Joneses – 9.1 Inheritance

“Lester?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re dancing!”

“So I am. Just felt like having fun.”

“But…you think dancing is silly.”

He continued shaking his rump.

“Ahhhh… I know what this is,” she said. “You’ve been with that Jones girl recently, huh?”

“Mom!”

“Why don’t you just ask her out?”

He changed the subject. “Have you made a decision about Matt’s house yet? I mean, I can see you’re already spending his money with all these fancy clothes you’ve been buying. You may as well take the house… Unless you plan on breaking his heart twice.”

“He’s dead, dear.”

“Yeah, but…he’ll still know! Don’t you watch ghost hunters?”

She joined him and took a few turns around the living room. It had been 3 weeks since she received the news of Matthias’s death. She knew it was coming and tried to prepare herself mentally even though she broke up with him; she loved him still. However, learning about his death wasn’t any easier. And then when she was told she was to inherit his estate despite their estrangement, she was even more sad and laden with guilt. It was hard to think about, and she tried to delay making a decision. Lester wouldn’t leave it alone. She tried to dance the thought out of her head, but it wouldn’t leave. Somehow, later on that day, she found herself at Matt’s house. She didn’t really intend to go there, but she ended up there anyway. It wasn’t what one would expect from a hot shot surgeon of many years. He was a simple man with money to spend. He wanted a house large enough for a growing family–beautiful, but not extravagant.

She sighed as she walked through the door. Memories of Matthias were everywhere.

She walked into the living room where they had many movie nights–more like movie afternoons as she worked at night.

She ate many meals with him in the dining room.

They spent a lot of time together in the kitchen fighting over who was going to cook.

They skinny dipped in the pool in his quaint little backyard.

His office was his favorite spot in the whole house. She often sat in there and kept him company as he finished up paperwork and such. She enjoyed looking at all of his accomplishments on the wall.

Upstairs, there were rooms for all the children he never had. He wasn’t quite so busy that he forgot to settle down, but no one really caught his eye. That is until he met India.

In the master bedroom, India remembered many glorious afternoons with him. Sometimes, after they had their fun, they’d lay in bed and watch TV.

Back in his office, she sat and evaluated the situation again.

I’m sorry I wasn’t brave enough to live here with you. I should have been here in your final days. You shouldn’t have died alone!

As she was beating herself up, she was overcome. The air seemed to be escaping the room and she found it hard to breathe. As she rose to her feet, her eyes fell on an envelope on his desk. It had her name on it. Inside, there was a letter from Matthias:

My dearest, India,

Please don’t be angry with yourself. I know asking for your hand was a lot and quite selfish of me. Although your answer was not what I wanted, it did not surprise me. When I said I loved you, I meant it. My feelings did not change when you went away. You are my one and only true love, and you deserve everything I have left you. So, please, take my house and my money. There isn’t anyone in this world I want to enjoy it more than you. Retire. Enjoy your golden days with your son in comfort. Have fun. Travel. Find someone who makes you happy. And, when you’re gone, leave this house to your son. Maybe he can fulfill my dream of putting children in those bedrooms…unless you want to. I’m only kidding, of course.

I know living here may be a bit daunting at first, and you may think my gift is cruel. But I do hope that in time you’ll be happy here and find it easy to call it home.

With all my love,

Matthias

Author’s Note: This house was created by HatsyYT and is called “Meadow View House.” Check it out on the gallery!