Chapter 1
Hattie Mae
Walking into the bathroom at the lawyer’s office, I’m nervous. I double check my teeth for lipstick stains and smooth my hands over my hips. The secretary was vague on the phone, only stating it was imperative I meet with Mr. Finnigan before he left town.
Taking a deep breath, I exit the bathroom and approach the receptionist.
The clacking of fingers stroking the keyboard comes to a halt. “Can I help you?”
“Hattie Hatfield. I have an appointment with Mr. Finnigan.” I smile, hoping I won’t have to shake hands with anyone. My palms are sweating something fierce.
“Have a seat. He’ll call you back in a few.”
The clacking ensues, and I let out a breath.
I go over to the nearest chair and pick up a magazine from the table as I sit.
Flipping through the pages, I try not to think of the last few weeks. However, the images of the happy couples has me wondering where things went wrong in my own relationship.
Two people embracing in the kitchen. In the background a puddle of spilled milk on the floor. A cheesy line about the strength of the paper towels being as strong as their relationship.
The pages of the magazine crumple in my grip as I think about all the late nights Justin has been working. The lies he has been telling rolling off his tongue smooth like honey. The tense way he watches me as though something is on his mind.
Fear holds me back from asking the questions that have been keeping me up at night.
The inability to fix whatever is broken between us is crushing me. He’s my best friend. My person—the one who has always promised to love me, but lately he barely kisses my cheek. We’re strangers passing in the hallway. Two people who share a responsibility of rent and utilities.
Nothing I attempt seems to be enough.
I don’t know how to get us back to good. Back to the place where we stay up too late watching movies and fooling around while planning our future. The house we want to buy in the suburbs when we get married…when we have kids…
I have a sinking feeling we will never obtain those dreams now. They seem like fleeting memories of a different life.
“Miss Hatfield, Mr. Finnigan will see you now.”
“Oh, okay.” I let out a soothing breath and attempt to smooth out the crinkled pages.
The secretary holds the door open for me and announces my entrance. It all seems so formal.
“Thank you for agreeing to come in on such short notice. May I call you Hattie?” The older man who appears to be in his late 50s warmly greets me.
“Sure.” I return his smile.
His hand extends toward the chair opposite his desk. “Please, have a seat.”
“I don’t want to sound rude, but what’s this all about?” I get right to the point. I am eager to pick up Justin’s favorite for dinner and actually spend some time together. I was able to get one of the girls from work to switch shifts with me, so I can surprise my man.
“Not at all. You probably don’t remember me, but I was a friend of your father’s.”
“My father?” I know my tone sounds accusing but I haven’t spoken to him since I was like three.
“Yes, we went to high school together. I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
“Okay…” I hedge.
“Your father passed away two weeks ago.”
“Oh. I…and?” I know I must be coming off cold and unfeeling to this man, but my father cheated on my mother and she packed me up and moved here. Not one card not even a phone call for any holidays or my birthday did I receive from him. Nothing. Nada. He was my sperm donor and nothing more. I never knew him.
“The reason I asked you here is he left you his estate. Albeit he didn’t leave you much but in this envelope is the deed to his trailer and his truck. There’s a key to a safety deposit box too.”
“I don’t want it, sell it off or something.”