeah. It’s been a while. Look, I need a favor for a friend. Yeah, one of those kinds of favors. Look, it will take you a few minutes to read over some documents and tell me what we should do.”
He closed the door with a sigh and headed to his job, because what the hell else was he supposed to do? Regardless of all this, he had to work to eat.
The butcher counter bell rang a little after noon, and he put the packages he was getting ready for restocking aside and went up front where Chet waited.
“I sent everything to my friend. He’s in San Francisco, and he’s looking them over.
Skip said I owe him a bottle of Scotch, so I called and had one sent to him.
” He grinned as his phone chimed. Chet snickered.
“That was him. He got the bottle. Says you must be some friend.”
“Why?” Darren asked.
“It was really nice bottle.” He waved as though it were nothing, and his phone chimed again. “He says he would like to talk to you tonight. Says he’ll be home late and asks if he can call.”
“Sure. I should get home at ten thirty.”
Chet was already sending the information and nodded at the response.
“Skip says no problem. He has a big case and will be in the office for most of the night anyway.” Chet typed some more and then put his phone in his pocket.
“I said we’d call once you got home. Don’t worry.
Skip is the best. He does estate planning for people with huge trusts and very deep pockets.
He knows this area of the law better than anyone, including your aunt.
” He smiled and leaned over the counter.
“I’ll be in The Pub for a late dinner tonight, and then I’ll take you home when you’re done. ”
“Darren has to work, not talk,” a big gruff guy said from behind him. Darren turned and was about to explain that Chet was leaving.
“I’m sorry,” Chet said. “Maybe I was taking a little long to decide what I wanted. But on second thought, I’m not going to buy anything from a dickhead.” He smiled at Henry. “So, you have a nice day.”
“See,” Margie said as Chet walked away. “Your attitude is costing us customers.” He backed up, not wanting to get between those two.
“Now, you are going to the doctor. I made an appointment for you on Monday, and I will drag you there by your ears if I have to. Don’t make me come around there and give you an attitude adjustment.
I did it when you were sixteen, and I can still smack some sense into you.
” Man, she was hell on wheels when she wanted to be. “Do you hear me?”
Henry gruffed and went back into the butcher shop. Margie returned to the front, shaking her head. Darren went back to work but paused to help more customers. Thankfully, it was a busy afternoon, and he didn’t have all that much time to think about what was worrying him most.