The Ecstatic Life Of Sofia

Chapter Twenty-Three: Mourning

She gagged and followed the scent to it's origin. She let out a shrill scream, the sight before her killed her. She screamed, continued screaming. Anthony burst into the garden shed and saw it. There, Mrs. Sala had hung herself from the rafters and judging from the smell it had been awhile since she'd done it. Sofia cried and Anthony just stared, holding Sofia.

The cops arrived and asked what happened.

Sofia stared at them with hostility. "I'm sorry, I don't think I understand the question."

"What exactly happened that led to these events?" The officer asked with little patience.

Sofia glared at him. "What kind of question is that? Isn't it obvious? Can't you read between the lines instead of having us recount it for you as though you were five!" Sofia had never heard herself speak so bitterly. The officer rose and pulled out a piece of paper, he layed it on the table. After they left and took the body to the funeral home, Sofia dared to pick it up. She saw Mrs. Sala's handwriting scrawled on the paper. It read:

My dears, forgive me for leaving in this manner. I love you both, but there is no purpose for me on Earth at this point. You two are going to pull through this and marry, you'll have children, you'll live your lifes. Without my husband there really isn't anything for me to do. My only regret is that I didn't see you married, that I didn't see my grandchildren, but I promise I will always be with you. Please, forgive me for being so weak. I had my will revised before I passed, you will be summoned after the funeral for the reading.

M. Sala

Sofia sat the paper down and sat back, she wasn't sure when, but Anthony had disappeared into his room. Sofia closed her eyes soon she fell asleep.

She awoke to the sound of broken glass. She saw Anthony had thrown the bottle of tequila, that had been full earlier today, now empty, against the wall. He began to pick up different pieces of furniture and throw them around.

Sofia got up. "Anthony stop!" She grabbed his arm.

He turned blazing eyes on her, he grabbed her roughly and shook her till her head lulled. He pushed her down roughly onto the couch and Sofia hit her arm on the wooden armrest.

She stared up at the stranger standing before her, this man who towered over her, this wasn't Anthony, this was a man she had never seen. Anthony's gaze softened as he looked down at her, he began to cry, he fell to his knees and laid his head down in her lap. They stayed like that all night.

Anthony spent his days moping around, while Sofia planned the second funeral in a week. The day of the funeral Sofia dragged Anthony out of bed and helped him dress and shower. He looked at her with fascination as she bustled around. After the service, Anthony seemed to feel better, although his face still held his grim frown.

"Excuse me?" An older man walked up. "Are you Sofia Evans and Anthony Sala?"

Sofia turned around. "Yes."

"If you would, please come see me at my office later this afternoon. I have important matters to discuss with you." The old man handed Sofia a card with a phone number and address.

"What was that about?" Anthony asked.

"It must be about your parents wills. Your mom mentioned something about it in her note."

"Note?"

Sofia reached into her purse. "Your mother wrote it before she passed."

Anthony held it in his hands, then sat down and began to read it.

As he read Sofia thanked everyone else and they were left alone. She sat next to Anthony as he finished reading. When he looked up he stared at her, then began to sob again. He laid his head against her chest and Sofia stroked his hair as he had once done for her.

They sat like that for awhile before he stood and they ventured to the lawyers office. Once there they sat in front of the desk.

"In case you didn't know Mr. Sala, your mother had her will revised just before she died."

Anthony stared at him hostily. Sofia spoke up and took Anthony's hand. "We did know, she mentioned it in her note."

The lawyer's expression didn't change neither did his voice, but he said. "I'm very sorry. Let's begin the reading of the will." The lawyer opened a folder and pulled out a few papers. He cleared his throat and began. The boring jabber she knew had to have been inserted by the attorneys almost put her to sleep, but she managed to look attentive. Finally the end came. "I, Margaret Sala choose to leave my entire estate, excluding my family ranch in Georgia and a five thousand dollar trust account, to my son Anthony Sala. In regards to the family ranch and the five thousand dollar trust account, I have choosen to leave those to Sofia Evans."

"Me?" Sofia asked.

"Are you Sofia Evans?" The lawyer asked.

Sofia frowned. "Yes. Did she have any specifications on how she intended me to spend it?"

"No, Miss Evans, I guess she trusted you to use it wisely."

Sofia was still surprised she had been left anything. "I guess she did."

Anthony spoke up, for the first time. "If that'll be all, we have other matters to attend to."

"Of course Mr. Sala, we only need you both to sign these papers to sign the assets into your names." He held out a sheet of paper to each of them. Anthony snatched them both up before Sofia could sign anything. He read over them both before he sat them back down and signed his.

He took Sofia's and handed it back to the attorney with a cold look on his face. The attorney looked embarrassed and got a new paper from his cabinet. Anthony read over the new paper and handed Sofia the pen to sign.

After they exited, Anthony took Sofia's hand and ran. They ran for a long while, when they arrived at their destination she was surprised. This was the bench, her breath caught as he pulled her to the center and kissed her. His hands travelled over her body and they were soon on the ground and had made love.