Until Harry(78)

I drove with Lochlan and Layton into town, and we got there the same time as our parents and nanny. We were expected and didn’t have to hang around the waiting room, so we all filed into the solicitor’s main office. My brothers and father gave us women the chairs, and they sat on the windowsill behind us.

“Nice to see you again, Jeffery,” my father said to the solicitor when he entered the office.

We each shook hands and introduced ourselves. He already knew everyone but me.

“Thank you all for coming. In light of recent events, I want to offer my deepest condolences to your family. Harry . . . he was more than a client; he was a friend, and I’ll miss him greatly. I hope that after today you can find a sense of peace.”

Jeffery looked directly at me when he finished speaking, and I couldn’t respond, so my nanny did in my place.

“Thank you, Mr Twomey,” she said, smiling warmly. “We’re still in a state of shock and are somewhat beside ourselves, but we greatly appreciate your kind words.”

Jeffery bowed his head and smiled before he moved around his desk and seated himself behind it. He lifted up a thin brown folder that had my uncle’s name stamped onto the cover in thick black ink.

“Harry’s will is very simple,” he began. “The simplest will I have ever drawn up for a client.”

I blinked. “That’s good, right? Less paperwork for us to comb through.”

Jeffery chuckled. “I believe he used similar words when we were in talks for his will.”

I grinned. “That’s my Uncle Harry for you.”

Jeffery opened the folder. “I know it was a trip to come into town to see me, but this will be a very quick meeting. The contents of the will for Mr Harry Larson are as follows: his house and all of his belongings, everything in his possession and name, has been left to Miss Lane Edwards, his niece.”

He rattled off my address and other legally accurate information, but my mind stopped working after he said my name. I looked up at Jeffery, my eyebrows raised in shock. “I’m sorry; I think I misheard you. Can you repeat that, please?”

Jeffery clasped his hands together. “Everything that Harry owned has been left in your name, Lane. His money, his house, his entire estate, but only on one condition.”

I blinked my eyes and tried to process the information.

“What is the condition?” I questioned.

Jeffery smiled. “He wrote it in a letter addressed to you.”

I nodded because I didn’t know what else to do or say.

“It is also side-noted in the terms that if any family member contests the will, or Lane fails to keep to the condition, the entire contents of the will would be liquidated for a cash sum and then donated to the fan club of the Liverpool Football Club.”

Everyone in the room gasped in horror.

We were a family that bled red for Manchester United, and any mention of Liverpool Football Club was banned in our house. It was punishable by being disowned, or perhaps even death.

Uncle Harry wasn’t messing around.

“The evil bastard!” Nanny suddenly bellowed, breaking the veil of silence that fell upon the room.

I looked at my nanny and saw that steam was practically pouring from her ears. Her hands were clenched into fists, and her lip curled in anger. I stared at her for a few more moments, then laughed. I covered my mouth with my hands and cackled until she whacked my arm.

“This isn’t funny!” she snapped. “What did he think he was playin’ at? He should burn in hell for even thinkin’ of doin’ such a thing for that disgrace of a club.”

That was it. My parents and my brothers burst into uncontrollable laughter, and damn it if it didn’t feel good to laugh, and to laugh with them.

“He was ensuring his condition was met.” Jeffery smiled, looking like he could barely contain his own laughter. “That’s all.”

My uncle was a bloody gem.

I shook my head, smiling. “I’m not even surprised that he’s done something like this.”

“He was very careful when we drew it up.” Jeffery nodded, grinning. “He got a kick out of the threat when he thought of your reactions.”

My mother grumbled to herself, “The bloody git.”

I chuckled, and so did my brothers.

“We can discuss things in detail before you choose whether or not to abide by the condition, Lane,” Jeffery said. “It is a little complex as Harry said I would have to take your word and trust you when you reply to my question.”

I didn’t even have to think about the next words that left my mouth. “I’ll abide by the condition. My uncle was a smart man, and I know whatever he wants me to do will be the right thing. I trust him.”