Love after loss

Chapter 7 - The will

Two weeks later I looked around the church holding Dereks funeral, it was full of all his friends and family. My mom flew over after Derek had passed but had to fly home a few days before the funeral and only my eldest brother remained to support me. He sat one side of me in the front pew while Meg and Garret sat the other side. Meg firmly clutching my hand.

I managed to stumble my way through his eulogy. We held the wake at The Roadhouse. It seemed appropriate.

During that time Dereks mother took me to the side to remind me of the time we were all to meet at the house with the lawyer for the will reading the next day.

She hugged me tightly and made her way back to mingle. 

I was left in the corner staring at nothing. It still didn’t feel real. I was convinced that if I wished hard enough Derek would swagger back through the doors making everyone laugh like he always did.

I’m not sure how long I was stood there but eventually Garret took me silently by the hand and led me to the office. 

“You looked like you could use a break”

I tried to smile gratefully at him but I could feel the tears threatening my eyes.

“Thanks” I managed feebly, while sitting down on the worn leather couch in the office.

“It’s winding down, want me to take you home?”

I shook my head and started to protest about the cleaning and saying goodbyes and I was talking so fast about all the responsibilities I had to see through that I didn’t even realise I was crying until I was wrapped in Garrets arms and his shirt had soaked through and I was hiccuping my way through the words.

“It’s okay to take a minute Elle” he said soothingly stroking my hair.

I wasn’t sure or when I fell asleep but I could hear voices quietly talking around me and I had the faint awareness I was curled up on the office couch. I kept my eyes closed staying somewhere between sleep and consciousness. 

“God she looks so young” Megs voice said to someone else in the room.

A rough hand stroked my hair away from my hair and tucked it behind my ear.

“She is young, she’s 23 years old old and has had to nurse her husband to his death bed and lose the love of her life... and it’s all my fault” Garrets voice replied

“What do you mean it’s your fault? None of this is your fault” Meg said flatly

“It is, if I had been the one...” he trailed off 

“What are you talking about?” Meg demanded

But a knock on the door save Garret from having to answer.

“The last of them have gone. I’ve locked the doors. Is she awake?” Stuart’s voice now.

“Not yet” Meg replied

“I’ll help the staff clear up then I’ll take her home” Stuart said again

“I’ll come help too” Meg replied and I heard the door click shut behind them.

“I’m sorry Elle” I heard Garrets voice almost whisper because I fell back to sleep

It was a long  night as I had slept most of the evening away there no sleep to be had that night and there was a lot of tears but soon enough it was time to get out of bed and get ready for Dereks family and the Lawyer to arrive.

As everyone who was included in the will sat around me we waited patiently as the lawyer read out what Derek had left them.

“This is a morbid practice” I angrily whispered to Stuart.

“They’re like Vultures”

“Just let it go Elle, it will be over with soon enough” he tried to placate me

“... to my brother Ben, I leave my collection of baseball cards and my mustang”

The lawyer continued. 

I heard Ben grunt, he obviously wasn’t happy with what had been left to him. I glared at him but he just looked away from me.

“To my mother and father I leave the fine china they gifted me and my wife on our wedding day. I hope it brings them joy and reminds them of my most special day surrounded by my beautiful family”

Dereks parents held hands and smiled to each other while his mother placed a hand over her heart.

“To my wife Elle I leave my house, my bar and all other worldly possessions and finances” the lawyer passed me an envelope that my name was written on in Dereks handwriting. “Elle read this letter and know that I loved you wholly until my last breath”

“To my best friend Garret Parrish I leave my Les Paul guitar and my undying gratitude for letting me win that bet. I can’t even express how happy you made my life that day, brother. I know I am leaving Elle in your safe hands and I know that you will look after her”

After the lawyer left I was making coffee and reminiscing with Dereks father about our most fondest memories when I heard Ben raise his voice at his mother. 

“There were married for a year, why should she get everything”

“Ben, keep your voice down” his mother reprimanded. 

He looked up and caught me staring and striding over to me he angrily announced 

“I’m going to contest the Will Elle, you don’t deserve all that money”