Forlot: A Girl Who Needs Her Space - Book Thirty-Two

Chapter Five

"Ah. That must be him," Mom said. She got up from her seat and walked out of the kitchen.

"Who is it?" I asked. "Who is at the front door?" But I do not think that she heard me because she did not answer me.

Karma elbowed me and said, "Guess that we will find out when she returns with the man." She reached out and picked up Grandma and Grandpa's will. "Hmm." She brought it close to her face and skimmed it. "My goodness."

I wrapped my hand around her wrist and pushed up my glasses. "What is it? What does the will say?"

She covered her mouth and looked at me. "You need to wait until your mom reads it."

I squinted at her. "What did you say?"

"I said that you need to wait until your mother reads the will."

"Uncover your mouth. I still cannot understand what you are saying."

She uncovered her mouth and held up two fingers. "I have said twice that you need to wait until your mom reads the will."

"Why? Why can you not just tell me?"

"Well..." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "...I just think that it is unfair to your mom and brothers. You should find out as a family."

As usual, my brothers had to butt in. They think that they are as smart as Einstein when they are really as smart as their own butts. In fact, Henry spun around in his chair and shook his butt at me and Karma. He is one of my younger brothers, but he ought to know better.

I never told you readers which brothers are younger and older, did I? Aztec, William, and Rodney are the older siblings, and Jeffrey, Henry, and Benjamin are the younger ones. But I do not keep track of how old they are because they are immature. My pinky finger is more mature than all of them combined.

"Oh my goodness," Karma said as she yanked off her glasses. She used her shirt to wipe the lenses. "I hope that you are proud of yourself, Henry. My gosh. Turn around. Carmen and I do not want to see your butt. I swear that you will blind us."

Henry snickered and plopped his bottom back in the seat. He and Jeffrey, who was across from him, gave each other a high-five. I wish that they and the other boys were not my brothers. I deserve better brothers than them. If only I could travel back in time...

Mom soon returned to the kitchen - and she was not alone. She smiled at us and had a hand on the man's back.

"Kids," she said. "I would like to introduce you to Dr. Hugo Maxwell."

The man was grinning at us and had his hands in the pockets of his lab coat. "Like that your mom just told you, I am Dr. Hugo Maxwell. But you can call me Dr. Maxwell. But do not just call me Maxwell, or I will..." He let his voice trail off and took in a deep breath. "I am terribly sorry. I have dealt with so many idiots in my career that I assume that all the folks in this town are morons too." He looked at Mom. "But I met your wonderful mother last week. She knew me, but I did not know her."

She giggled and walked back to her chair. "Have you kids heard of Dr. Maxwell?"

We shook our heads. None of us have.

Dr. Maxwell took his hands out of his pockets. "Kids as good as yours would never know who I am."

She plopped back down. "You are right, Dr. Maxwell. My children are always busy, but I am glad that they are doing constructive things and succeeding in their classes."

"I can only imagine how proud you are." He pointed to the chair at the other end of the table. "May I?"

"By all means. You are the guest, so you get whatever you want."

"That is good to hear." He sat in the seat and laid his arms on top of the table. "I wish that my kids were as successful as yours."

"You have kids too?"

"I have two daughters. Their names are Eleanor and Margie. They do not live with me at the moment, but they will very soon."

What is that? Is there something that you guys know that I do not?

"I am sure that your daughters are wonderful," Mom said. She motioned to me and Karma. "I want you to meet my daughter, Carmen, and her friend Karma."

"Carmen and Karma, huh?" Dr. Maxwell said both of our names. "I like those names."

Mom brushed a hair strand away from my eyes. "You know, I feel bad for Carmen and Karma because they are surrounded by Carmen's six brothers."

"Did you say that Carmen has six brothers? That is a recipe for disaster."

Something that we can agree on.

My mom must have realized that Karma had the will because she took the paper away from her. "You said that you have two daughters, right?"

"That I did."

"Maybe they could play with Carmen and Karma one day."

The doctor slammed a hand on the table. "Why, that is a mighty fine idea!"

"Then it is settled."

"Mom," I said. "Karma and I are not toddlers."

"I know that you and Karma are not toddlers, honey, but I think that this will be great for you two. Now, it is time for me to read the will."

"Hold it," Aztec said. "Why is Dr. Maxwell here?"

"He is here because he is going to help us collect the stuff mentioned in the will, and if there are problems with the transitions, he will handle them."

Why do I have the feeling that I do not trust him?

When Mom finished reading the will, everybody was excited - except for me and Karma.

It was soooooooo unfair!