Then he said, looking at Ken's family, "To Ken's family, he wanted me to say this so everyone will hear, To his wife, his son Julien, and to his daughter Shantel. He wanted me to let you know that he has left sufficient for you all to live for a year, but not at a lavish lifestyle."
Julien snapped, "Did Dad have to have the lawyer say these things in public to humiliate us?"
"I told you many times he was a fool," Joan replies to Julien's remarks.
When Shantel whispers," A fool that has business and property, Mom? He left you money to live for a year."
"He doesn't have anything, all his pension I used to collect it, and he had us living in this rundown apartment. That lawyer is more foolish than your father."
After the funeral service, every family member, including Shawney's nephews and nieces, received a letter and was invited to gather at KEN'S Restaurant in the town at five pm.
Shawney returned home after the funeral and only took a bath and changed. Feeling this tiredness, that suck the life out of her for the past week. She has been running to and fro between the hospital and the business.
Taking a taxi in town, curious to know what Uncle Ken had in mind. If I had a choice, I wouldn't be attending, but the letter said that if I am not there for the reading of the will, it will be rescheduled to a later date.
With Torren and the children coming, I might as well get this over and done with, seeing that they treat me as though I am contagious.
Recalling Uncle Ken's last few words to her before she left him at the hospital. He said, 'It was he who instructed Dad not to leave the others anything in his will.
Then I leave him alone with Uncle Thomas. He was right, they were always wanting and complaining about everything. Nothing I do for them seems to be good enough or sufficient. He used to say they would never change, and it is like those words are a curse to them.'
"Oh, loving God, and Father, I pray they will see the light, that change will take place. I don't know what to do for them anymore."
Just as Shawney thought, at the restaurant, even her own brothers and sisters stayed away from her as though she was contagious, or had some deadly plague. 'Well, I don't care anyway, I will return with Torren, and they could remain with their attitude and behaviour.'
When Uncle Thomas arrived, he instructed the management to invite us to follow him to the specially reserved dining room.
Seeing a table set in a private room, and waiters ready to take the orders. Uncle Thomas asked them to hurry and take their orders, giving them thirty minutes to comply, then dismissed them
Wanting to know why? From what Shawney guess, it sounds serious, but she never heard Uncle Thomas speak in such a serious tone. Recalling from what was said at the funeral, it seems as though Uncle has some money stashed away.'
Time flies quickly; everyone was curious about Uncle Thomas' behaviour. No one spoke, but their eyes never left me. I ignore them, knowing full well they all hate me and wish I would disappear from their sight.
When the meal arrived, I couldn't believe how huge the portion was. Looking at the portion on the plate, I took the first mouthful, but it felt like the food stuck in my throat, choking me.
With every eye on me like daggers, I tried my best, taking little and eating slowly, sipping water to help swallow.
Finally, I finished thinking, 'I haven't eaten this much food since the Valentine's dinner with Torren, but the food here was tasty enough, although my mouth had no taste whatsoever.' But I wasn't going to give them the victory.
When everyone finished eating, Uncle Thomas asked me to come and sit to his right-hand side.
Then he asks Julien, who seems very inquisitive, to see exactly what was on Shawney's hand. Thomas knew what he was thinking, so he opened his suitcase in front of him and invited Julian to move across to his left.
He then asks Sid to move over to where Shawney was sitting. Shawney couldn't help but wonder if he would catch the plague?' Smiling, Shawney notices them looking at her.
'They must be thinking I'm losing my mind, so just imagine if I start laughing, what they might think then?' Unable to stifle the chuckle, I bend my head so no one will see me smiling.
When Uncle Thomas opened his briefcase and gave me an envelope and Julien one. We both took it, holding it, he then said. "Okay, go ahead, you can open it."
Seeing how many deeds of properties and businesses, Shawney wasn't shocked, knowing that her Dad and Uncle Ken once told her their plan and how they planned to invest.
Flipping through it quickly, wondering why Uncle Thomas had given her all these deeds. What exactly was going on? Do I own all these businesses, seeing my name on all? Looking at Uncle Thomas
When Julien asks, "What is this, Uncle Thomas?"
Stopping Uncle Thomas, "One minute, Uncle Thomas, do you have a list of all the businesses Uncle own?"
"One minute, Shawney, why do you want that? He is my Dad." Julien belched out, his voice full of rage. Wanting to know what business it was of hers.
"Okay, you two, let me give you a list. Shawney, you hold this and here you go, Julien.