wished for twenty more. He and his wife were married for forty years. He got his wish. He told me he believes this is special. I think he would have wanted you to have it. You, his one and only granddaughter, his princess.” She opened the box and showed Emma the diamond and ruby necklace Marti had crowned her with for their milkshake tea party.
Shelly gasped when she saw the necklace. The rubies were the size of grapes and clusters of diamonds surrounded them. It was a necklace fit for a queen, and probably cost a king’s ransom.
“It’s gorgeous,” Shelly said and leaned forward to get a better look.
“This is yours, Emma. Every time you wear it, I want you to remember you are a princess and your grandfather was a Knight.”
“You can’t just give away my mother’s jewelry. It belongs to me and Claire.”
“Walter, your father left the contents of the house and safe to her. She can do with them as she pleases. Your father had faith in her to do the right thing. If there’s something you want, ask her.”
“I want the contents of the safe,” he demanded.
Marti closed the box and kissed Emma. She took the box and held it to her chest.
“Can we have another tea party?”
“Soon, I promise,” Marti said and stood.
“You mean it when you promise, so I know we’ll have our tea party.”
Marti smiled at the little girl. “You know me so well.”
She turned on Walter. “As for you, Walter, you don’t know me at all. I’ll forget the name-calling and the outbursts, but don’t push me. I’d just as soon burn the contents of this house than hand them over to you just because your last name is Knight and you think you’re entitled. Your father spent weeks telling me stories about everything in this house, particularly the contents of the safe. At the time, I thought it was just a dying man reliving his life by telling stories to a friend who would listen. They were wonderful stories, and I will remember them always. I will remember your father and his wishes. If you want something from the house, let me know, and I’ll decide if it’s what George would have wanted.”
“You’ll decide. You. Who the hell are you?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know? You’d be surprised. For the purposes of George’s estate, I’m the person he trusted to see to his last wishes. I’m the person he trusted to keep their word. I told him I’d try. Don’t push me. I don’t like to go back on my word. If you make me, I’ll be really angry.”
“Let’s finish the will,” the lawyer interrupted before Walter continued with his tirade. He removed two envelopes from his briefcase.
“George knew you very well, Marti. He left these for you. He said one would make you laugh and the other will make you angry. He said to tell you not to be angry, he wanted you to have it, so take it and deal with it.” He smiled at her. “Those were his words,” he laughed. “He knew you wanted your privacy, so the contents are for you only.”
He handed the envelopes over and she opened the first, immediately angered by the contents. She read the note inside and said, “Dammit, George. I love you too.” She closed the envelope containing a check for twenty million dollars.
She opened the other envelope and looked inside. Several bills and two quarters were tucked inside. She pulled out the money, crushed it in her hand, and held it to her chest while she laughed and cried.
“What the hell did he leave you?” Shelly asked, her eyes locked on the bills crushed in her hand. Let her think it was all George left her. While Marti was thrilled with her winnings, Shelly was salivating, could barely sit still in her chair since she’d learned of Cameron’s inheritance.
“It’s not your business, but fifty-seven dollars and fifty cents,” she said and continued laughing.
“Why are you laughing? Surprised he didn’t leave you millions?” Walter looked smug.
“It’s the money your father owed me from our poker game.”
She wiped her eyes and stood to leave. She assumed they were done. The lawyer asked her to sit again.
“There’s something else, Marti. You made a promise to George.”
“The thing he doesn’t want me to sell? I won’t sell the contents of the house.”
“That wasn’t what he didn’t want you to sell.”
Cameron looked at the lawyer. “He didn’t.”
The lawyer smiled. He’d expected this. “He did. Marti,