in terms of repairs—she was still new at her job and had tons of college debt to pay—but logistically, too. She wouldn’t be around. A sadness enveloped her. This cottage held a lot of memories. Memories that hadn’t been captured in Nana’s journal. Sometimes a person didn’t have a choice in life. Letting go was a part of living, wasn’t it? That was one lesson she’d learned in life, so far. And if she wanted to honor her grandmother’s wish and find success in life, she’d have to let go of this place, too. She closed the lawyer’s email and held the phone to her chest. She didn’t care what was in the will. It didn’t matter.
She didn’t want to gain anything from Nana’s death. She just wanted her back.
* * *
THE LAW OFFICE of Joel Burkitt occupied a space on the second story of what was the original Turtleback volunteer fire station. The station had been moved to a more accommodating space fifteen years ago, partially funded by the sale of the original. The ground floor housed a yoga studio that most people in town claimed stayed afloat only because Joel, who owned the building, was sweet on the instructor.
Mandi noticed her father’s car parked along the street in front of the yellow building. Joel hadn’t mentioned having them both show up together, although it made sense since Nana didn’t have any other family in town. Mandi figured Joel would just give her a copy of the will, review any mention of her in it, and that would be it. That’s what she’d hoped would happen. Nothing formal or staged like in the movies. She pulled up behind her dad’s car and went inside, noting the studio had only two students in it, currently in mountain poses. She climbed the steps to the Burkitt Law Office and knocked before entering.
“Mandi, thanks for joining us. I’m sorry that I didn’t catch you yesterday at the service,” Joel said, waving her in.
“No worries. Hi, Dad.” She shook Joel’s hand and sat on the empty chair next to her father.
“Mandi.” John nodded his welcome, then motioned around the room. “Hard to believe you could have been sharing this practice with Joel by now. A shame, really.”
“Seriously, Dad?” She couldn’t believe he was embarrassing her by bringing up the fact that she had refused to go to law school and, according to him, had thrown away an opportunity he’d set up for her to work with Burkitt and eventually take over his practice when he retired.
Joel cleared his throat.
“Law isn’t for everyone, John. And not everyone makes it in,” he said, barely raising a brow as he looked over at her dad. “Although, I’m sure if Mandi had wanted to and had applied, she would have been accepted.”
Wow. Had her dad been rejected from law school back in his day? Why hadn’t she heard about that? Did Nana know? Or had her son applied without telling her...in case he didn’t make it in. It would be just like him to go about things in a way that allowed him to cover up failure and save face. John dropped the subject. That said something.
Joel took a third chair from the corner of the room and placed it next to her. Mandi frowned. Her father uncrossed his legs.
“Is someone else joining us?” he asked, sitting straighter.
“Sorry if I kept you all waiting,” Gray said, as he entered the room without bothering to knock.
Neither Mandi nor John said anything. Joel greeted Grayson by his full name and motioned for him to sit. Why did Gray’s being here surprise her? Of course Nana would have left something for Gray to remember her by. She had treated him like family and he’d been good to her. Mandi would always be grateful that he had been a good neighbor to Nana and had kept an eye out for her. It was just that... Mandi hadn’t expected to see him today. Seeing him did things to her. It shook the ground beneath her feet. Gray’s eyes met hers and she quickly looked away and focused on Mr. Burkitt.
“What’s he doing here?” John asked, not bothering to mask his disapproval. Joel shot her father a professional smile.
“Everyone here is mentioned in the will and, although I had intended to meet with Dr. Zale separately, I realized late last night that your mother had specifically requested a group reading. Dr. Zale was kind enough to adjust his schedule this morning at the last minute. Today is about your mother’s wishes, John. Not yours. And now that we’re all here, let’s get started. This shouldn’t take long.” Joel shuffled through some papers, straightened the ones he needed, then began reading the initial formality and a list of animal and children’s charities she had bequeathed money to. “For you, John, your mother left you the sum of ten thousand dollars.”
“Ten?”
Mandi and Gray exchanged looks. Her father wasn’t shocked in a positive way. Nope. His face turned a purply shade of red. The sum total Nana had given to charity was more than twice what she’d give to her own son.
“That’s what it says, John. As for you, Mandi, you now own half of her house and all of its contents, including—your grandmother has specified—the antique pottery bowl handed down from her side of the family and all of her jewelry.”
The color rose in her father’s neck and his expression tightened. Direct mention of that bowl was a definite dig on Nana’s part. She knew her son well and he’d nagged her one too many times about getting it appraised and possibly selling it. After all, a chunk of pottery didn’t really serve a purpose in his eyes. He didn’t value history. He only worried about the future.
“I assume, then, the other half of the house is mine,” John said. He seemed mollified enough. Half a house softened the blow the measly ten grand had given him.
Mandi didn’t understand him. She never would. Ten thousand would make a huge dent in her graduate school debt, not to mention credit card. Not that she’d take it even if he offered. Money gave him control. She did learn from history and she wasn’t letting him ever have a say in her future.
“Actually,” Joel said, nudging his glasses higher on his nose, studying the document for confirmation, then looking up at Gray. “It says here that the other half of the house belongs to you, Dr. Zale. And that the property cannot be sold or leased without both parties agreeing to the arrangement.”
“What?” The question shot out of her father and Gray simultaneously. Mandi had no words. She couldn’t wrap her head around what had just been said. Gray owned half of the house? They shared Nana’s house?
“This isn’t happening,” she muttered, sinking in her chair. She clutched her purse and closed her eyes. Why, Nana? Why? Her father stood up and braced his hands on the edge of the desk.
“Are you sure? She was old. Were you there when she wrote this up? Was she coherent? Was she of sound mind?”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake,” Mandi said.
“Sit down, John. And yes, I’m sure. And for the record, I’ve never known your mother to be anything but sharp and sound minded.”
John sat, shifting his weight to one side and grinding his jaw. Gray pinched the bridge of his nose and hung his head for a moment, the way he did whenever he needed to gather his thoughts. Mandi would bet her life he wasn’t comfortable with the situation. She knew him well enough to know he didn’t want or expect anything from her grandmother. He took a deep breath and let it out, then leaned forward in his chair.
“Does she explain why? Like, what I’m supposed to do with it or what
