Page 1 of Falling for the Enemy

1

Amber

Iwaited in the lawyer’s office, hands clasped in my lap, knowing that whatever was going to be said, didn’t matter. My favorite grandmother had finally passed, and I was there, waiting to hear her will being read. I hated all of this. I didn’t want to be there. Waiting for someone to die to get their stuff was hard to understand. I don’t know why people thought it was normal.

My brother was sitting next to me, his eyes repeatedly looking to the door where the lawyer had gone in. He would be out in a minute and then we would know who got what. I was forced to come, promised my mother that I would go and not ‘show my ass’ as she put it. Josh and I didn’t get along. Never had and probably never would. I tried to say hello to him when he came in, but he just blew me off and started flicking a pen he had in his hand.

That sound was starting to grate on my nerves. All of the grandkids were there, six in all and that was it. The kids didn’t expect anything, so they hadn’t been called to the meeting. I didn’t see what the point of all of this was. It was a big show for nothing as far as I could see.

The lawyer came out, an apologetic smile on his ruddy face. “Sorry to keep you all waiting. I wanted to get everything together, so that I can answer all your questions at once.”

A few mumbled hellos and it was me who didn’t say anything. Even Josh said that there was nothing to worry about and he stood up in the chair. I looked at them all like they were vultures. Grandma Shirley knew how weird I felt about death and wills. I didn’t like the idea of her starting one as well, like she was dragging me here from the grave.

The lawyer started reading off the technical parts of the will and I managed to tune him out. I tried not to focus on what nonsense it all was, but I knew that it was hard not to. It was all I could think about, besides the stuffiness of the room and how badly I wanted to be out of it.

I heard my name and noticed that everyone was looking at me. I had no idea why and I asked, sitting up in the seat.

“She is probably stoned,” Josh accused. I gave him a dirty look and said that it was likely because I had to be around him. “What is it?”

“Your grandmother left you her house.”

The lawyer said it calmly and I didn’t know what to say.

“Like split between everyone?” I didn’t quite know what was being said. He informed me that it was all to go to me.

“So then why did you drag us all here?” I didn’t understand what was happening and neither did my cousins.

“Well, your grandmother has left a substantial pile of money for each of you.”

I just shook my head in response. Of course, she would make it where I had to deal with all of it.

“Oh.” I didn’t know what to say.

“Well, is that all?” I was ready to get up and leave. The lawyer said that was pretty much it, but I had to stay back and sign some paperwork. Everyone else had a check to pick up and sign for and then they were off on their merry way. I had to wait and sign something else.

As soon as everyone was gone, the lawyer told me about the stipulations.

“What stipulations? There weren’t any for anyone else.” I had noticed that I was being held back, but no one else was. Was that by design?

He went to his desk and pulled out more paperwork. His whole office was flooded with it, and I didn’t know how he could manage not to send it all careening off the tables. It looked like one false move like in Jenga, it was all going to come tumbling down.

“Yes, here it is.” His eyes met mine for a moment and he started to read. “You are not allowed to sell the house for at least five years. If you want to sell it at all, you must live in it for at least a year, and I quote your grandmother now, find all of her secrets.”

Johnson looked at me and I didn’t know what to say. Grandma was a force of nature, went through hell and came out on top. She was simple and didn’t say much, but when she spoke, people stopped to listen. I had loved all her stories and could imagine that there were more to discover.

It was a lot though, the idea that I was going to pick everything up and move to Delton, Ohio. It was beautiful country, mountains and valleys, trees of all colors. It had been a treat to go visit every summer, but now I didn’t know what to think or how to feel. I wanted to believe that there was something to this force of my hand, there always was with her. What did it mean?

I thanked the lawyer after he answered a few of my questions and I went back to the parking lot. The rest of the family had said something about meeting at a local Chinese buffet to talk it all over. I didn’t want to go. I felt like an outsider, even now. This should be the time where we all came together, but all I could think about and wonder was why. Why had grandma done this? What did she think I was going to find or carry out living in her house? Did she think that it was what I needed? Failed marriage, failed career at a PR firm, maybe she was right. I did need a change, but could Delton, Ohio, really hold the key?

It seemed pretty unlikely.

2

Frank

Isaw a car in front of the neighbor’s house for the first time in a month, since the old woman was carted away in an ambulance. Since she was no longer next door, as this was some young redheaded woman, I knew that it probably meant that she was gone. It was a shame. Shirley was quick-witted, even till the end, and would make me something to eat every once and a while when she wanted something sweet but couldn’t have much. I was going to miss her, but I didn’t know if I was willing to go find out who was taking over her house. I waited for a For Sale sign to get tacked up in the front, but it never happened. Family must be moving in.

The woman was by herself and from the looks of the car, she was moving in for a time, maybe even permanently. There wasn’t much to her, and she was wearing several layers because of the cold. It felt good, the sun finally starting to warm us up, but she looked to be freezing. Part of me wanted to go help her, but instead, I kept my distance. I didn’t know why, but that woman looked like she was going to be trouble, and I was doing my best to stay away from all forms, even beautiful young forms that looked so damn innocent from afar.

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