Until Harry(70)

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.”

Jeffery beamed. “Fantastic. I’ll start the paperwork to have you named as the new property owner of Harry’s home, and you can decide what to do with the contents. I will need your bank information so I can transfer your inheritance from your uncle to you.”

This was surreal.

“I’ll have to email that information to you.”

“No problem,” Jeffery said, and smiled.

I zoned out for a minute or two, enough time to allow myself to comprehend the magnitude of what I’d inherited. I came back to the present just as Jeffery, who was speaking to my nanny, said, “. . . had me draw this up after he found out about his heart condition.”

“Wait a second,” I suddenly gasped. “What do you mean by ‘heart condition’?”

I looked from Jeffery to the faces of my family members.

“He didn’t tell you?” My mother seemed surprised.

I stared at her. “You think I would have stayed away if I knew he’d had a heart condition? Really, Mum? Do you think that little of me to ever believe I’d be so dismissive of someone I love so much?”

My mother shook her head. “No, of course not. I just can’t believe this. How could he not have told you?”

She looked at my father as if he had the answer.

We all looked to Lochlan when he spoke. “Isn’t is obvious?”

“Not to me,” I quipped.

“Why didn’t Kale allow anyone to tell you about Kaden when he died?” my brother asked.

I swallowed. “Because he didn’t want me to come unless it was my decision to.”

Lochlan nodded. “Uncle Harry obviously thought the same as Kale. He knew you better than anyone, and he knew that you weren’t ready to come home, so he kept the heart condition away from you.”

I was furious.

“Why does everyone think they know what’s best for me?” I snapped.

My father sighed. “Because you don’t know what’s best for you, darling. If we step on your toes, it’s because we want to help you.”

I knew that was true, but it didn’t make it any less frustrating.