Page 7 of Taurus

Chapter three

Parker

Wespenttheremainder of the day apart, completely ignoring the fact we are in the same house, with the same memories coursing between us in the air.

But now, with my grandfather’s attorney, Mr. Lawson, sitting across from us at the dining room table, it’s hard to ignore the feeling of Austin’s warm arm nearly touching mine.

“Why are you even sitting in here?” I whisper over to him while Mr. Lawson thumbs through his briefcase for something. “This has nothing to do with you.”

He sighs heavily and leans closer to me, which obviously wafts his incredible scent right into my nose. Fresh rain, a bit of mint, and teakwood mixed with the sweat of someone who’s been in the sun all day. It’s intoxicating.

“I saw Lee outside when he pulled up. He told me I needed to hear a few things too. Like it or not, Park, we are both involved here.”

I don’t get to reply though, because before I can, Mr. Lawson clears his throat.

“I’m sorry that we have to meet formally this way, Ms. Scott,” the attorney says as he lays a folder on the table.

“So am I,” I respond, “But I know Pop trusted you with everything in his life. I’m glad you have been here to help, and please, call me Parker.”

“Very well, Parker,” he flips open the folder then looks up to Austin, “and how have you been, Austin? I heard you’d decided to shut down the winery to the public for a while?”

“Yes, just until we have a better idea on what is happening with everything on the legal, ownership end.”

I decide it’s best not to argue at the moment, because we both already know I’m now the owner of the property and business as a whole. I just need to find out all the logistics and at that point, we can discuss the next step.

“And emotionally? I know Warren was your dear friend.”

“He was like a father to me,” Austin says, then looks over at me, “to us both.”

“You have my deepest condolences,” Mr. Lawson says before taking a breath and lifting the papers from the folder. “I’ll make this fast so we don’t need to linger on this any longer than necessary.”

I take a deep breath and listen as he gives us a brief summary of my grandfather’s wishes for his remains. He wanted to be cremated and didn’t want a service. In his words, “There’s no use crying over me. If I’m gone, know I lived a happy life.” He simply wanted to be returned to the vineyard and spread into the wind.

“I’ve been in touch with the mortuary and they’ve stated his ashes will be delivered here within a week or two.”

A knot forms in my throat that I have to swallow down. This makes it all too real. A have my hands folded in my lap, twisting the ring I wear on my middle finger around and around. Pop gave this to me before I left. I seldom take it off, and now… I doubt I ever will unless I have to.

“Thank you for facilitating all of that. I tried to get here as quickly as I could. I’m happy he had friends here to help.”

“We made sure he was respected and what he wanted to happen, happened,” Austin tells me without even breaking the intense eye contact he’s making with the dark, wooden table.

When I received the call from Mr. Lawson that my grandfather had passed away, to say I was shocked would be the understatement of the century.

Apparently, he’d been sick for a while and didn’t want to worry me with it. Sadness then bled into anger and confusion. I felt blindsided, betrayed, pissed off at the world I didn’t get the chance to prepare or to even say goodbye.

That will haunt me for the rest of my life and I’m angry at him for that.

“All right,” Mr. Lawson says as he straightens his back. “Let’s read this, shall we?”

I sneak a peek over at Austin and catch him doing the same to me.

“We’re ready,” he answers for the both of us.

“Very well. I’m going to read this document as it is written, verbatim, and if you have any questions, we’ll discuss them afterward.”

We both nod and listen as he begins.

“I, Warren Scott, being of full age and sound mind and memory, do make, publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and annulling any and all Last Will and Testaments or Codicils at any time heretofore made by me.

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