Compromise Me (Book Two of the Kirkland Family)

Compromise Me: Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Mr. Rowe was a kindly-looking man in his early sixties. He greeted Travis and Josie warmly and they settled in leather wingback chairs in his office.

"Thank you so much for coming to see me quickly," Mr. Rowe announced, shuffling items on his desk. "I'm sorry for your loss, and of course for my vague reasons about Annabelle's estate, but I'm afraid the terms of her will stated that I could not disclose any details until I saw you in person."

Travis shifted in his chair. Josie noticed his scowl had come back. "My mother had a will?"

"Yes," Mr. Rowe answered. He removed a file from a desk drawer and opened it. "But before we get to that, I'm obliged to follow her instructions on how we proceed, and the first thing I must do is read a letter to you." He selected a page of stationery with a handwritten note on it and cleared his throat.

Travis leaned forward. "Mr. Rowe, I haven't seen my mother in years. I'm not exactly sure why I'm here."

"Please bear with me, Mr. Fischer," the lawyer said patiently. "I promise everything will be explained." His eyes scanned the instructions again. "'To my only child and son, Travis Holt Fischer...'"

Josie raised her eyebrows. "Your middle name is Holt?"

Travis' mouth twisted. "Don't judge. I was supposedly named after my father."

Mr. Rowe glanced between them. Then he turned back to the paper. "'Dear Travis, I was a horrible mother-"

Travis made a sound, but Mr. Rowe barely paused, "'-- I know that now. You were right to leave. If I could turn back time, then maybe things would have been different, but probably not. I am a weak person. I have problems. And I treated you terribly. I'm sorry, Travis. It's too little, too late, but I'm sorry.'"

Mr. Rowe paused and looked up at Travis. Josie looked over at him, too. "Let's just get this over with," Travis stated.

The lawyer turned back to the letter. "'After you left, things got bad for me, real bad. Worse than anyone could possibly imagine, but I do not wish for you to feel guilty about that. It wasn't because of you. It was me. I was close to giving up before you claimed your independence, and I was glad you weren't there to see me fall so far.'

"'At the time of this letter, I have been clean and sober for one year, five months, and thirteen days. I remember the exact moment my life turned around. It was the day I learned I had a grandson-'"

Travis jerked. "What? She knew about Tristan?"

Mr. Rowe smiled. "Please...let me continue, and then you can ask me all the questions you wish." He searched for his place in the letter again. "'I didn't completely erase you from my life. I've known where you've been and what you've been doing for a long time. But I also knew that I could not be a part of your life anymore. I would have only hurt you more. Mr. Rowe will now give you the proof that I've always loved you, in my own way.'"