No Better Heaven Than You.

Fireworks

J U L Y 4th

A I R I O A N NA•

"How...have you been?" Stepping across the threshold of the front door, I noted that the house was empty and nearly stripped of everything. Only four plates, forks, bowls, spoons and cups remained in the kitchen. No family portraits covered the walls, and all the beds had been moved to the new home. All her earlier comments about not being able to afford this current house, swirled in my mind as I sat with her at the kitchen table. Yet all she had to ask me was...how I had been.

"I've been surviving and you?" I looked everywhere but her, that is until she called my name and asked for my attention.

"You're welcome to come back home. We haven't even touched touched your room, since everything that happened." Glancing up the steps, I noted my door had been left untouched like she said. But I wasn't here to talk about that. I didn't know if I should ask about moving in with Tray, or if our relationship was even ready for all of that. I know we had known one another for over a decade as best friends and dated for a year now. But that was still such a massive leap.

"I appreciate it but, I'd like to know why you made such an ordeal about money, worked all those late hours and asked me for help when you had the money all along? When we had the money?" The chair she sat in creaked, as she sat back with a remorseful yet bittersweet look.

"It's not that I made an ordeal about it, but what woman doesn't want her own? Her own money? I needed that, and I needed to be away. It is true, your father is very wealthy. But he wanted to live humble, he wanted us to live humble. We didn't struggle by any means, but he still wanted to show his children what hard-" Cutting her off, I gripped the coffee cup I was holding tightly. I was expecting it to burst into pieces from how hard I gripped it. I hadn't been home in weeks, or hardly even talked to anyone.

Not even Damon.

For awhile I just couldn't personally deal with being around anyone, especially my family. Seeing Damon was the hardest, because he was like a walking mirror of the face of the man I once had the pleasure of knowing and speaking to. Today was July fourth, and up until now I just spent my time with Tray, my friends when I had to and going to school. I was close to finishing with my associates degree now, and my very own Mother probably had not a clue in sight of the accomplishments I've achieved.

"Did he leave anything behind? Like to us? How is this all being split up." She leaned forward, taking a slow drawn out sip from her tea before answering me. I felt like she was toying with me almost, and it sent a flame right under my belly. I was pissed, but remaining civil. This was my mother for Christ's sakes.

"Your father had a share of a total of $65.3 million dollars. There's four of you, including me so, do the math after your brother and sister." The chair she sat in scrapped against the wooden floors of our home, as she abruptly stood and went upstairs. I didn't know why, and I didn't care. I was sitting in a damn near empty house, and my life felt like a twisted mess. But I did do the math.

$65.3mil-4?

Equaled to 61.3 million accounted to us each.

"Here." Flinching when she slammed a stack of papers in front of me, I eyed the documents.

"Once you sign these, your account will be accessed and open. You'll still have to pay taxes like everyone else-"

"What do you get?" I blurted, watching her laugh softly to herself.

"Well after you kids get your share, except Ju because she's under 18, I'm left with about 60.3 million to myself. Airi, I'm going to stay here in Texas until Juliet finishes the 5th grade. After that I'm moving out the state, I don't know why here yet but you're more than welcome. Damon, Dana and yourself are more than set for life. You have your father to thank for that. But just because he's gone doesn't mean you have to be a stranger, or that this family has to fall apart." An awkward silence passed around us, as my eyes skimmed the papers before me. This was really real. I was really this rich?