Lover in the Window

A House Divided

July, 25th, 2020.

New Falls around one o' clock is a busy place, and it was no surprise that even the lawyers at Woolum & Stewart are just as busy. Evelyn and Eli drive down to facilitate their inheritance officially. However, in order to do that there is one condition. They must be together in the same room, so that Mr. Dean Stewart can speak to both parties directly. Tracy had already let them know that she did not want them to sell the house for up least ten years. Understandable, considering the amount of money she has in her savings and the fact that the poor woman never spent half of her salary each year for the last decade of running the restaurant. In summary, there was not a large financial gain worth the money in selling her house, selling the memories, the safety, and the opportunities that come with stability. That is all Tracy worried about was her children.

The good news today is that most people waiting this afternoon only come for a quote. Soon enough Eli and Evelyn get ushered into a nice office. There awaiting is Mr. Dean Stewart behind his desk. He has thick A-frame glasses, and a casual white-collar shirt. Eli guesses he's wearing Khakis too.

"Thank you, guys, for being here," the lawyer did not even look up from his paperwork in his hands. "Okay, let us see. Eli Layton & Evelyn Layton?"

"Yes, Sir." Eli looks around the room, discovering all the books - the burning Yankee Candles - the little soccer trophies. Probably his sons.

"Your mother was straightforward and frankly simple with how she wanted to go forth with this. So, I'll just read the bullet points and have you sign a couple papers for me."

"Sounds good," Eve says nervously. "It's as simple as that?"

"That's pretty much it," says Mr. Dean Stewart. "And for formality, I'll address you both as the children and your mother as Tracy."

"Okay," Eve wiggles in her leather chair.

"Tracy has willed that both children will split equally her savings endeavors, which as we have it on record here will sum up to around 1,232,500 to each child."

"Oh my god," Eli says. "Are you sure?"

The lawyer just stares up from his giant glasses and grins through a perfect roll of white teeth, "I am certain."

Evelyn and Eli trade looks, "Well we knew mom had money but to hear you confirm that much is just mind-blowing. She hardly ever spent a dime unless necessary."

"I guarantee it," says the lawyer with a nod. "Now... concerning the land and house addressed at 217 Clover Lake Road, New Falls, Mo, 65213. It is at Tracy's request that the house not be sold within ten years. The land, also not to be sold within ten years. We have the amount of land at 4.2 acres."

The lawyer peers over his papers once again - flipping them forward and backward. "What would you want to do with the restaurant - T.E.E.'s?" He asks. 

"Well, we talked about it on the way here. I think we want to sell it. I know mom mentioned it to you?"

"She did." Says Dean. "I want to advise you on selling it. I know Tracy loved that place. But if you do sell it, I know people  that may be interested."

"Okay," Eve says with a nervous bite. 

Dean flips to another page, "Tracy's personal effects will be divided among the children however they decide."

There is a long pause that ensues and for no apparent reason that Eve and Eli could deduce, the lawyer begins laughing. "I know this may surprise you, but your mother actually left a little gift for her ex-husband as well." Eve and Eli look at each other with confusion, Eli shrugs and turns back to the lawyer.

"I really don't understand?" Eve stands up and begins to walk toward the door.

"H-h-hold on." Dean throws his hand up toward her motioning for her to sit back down. "You'll get a kick out of this, I sure did."

Eve looks at him, her eyebrows shrug with her glabellar lines squeezing, she turns around and sit back down next to Eli. "Okay, so what is it, what could mom possible leave to that scum that anyone would be happy about?"

Dean turns to a black filing cabinet directly behind him and pulls out a black folder, there are pink heart-shaped stickers along the bottom, and some visible words written in white across the top in Tracy's handwriting, To: Rory Layton, From: Your loving Ex-wife. He places the folder onto his bulky wooden desk.

"I'm confused" Eli now at the edge of his seat trying to peak closely at the folder for some hint to what is inside.

"Let me start by saying that I've been in this business for many years, and I have never seen anything like it" A grin comes across Deans face "Your mother has quite a sense of humor, it may come as a shock, but just stay with me." He reaches the folder across the desk to Eve.

Eve takes a deep breath and opens the folder, inside in a 5 x 7 picture of Tracy, she is bent over a couch - wearing nothing but a red laced thong - her face is scratched out - and to the side of her left butt cheek is her middle finger facing the camera. "Holy fuck, ma. Who knew she was hiding this under those blue jeans?" Eve laughs as Eli places his hand over the picture and slaps it down. "Eve, that is not proper, put that away. I do not want to see my mother's ass!" Eli shook his head. "What was she thinking?"

Dean begins to smirk ear to ear, "That is not the best part, flip it over." he rolls his fingers toward the picture in a circular motion.

Eve flips the picture over, on the back of the picture there are words written with a glittery red gel pen, 'So you can kiss my ass, one last time'

"Oh shit." Eve's jaw drops. "That is the best thing I have ever seen in my life." Eve looks at Eli, who is laughing hysterical, his eyes are watering and he is turning red in the face, she loses it and begins laughing alongside him and Dean.

"That is my momma" Eli manages to say through his laughter. "Damn, even after her death she still has jokes."

"We will damn sure pass that along to him" Eve says as she closes the folder and places it in her purse.

"So, why did you give it to us?" Eli begins standing. "Why not directly to Rory himself. He was in town for the funeral?"

The lawyer stacks a tower of folders on his desk, "We was not able to reach him. This tends to happen from time to time."

With that, Eli and Eve exit the office onto the sidewalk.

"It's such an odd thing. Don't you think?" Eli suggest while looking across the street - up to the tall building tops - back toward Eve who has her phone up. "What's that?"

"In what world does Dad not come looking for a hand out?" Eli adds. "He was in town - I'm positive if he had a chance to get some money, he definitely would."

"Well - that's easy! You think he thinks mom left him money? That big fuck knows not to bother."

"That's true. I just over think things sometimes." Eli and Eve begin walking down the street to the car. "I'm sorry if I scared you at the funeral."

Eve looks over at him and blinks wildly." You saved me. Don't ever be sorry for that. "