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Part of Chapter 1 Teaser
It was finally Monday and Emily was nervous about the whole day. Was her sister exactly what she read and saw in those pictures? Would Erica come and ruin the event? If there was a magic wand that she could wave and erase the whole day, Emily would’ve used it to escape it all.
As Emily waited for the lawyer to read the will, she passed out appetizers to the guests and spoke with them, learning more about her aunt when she heard a woman yelling in the hallway, just outside the den.
“Where the hell is everyone?” Erica yelled angrily as she slammed the front door.
“We’re in here,” Mandy yelled back. Everyone was talking so yelling was the only way to communicate. There had to be at least 30 people in the den at once, not to mention the other people just outside the room.
“Why did she have to come, Mom?”
“Emily, please. She has just as much of a right to be here as everyone else. I thought we went over this.”
Erica stormed into the den as if she owned the place, throwing her coat at Emily as she entered the den. “Put this away.”
Emily noticed how much she changed over the years. She considered her a bitch before but now she seemed so much worse. Emily knew if Aunt Jane was alive, Erica wouldn’t have been speaking in that tone of voice, acting like she was the queen and the world was simply there to serve her. She still wore make-up like it was the end of the world and there wasn’t enough time to wear it all. Her hair was gelled down like she was caught in the eighties. She wore clothes that didn’t match, layering them as if she couldn’t decide what to put on. She was a mess and it took everything in Emily to stop herself from laughing at her appearance. She was trying hard to remain mad at her.
“So are we going to get this started today or what?”
“Just have a seat. When Aunt Jane’s lawyer is ready, she will let us know,” Mandy said as she took the coat out of Emily’s arms.
Everyone calmed down when Aunt Jane’s lawyer walked into the room. Mrs. Thornbeusch appeared sophisticated with her neatly worn suit. Emily noticed how well dressed she was she and liked her red suit. Emily assumed she was a passionate woman from choosing the suit. She watched the lawyer carry her briefcase across the room and sit it on the desk. “Good morning, everyone,” she had a southern accent. “Jane Peterson was a wonderful woman. She was full of life and had a big heart. She will be missed.”
Emily listened to the lawyer and her stories of Aunt Jane. She hung on to every word, hoping for some clue as to why Erica was even there. Then she heard it—to collect her father’s things. Emily felt relieved to hear that that was all it was. As the minutes drifted by, Emily heard her part of the will and felt even more nervous than before. “And finally, I would like to share what happens to the estate. Emily, I know you have loved this castle since the day you set foot here. I’ve seen the look in your eyes when you look at this place and listen to the stories I’ve told you so many times. Because you have so much passion and admiration for its beauty and history, I’ve decided to give this castle to you. Everything that comes with it is yours as well.” Emily wasn’t expecting to inherit the castle and the family’s fortune. She wasn’t expecting anything; she just wanted her aunt back. “With this, Emily, I have something for you. Could you come up here please?”
Emily stood up and walked up to the desk where the lawyer was sitting. She looked down and saw a box with notebooks inside it. Could that be the reason why she had come early? “What are these?”
“Your aunt wanted you to have these journals. She once told me that you would need these someday. She also told me that when she passed away that I should give these to you.” Mrs. Thornbeusch said.
“I don’t understand. Why would I need her old journals?”
“Emily, that is something you will learn soon. I can’t tell you anymore. That is the conclusion of this reading. Enjoy the finger foods, Amanda and Emily have provided. I want to thank everyone for coming.”
“I was her only daughter and Emily got the castle!” Erica yelled. At least she waited until Mrs. Thornbeusch had finished speaking. Emily was glad of that.
“You know you never did like this castle anyway, Erica,” Mandy said. Her voice sounded calm and collected.
“That doesn't matter. I had plans for this castle. This dump was going to make me a fortune. I was going to have a condo built at the top of the hill. The graveyard was going to be removed and turned into a small golf course. Those dead trees in the back were going to be leveled out and a fancy pool area was going to be put in,” Erica said and she stormed out of the room as the others watched, including Emily. She knew Erica was bad but she wasn’t expecting her to be that bad.
Moments later, she returned. "Emily, you’re a bitch. I’m going to make your life a living hell. When I’m done with you, you will be begging me to take this shit hole away from you.” She picked up her coat and began to leave. The guests began whispering amongst themselves and Emily could hear them. She followed Erica out of the room and stopped her just before she reached the front door.
“Now you wait a minute, Erica. Aunt Jane loved you like a daughter and she gave you everything she was. You threw that away like it was garbage. It tore her apart seeing you act the way you did.”
“I treated her like garbage? I was there when you left, Emily. I took care of her when you turned your back on Jane. I was the only one who cared,” Erica said.
Emily laughed. “You know that’s not true. I loved Aunt Jane. We both know why I left. I didn’t have a choice.”
“Yes, you did Emily. You could’ve stayed here but you didn’t. You followed Mommy to New York just like the little..”
“Don’t say another word, Erica. You’re pissed because you didn’t get your way. Erica always got her way but not this time. You were a brat and you know it.”
“I was no such thing. I always got what I deserved. I earned everything.”
“And that’s why I inherited this castle, right? I’m the bad one for that, right? Whatever, Erica. I inherited the family estate because I loved it just as much as she did and she wanted to keep that passion alive.” It was at that moment when Emily realized what she was saying and she was right. She really did love that castle.
Erica screamed in anger as she stomped her foot. “This isn’t over, Emily. I’ll be back and when I do, I want my father’s things. And then, I will be claiming what’s rightfully mine.” She glared at Emily for a moment, turned around, and then left through the front door, slamming it behind her.
Emily turned around and noticed everyone watching her from the den’s entrance. She could hear their voices within the crowd and felt embarrassed. She looked down as she inched back toward the room. When she looked up, she saw the woman in the white gown again. At first sight, Emily passed out and fell to the floor. When she opened her eyes, everyone was standing over her.
“Emily, are you all right?” Mandy asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just blacked out is all,” Emily said as her mother helped her up. They walked into the den and sat down on one of the chairs they had brought into the room.
“I’m sorry, everyone but I think we need to cut this thing a little short. Emily needs to rest. Thank you for coming today,” Mandy said.
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