Bequeathed

Chapter Five: After the Wedding I

Eager to start her new life and move into Aunt Bev’s mansion just outside the city, Claire floods Mr. Simm’s phone with all the pictures from her wedding.

“You will be allowed to move in,” Mr. Simms says. “But the estate won’t be fully surrendered to you until I receive physical copies of the relevant documentation that prove the legitimacy of your union.”

Claire stabs the phone with the index finger of her left hand, ending the call. She doesn’t wish to spend another week digging through the endless letters requesting the advice which she writes for her newspaper column.

The next morning Claire arranges to meet Mr. Simms at the house. As her car slowly rolls up the driveway, Claire admires it all. The sharp hedges, the crisp green, evenly cut carpet of grass beyond Everything is as Aunt Bev always wanted it. It’s as if she is still here, still a presence looming from the large, square glass window overseeing her affairs. Her car whips by the stone fountain in front of the house. The fairy is as white as ever, still, it seems smaller to Claire somehow. Its wings, not as wide and its watering vessel not as round as Claire recalled. She exits her call and walks towards the steps, gravel crunches under her feet with every step. She mounts the wide steps and seeks refuge behind one of the large pillars at the front.

A car rolls up within minutes of Claire’s arrival.

“Finally,” she says as she leaves the shadow of the column. She uses her handbag to conceal her face from the sun that washes the mansion's facade.

“Hello, Princess.”

Claire drops her hand, her bag no longer shielding her from the sun's rays. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I hear we get our keys today.

“I. Get MY keys today.-”

“We’re married now, darling. What is mine, is yours. And what is yours, is ours.”

“Two million dollars is what we agreed to. I’ll pay you once the lawyer releases the money to me.”

“If it’s okay with you,” William says, “I’ll stick around until that check clears.”

“No. It’s not okay with me.”

“Too bad.” William grabs Claire around the waist. “Now smile for the lawyer.”

Claire stops tugging herself free and plasters a smile across her face. Mr. Simms rounds the fountain, hugging closely to the base where the water is collected. Mr. Simms emerges from his car and meets William and Claire on the steps. He dabs his brow despite not yet starting to sweat. “Well if it isn’t the lovebirds,” he says. “Oh.” He taps his forehead and heads back to his car. He retrieves two cat carriers from the backseat. “These come with the house.” He hands the cats to Claire but she doesn’t take them. “I thought you said I didn’t have to take them.”

“You don’t,” Mr. Simms says. “But I thought you might want to since they are the only things left of your aunt.”

“Mr. Simms, this whole house is filled with things left by my aunt.”

“Living things,” Mr. Simms amends.

Claire forces a cough and fakes a sneeze. “I’m allergic.” She adjusts the large, square sunglasses on her face and climbs the remaining steps to the wide, oak doors with the brass handle. “Can we get on with this?” Claire turns to face the men who are still a few steps behind her. William relieves Mr. Simms of the cats and motions him up the steps.