Unbound (11 page)

“Anora!” Luke tapped me on the shoulder. I startled awake. I felt a little disoriented. I turned around.

“What?” He looked at the front of the room, indicating that I should follow his gaze. I did, and was surprised to see a professionally dressed man standing next to Mrs. Heverly. I didn’t know what this meant, or what to do.

“Go. He said he needs to talk to you,” Luke whispered.

“Oh, ok.” I was really confused now. I stood up and started to walk to the front.

 
“Please, bring your books,” the man said. A knot started to form in my stomach. This could not be good. He was only a few inches taller than me, had washed out, short brown hair and was thin. He was wearing an expensive brown suit. I followed him down the hall, up a flight of stairs, down another hall and into an empty conference room. Two brief cases sat on the table. “Please sit.” I put my books down and perched on the edge of the chair. I was full-on nervous now. The man sat down across from me. He looked nervous too. “My name is James Pearson, please call me James. I was your Great Aunt Estelle’s lawyer.”

Hmm, I didn’t know Aunt Estelle had a lawyer, what did she even need one for? Wait,
was
?

“I am very sorry to have to be the one to inform you that your Aunt has passed.”

“Oh.” Wow. She was old, and I knew it would happen sooner or later. I just thought it would be later. “Should I get my brother? I mean, she was his great aunt too.”

“No, this doesn’t concern him.” He opened one of the brief cases and shuffled through it. Ok, I was confused. Why did I get pulled out of class and not Harry? And why would someone come all the way from Indiana just to tell me my great aunt died? We weren’t close, and this just seemed odd. Of course I felt sad she was dead, but in all honesty, I barely knew her so her passing didn’t affect me much. I felt guilty for that. James pushed a stack of papers in front of me. I reached out to pull it closer and he snatched his hand away as if he was afraid I might accidentally touch him. He laughed a nervous laugh, the kind you let out when you want to cover up the fact that you are nervous.

“I bet you’re just like your Aunt,” he said curiously.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Ah, right. Of course.” He cleared his throat and went back into lawyer mode. “Estelle left everything she had to you.” He paused and looked at me. I thought he expected me to say something.

“Everything?” What could Aunt Estelle have that would be so valuable that she needed a lawyer to personally tell me? James looked at the papers in front of me then into my eyes. I got the hint and looked down and started to read. “Holy…” I couldn’t finish my sentence.

“She wanted to make this as simple as possible. This is a basic list. I have the formal documents here as well.”

Crazy Aunt Estelle had a house, seventy-five acres, a very large jewelry collection and an even larger bank account. My mind couldn’t form a coherent thought. I was bewitched by all the zeros that made up the ridiculous sum of money I had just inherited. This definitely made up for all the years of pointless presents. “How?” I looked up at James. “How did she have all this?”

James shifted nervously. “Your, aunt was, ah, very, wise in her investments.” His eyes pleaded for no further questions. “As you can see, there is enough money for you, your children, and their children to live quite comfortably.” He fumbled in his brief case and slid another paper in front of me. “Stocks,” he said quickly. That was a subject I knew nothing about. I glanced at the paper anyway. My eyes must have bulged when I saw what was written. It was Aunt Estelle’s handwriting, no doubt, and for the next fifty years it had ‘predictions’ of when and what stock to pull or invest.

“Why me?” Not that I wasn’t grateful, I was, but this didn’t make sense. Certainly Aunt Estelle had someone closer to have left her millions to.

“Your aunt was very fond of you.” He dove into his brief case again. “In fact, she wrote you this.” He slid an envelope across the table. My name was written in the center in tiny cursive that I recognized at once. I grabbed it and flipped it over. A wax seal kept the envelope closed, and pressed into the wax was the same weird symbol that was on the dagger and the pendants I got for my birthday

My dearest Anora,

Unfortunately, if you are reading this, I have gone into the Otherworld. Even more unfortunate is the fact that you are reading this particular letter. This means that I never had the chance to tell you anything and everything. Please don’t be angry with me, my dear. I did it with the best intentions. I wanted a good life for you, and from what I’ve seen, you have had one so far. I should have visited, but again, I thought it would be best to keep some distance.
 
I may be dead, but in time I will tell you everything.

 
I’m sure you have already met James. He’s a bit of a coward, but you can trust him. He will assist you with all of the legal doings that neither you nor I know anything about. If you need anything, tell him and he will gladly do what he can.

Know that I love you and that you have and will make me proud. You are an amazing and strong woman. There is nothing you cannot do. Never let anything hold you down.

Love Always,

Estelle

Ok…I didn’t know what to make of that. It was cryptic and flattering. Before I could mull it over, James had more papers to carefully push in front of me.

“Your aunt hasn’t lived in the house for over a decade, but I assure you it is in good condition. She has paid special attention that it, uh, be, um, well preserved. In fact, over the last two years, almost everything has been updated.”

“Is the house old?”

“Quite. It was built in 1903.”

The bell that signaled the end of fourth period rang. James didn’t seem to have any intentions of letting me go to lunch.

“When is her funeral?”

“It was your aunt’s wishes to not have one. Her body was cremated immediately after she died.”

“Oh. When did she die?” I didn’t feel like myself. This was all so overwhelming. I felt like I was floating or underwater or something. My mind was disoriented.

“She slipped into a coma last Friday evening. She died early Saturday morning.”

“Does my mom know?”

James looked at me as if that was a completely irrelevant question.

“It was her aunt,” I clarified.

“Ah, yes. And no, you are the only one I was told to inform.”

Neither of us said anything for a moment. The silence was awkward. Another bell rang. Lunch had started.

“So where exactly is this house? I know she lived in Indiana, but that’s it.”

James got out a map. Man, he had everything in that briefcase. He unfolded a map of Indiana. Up in the left, top corner was a star.

“Northwest Indiana.” He pointed at the star, as if I couldn’t figure out that was what I was supposed to look at. “The mailing address if for Paradise Valley, but the house is out of city limits.” He pointed to another spot on the map, north of the star. There were more roads around this area. “This is it. There’s even a University. You’re not too far from Chicago, and you’re even closer to Lake Michigan.”

“Oh,” was all I could think to say.

“Your aunt also had me make arrangements for you to come and see the house. She wanted you to go as soon as possible. I can have a car pick you up tomorrow.”

I started to say ‘ok’ but then I realized that wouldn’t work. “I have school. And I’ll have to find someone to take care of my animals. I have two horses, a dog and a ferret.” I doubt he’d care, but I told him anyway.

“I see. Well, how about the weekend then?”

“Ok. I really should talk to my parents though.”

“Right. Before you go back to class, I have a few things I need you to sign.”

I could have sold my soul to the devil for all I knew. I didn’t read anything, I just signed at the bottom of what seemed like a thousand pages. James went through everything, but he explained it all in a very lawyer like way that meant nothing to my understanding. Aunt Estelle said I could trust him. But since when did I trust Aunt Estelle?

James stood. I guessed that meant we were done now. I was hungry, and I couldn’t wait to tell my friends and Harrison the bizarre news. James fished a card out of his brief case.

“Call me at this number after you’ve made arrangements. It is imperative you come as soon as possible.”

“Ok.” I couldn’t find my voice. James gathered up the papers. He let me keep the map and the letter from Aunt Estelle. He pointed to the smaller briefcase and said. “This has copies of everything. If you have any questions, don’t be hesitant to call.”

“Ok.” I nodded and gathered up my own things. I put my books on top of the briefcase to make carrying everything easier. I hoped it would fit in my locker. “Uh, thanks.”

James nodded. “I’ll be in touch.” He gave me a faint smile and held the door open for me. I still felt dazed as I walked down the hall. I opened my locker, put my books away, grabbed my lunch, and opened the briefcase. I put the letter and map inside and took out a copy of my inheritance. With a bit of difficulty I finally got the briefcase shoved safely inside. I hurried to the cafeteria.

“Where the hell have you been?” Marie asked when I got to the table.

“Long story. I have to talk to Harry.” I put my lunch bag down and went over to the table where Harrison and several other members of the football team sat.

“Hey, sis.” Harrison looked a little confused. “What’s up?”

“Can I sit?” Both chairs on either side of Harrison were occupied.

“Of course.” Luke said and got up. I wondered if he already told Harrison about my strange visitor. I took his seat.

“Aunt Estelle died.”

“Oh, shit. Well, I guess we won’t be getting any more weird presents.”

I was about to tell him that’s an awful thing to say but remembered that I had thought the same thing. “Yea. Anyway, this weird lawyer came and told me. I asked him if I could get you to tell you too, but he wouldn’t let me because he said ‘it didn’t concern you’ and Mom doesn’t know either. It’s really confusing.” I showed Harrison the paper. “And she left me all this.” Harrison snatched the paper out of my hands for a closer look.

“No fair! Why didn’t I get anything?” He was pissed. Great, this wasn’t the reaction I was hoping he’d have. I should have figured though, and it did seem unfair.

“You can have half. I don’t care. I’m just, I don’t know, unnerved right now. The lawyer said I need to go to the house in Indiana. He wanted me to go today.”

Harrison looked up from the paper at me. “Are you going?”

“What? No, of course not. And who would take care of the animals?”

“You just inherited
all this
and you’re worried about your animals?” he asked incredulously.

“Yes. They can’t take care of themselves. Plus, I don’t want to go by myself.” I noticed Luke hovering close behind us. “I have to eat. I’ll tell you more about it on the way home.” I took the paper out of his hands. He still looked pissed and jealous. I went back to my table and got out my turkey sandwich on whole wheat and took a bite.

“What’s going on?” Laney asked. She sounded a bit concerned.

“My Great Aunt Estelle died,” I said after I finished chewing. I took another bite. I needed to eat fast; lunch was almost over.

“What?” Marie and Laney said in unison. I nodded since my mouth was still full. I put the paper in front of them. “I got all this.” I ate the rest of my sandwich while they looked it over.

“Oh my God, Annie,” Laney said slowly. “You’re a freaking millionaire!” Her voice got loud with excitement at the end of her sentence.

“Shh! I don’t want people to know.”

“Why not? This is so cool!” Laney was practically bouncing with excitement now. “What does the house look like?”

“I don’t know. The area looked really rural on the map, so I’m guessing it’s some sort of farm house. I’m going this weekend to see it.” I wanted to ask them if they wanted to join me, but I wasn’t sure if James would approve. I noticed Marie hadn’t said anything. I looked at her; her lips were pressed tightly together and her eyes had narrowed. Typical Marie. She was jealous, though I couldn’t blame her.

“Anora!” Natalie called.