These Games We Play

Chapter Four: The Will

I stayed out back a few minutes longer. I didn't want to go back inside and instead wanted to stay in this little bubble. Nothing felt real and tomorrow I'd go back to Connecticut, a little richer, hopefully, and with a story to tell. I'd probably never see any of the Hawthornes again which for some reason I seemed be upset about that. I still wanted to get to know Nan and I wanted to hear about the secret passages. I wanted to meet Nash and I wanted to see if Grayson really did have a sense of humour. I wanted to have a view like this forever and I wanted to solve more of Jamesons riddles. I wanted Pip, Cam, Lia and I to have a life like this one day. I wanted my mum to see how far her angel had come. I wanted so much that I couldn't have. So I let myself play pretend for a few more minutes before I walked inside and left the idea of the Hawthornes behind. Letting them become a memory and a part of my story for when I was drunk at parties.

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By the time I returned to the Great Room, Jameson Hawthorne had miraculously managed to find a shirt-and a suit jacket. He smiled in my direction and gave a little salute. Which I mirrored before I sat down in the nearest seat. The same as many of the other members present had. Beside Jameson, Grayson stiffened, his jaw muscles tensing.

"Now that everyone is here," one of the lawyers said, "let's get started." As he spook thoes still standing sat down and I looked up at the three lawyers who stood in a triangle formation. The one who'd spoken shared Alisa's dark hair, brown skin, and self-assured expression. I assumed he was the Ortega in McNamara, Ortega, and Jones. The other two- presumably Jones and McNamara-stood to either side. Since when does it take four lawyers to read a will? I thought.

"You are here," Mr. Ortega said, projecting his voice to the corners of the room, "to hear the last will and testament of Tobias Tattersall Hawthorne. Per Mr. Hawthorne's instructions, my colleagues will now distribute letters he has left for each of you." The other men began to make the rounds of the room, handing out envelopes one by one.

"You may open these letters when the reading is concluded." I was handed an envelope. My full name was written in calligraphy on the front. I wished Cam, Lia and Pip were here holding my hand like they had been at the last will reading I went to but instead it was just me.

"Mr. Hawthorne stipulated that all of the following individuals must be physically present for the reading of this will: Skye Hawthorne, Zara Hawthorne-Calligaris, Nash Hawthorne, Grayson Hawthorne, Jameson Hawthorne, Alexander Hawthorne, and Ms. Evangeline Kimberly Radways of New Castle, Connecticut." I twisted my bracelet with my hand, praying my anxiety would calm down.

"Since you are all here," Mr. Ortega continued, "we may begin."

"I, Tobias Tattersall Hawthorne," Mr. Ortega read, "being of sound body and mind, decree that my worldly possessions, including all monetary and physical assets, be disposed of as follows. "To Andrew and Lottie Laughlin, for years of loyal service, I bequeath a sum of one hundred thousand dollars apiece, with lifelong, rent-free tenancy granted in Wayback Cottage, located on the western border of my Texas estate." The older couple I'd seen earlier leaned into each other. With that amount of money, I could do so much I was trying to remember how to breathe.

"To John Oren, head of my security detail, who has saved my life more times and in more ways than I can count, I leave the contents of my toolbox, held currently in the offices of McNamara, Ortega, and Jones, as well as a sum of three hundred thousand dollars." These people mattered to Tobias Hawthorne. He had known them for so long and to him I was nothing.

"To my mother-in-law, Pearl O'Day, I leave an annuity of one hundred thousand dollars a year, plus a trust for medical expenses as set forth in the appendix. All jewellery belonging to my late wife, Alice O'Day Hawthorne, shall pass to her mother upon my death, to be distributed as she sees fit upon hers." Nan harrumphed. "Don't you go getting any ideas," she ordered the room at large. "I'm going to outlive you all." Mr. Ortega smiled, but then that smile faltered.