Monday morning, at nine, an anxious Maddy arrived at the office
of the lawyer, Jason de Ville. She found him sitting at his
desk, intently studying the documents in front of him. She
paused in the doorway, watching the handsome man for a while,
until he became aware of her presence. His eyes still on the
papers, he asked: “Do you always watch people when they are not
looking?”Startled, she stuttered: “I..yes. I mean no.”
He looked at her, a smile on his face: “Just kidding, Kiddo.
Come. Have a seat.” As he spoke he got up from his chair and
moved around the desk to greet her.
“Good day, Mr. De Ville.” Maddy said, feeling a bit
embarrassed.
He took her hand and held it longer than was necessary. “Good
day, Miss. Wilford. Please call me Jason, and stop looking so
nervous.”
“Only if you call me Maddy, and I have reason to be nervous.”
She answered and sat down on the chair Jason pulled out for her.
“I suspect mother Grace left me with a few surprises and I don’t
know what to expect.”
“Well, it may be a surprise, but I think you will love it.”
Jason said as he opened a drawer to take out a folder, and sat
down. “I won’t keep you in suspense any longer, so let’s get
down to business.”
“But shouldn’t we wait until Graham comes home?” She wanted
to know.
Jason leaned back in his chair and answered: “Not at all. I
think your mother knew her son would not make an effort to
attend her funeral, that’s why she wanted you, and you alone, to
be present at the reading of her last will and testament.” He
opened the folder. “Would you like something to drink? Tea,
coffee, or maybe something stronger?”
Maddy shook her head. “No, thank you. I’ve already had three
cups of tea this morning. Like you said, let’s get down to
business.”
“Good.” Jason said and continued: “I am not going to bore you
with formalities.” He took a white envelope from the folder and
gave it to Maddy. “This is a letter your mother wrote a few
months before her death. I’ll give you some privacy. When you
are ready, call me. I’ll be in the adjacent office.”
She took the envelope from the Lawyer and exclaimed: “No, Mr.
De Ville..Jason, don’t go!” She grabbed his hand. “Would you
please read the letter to me?”
“Very well, then.” He said, took the letter back from her and
opened it.
Maddy anxiously shifted in her seat. Jason looked into her
eyes and said: “There is nothing to be worried about, Kiddo.
Relax.” Then he placed the letter in front of him, and started
reading:
‘Dear Madeleine. You know I am a woman of few words and not
sentimental at all, so this will be a very short letter. I have
not been the mother you wanted me to be and I treated you
unfairly, yet you found it in your heart to take care of me when
I fell ill. I thank you and ask for your forgiveness. I leave
everything I own to you. It was never mine anyway, but
rightfully yours. Jason de Ville will give Dora a letter, in
which I ask her to tell you everything she knows about your
father. Take care of Ingrid, Dora and yourself.
Grace Wilford.’
It was quiet in the office for a few seconds. Jason de Ville
returned the letter to the folder. “Certainly one of the
strangest letters I have ever read.” He mumbled.
Maddy could not believe her ears. “May I see it, please?”
Jason handed her the folder: “Here you are. It’s true, you
know. She left everything to you.”
The young woman examined the contents for a few minutes. “How
much money has she left me?” She asked.
The lawyer smiled: “Now don’t go into shock again, Kiddo.
Eight hundred and fifty thousand rand, and some change.” He
laughed when Maddy’s eyes widened. “Plus the house and
everything in it.”
All Maddy could do was stare at the tall man sitting opposite
her. Never in her wildest dreams could she ever have imagined
something like this would happen to her. “What am I supposed to
do with all that money?”
Jason folded his arms, leaned forward and replied: “You will
know exactly what to do. We should set up a meeting and get all
the papers signed. Soon you will be a rich lady, Maddy, if I
could ever be of help, I’ll be glad to.”
By the time Maddy left the lawyers office, she was still in a
state of shock. She had to go somewhere quiet to think about
what just happened. What will Graham’s reaction be? Should she
share her inheritance with him? Maybe she should ask Jason for
advice, or better yet, appoint him as her lawyer. She found
herself in a park not far from the lawyers building, sat down on
a bench, trying to get a grip on herself, when she heard a very
familiar voice.
“Hallo, Maddy.”
The young woman froze. This is not happening. He promised not
to come back again. She turned around, to face a tall, blonde
man leaning against a tree. “You!” She exclaimed.
The man strolled towards her, opening his arms to welcome the
stunned Maddy. “Yes, sweetheart. In the flesh. It’s been too
long. How about a hug and a kiss?”
Butterfly.
|
