The weather had changed. It was cold and raining with snow that melted when it hit the ground. A dark, low cloud sat immobile, enveloping the tops of the trees in its opaque fog. Though the wind was nearly constant, coming down from the north, the cloud did not budge, stuck as it were by the branches and trapped a thick mist between it and the earth below. The roadways were slippery and muddy. Birds huddled together silently in protected places to keep warm. Insects congregated closer together, forming dense clouds within the mist.
The lawyer had called the surviving members of Ross's family together to disclose the contents of Ross's will. The lawyer sat behind his desk with the will enclosed in a brown envelope in front of him. Five chairs were placed in a semi-circle in front of the desk. To the lawyer's right sat Mary with her two caregivers, as close together as possible, Mary in the middle with each of the caregivers on either side, locking their arms together affectionately. Mary had no idea why she was there. She was like a very young child and always happy with a cheerful smile. Mary's caregivers were close friends with each other and both loved Mary very much. Lisa sat to the lawyer's left. They were all waiting patiently for the arrival of Phillip who came storming in thirty-five minutes late, sat down in the empty chair, and bellowed out, "Get on with it," ignoring the others and not responding to any verbal greetings.
The lawyer opened the envelope and said, "The will follows the usual format and I will get straight to the section regarding the distribution of Ross Mayer's wealth. I will read this section aloud and then explain in plain language. Any of you may have a copy if you wish for your own reference and the original document will continue to be kept in my safe."
All eyes were on him as he read, except Mary's and she was looking at a realistic oil painting on the opposite wall to her of many sparrows amongst thick tree branches. When the lawyer was done reading, he placed the will before him and paraphrased, "The Will left all Ross's wealth to Michael with funds set aside for the purpose of maintaining Mary in the conditions she is used to. If, in the event Michael died, the estate would be held in trust for any of Michael's children then living, or born within nine months, and the trustees of the estate would be Phillip, Lisa and myself. If Michael has no children, Phillip will inherit the estate and be responsible for his mother's care as long as she is alive. Are there any questions?"
"So it's all mine, as it should have been all along," Phillip said, "As family tradition dictates."
"Did Michael have a will?" Lisa asked.
"No," the lawyer replied, "He had an appointment with me next week to draw one up."
"I'm pregnant," Lisa announced. Lisa was looking at the lawyer when she said this and the lawyer was surprised and smiled. Phillip was looking at Lisa with hatred. It flashed through her mind with a sort of regret that there had been no need to kill Michael but not a regret that included missing the husband she once made believe she loved.
"Congratulations," the lawyer said.
"I'm almost three months along," Lisa said. Even though she didn't look at Phillip, she could feel his evil intentions. "At what age would my child be old enough to take over the estate?" she asked.
"At eighteen," the lawyer replied.
Lisa made a quick decision and said, "Until my child is born, I am going away with my mother to a better climate, so that I can ensure my pregnancy comes to term." Lisa knew that she could not trust Phillip under these circumstances. Her life may be in danger and also that of her child.
After the meeting was over and Lisa had gone home, she was in the kitchen when Phillip charged in. Her mother was resting in her own room.
"That child is mine," Phillip shouted. Lisa did not point out the flaw in his math. She was also quite sure that a DNA test would confirm that the father of her baby was Michael and not Phillip, though being brothers their different DNA would have much in common, there would also be differences. She thought all this in an instant between words as Phillip continued immediately, "And I don't want it. I have never wanted children." He banged his fist so forcefully on the table that it jumped. Lisa's mother heard that and it frightened her. She left her room silently and stood in the hallway door behind Phillip without his being aware of her. Lisa saw her and saw that she also had a small pistol in her right hand which Lisa never knew her mother even had.
