Sapphire (Steele Investigations) (10 page)

“I know how important I am to you Mom.  And I hope Daddy
would be proud because all my life all I’ve ever strived to do is make you both
proud.  I’m relieved to know I’ve succeeded.” I smile at her and then turn my
smile to Michael who gives me a sincere smile back.

“So Michael and I have done some research and well..here it
is.  It’s best if you just look and then we can explain”. She says hurriedly,
almost like she’s scared of my reaction. 
What could it be that’s got her so
nervous?

 I open the card first. It’s attached to a package about the
size of a piece of printing paper.

Dear Lorraine,

Wishing you a very Happy 22
^nd
Birthday.

We hope you have a lovely day Darling.

We’re so proud of you.

 It’s time to make your dreams come true,

Never settle for anything that doesn’t have your whole
heart.

Lots of Love always,

Mom, Michael and of course, your loving Daddy. Xx

Tears stream down my face as I read her card.  I’m still
none the wiser to her gift but I quickly swipe the tears away and give my Mom a
sad smile. “Thanks Mom,” I say softly.  She nods back at me but she appears
fidgety.  I turn my attention back to the package and open it up, totally
unsure of what it could be.  I find a black folder.
Hmm okay? 
 I open
the cover of the folder which is filled with clear plastic sleeves.  The first
plastic sleeve holds a printed out piece of paper which reads Happy Birthday
Lorraine, Love Mom, Michael and Dad.  It has assorted balloons and presents
surrounding the page and looks bright and cheerful.  I turn the page and it’s a
print out of a vacant store front that Kami and I were extremely interested
in.  In fact we were so disappointed when we learned of the price they wanted,
which was so exorbitant that we couldn’t justify the expense no matter which
way we looked at it, and believe me when I say we looked at it every which way
we could!  I flip through the rest of the sleeves and they are pictures taken
from different angles of the shop space, including the kitchenette and bathroom
in the back.  As I flip through, I see another print out with information on
it, and discover it’s the details of a company Mom and Michael have paid to
meet with Kami and I so one of their consultants can design our logo and market
our business. 

“Wow,” I manage to finally get out.

“Now, before you say anything more, just hear me out okay?” I
nod and she takes a deep breath and continues, “When your father and I were
thinking about having children we shared our views on all sorts of things,
including how we wanted to raise them, what discipline we thought was okay and
our ideals for our future family.  When you were born, we discussed things that
were relevant to
you
and how we wanted to raise
you
.  As you
would expect, some of our views had changed because all of a sudden you weren’t
just some pre-conceived notion; you were a real live baby, but others remained
the same.  We both wanted our little girl to have a happy home with parents who
loved her, we wanted you to have good manners and be polite and generous.  We
chose time out instead of physical discipline, we wanted to support you in any
endeavor you chose, so long as it was safe and made you happy.  Your father and
I also talked about what would happen if one of us was to pass before you were
an adult.  It was hard to talk about, because neither of us wanted to entertain
the idea but seeing as death is mostly out of control we thought it was best to
be prepared.  We both agreed that in the event of one of us passing before you
were adult, that any financials, such as life insurance policies, investments
and savings et cetera would be used to raise you and ensure you attended a good
school and college.  Any monies left over would then be used to fund your
dreams of a future career, or in any way you wanted to use it, as long as it
wasn’t for anything illegal or detrimental to your health,” my Mother laughed a
little during the last part and I knew my Father had stipulated that condition.

“So Darling, Michael and I have paid for the artist to work
with you and Kami to design the logo for your shop and also for a Marketing
Consultant to work with you in that regard – that is your birthday present from
us.  The artist and marketing person both work for the same company – it’s an
all in one type of business.” She explains, waving her hand flippantly.  “To
purchase the shop, we used the money from investments your Father made. 
Lorraine, I would like you to accept the store as a gift from you father.  I
know he would be incredibly excited and if he were here, I have no doubt he
would have purchased it for you and Kami himself.”

I sat there stunned at her admission.  I mean of course I
knew that Dad would have wanted my future to be taken care of, but for Mom to
go ahead and do something like this for me.  Well I was so overwhelmed. 
Nothing could have made me happier in that moment, save for my Father being
alive to give me his gift himself.  Tears were streaming down my face as I
launched myself into my Mom’s arms and hugged her fiercely.

“Mom, thank you so much. I miss daddy every day and now
every time I see the store, I’ll be reminded of what he gave to me, even though
he isn’t here anymore.  This is the most thoughtful gift I have ever received
Mom.  Thank you again.” I sob into her shoulder as I try to convey just how
much this gift means to me.  She strokes my back and murmurs soothing words to
calm me.

Finally I turn and embrace Michael, which I think shocks him
a little but if it does he recovers quickly and wraps his firm arms around me. 
He leans down and says quietly in my ear, “Your Mother is right Lorraine.  Your
Father would be incredibly proud of the woman you have become.  I know this
because
I
am proud.  You know I don’t have any children Lorraine, but
I’d love it if you’d let me class you as my daughter”  He squeezes me tighter
and releases me.  I look up into his shining with unshed tears and I nod my
head, “I’d like that too,” I say hoarsely.

I sit back down and Mom hands me another envelope.  “I
thought you might be a little upset with the gift because you might feel as though
you didn’t purchase it yourself or whatever, but, the merchandise is going to
cost a boatload on its own, plus all the other expenses, such as painting and
the renovations and all the rest, so you will have still worked hard and earned
it by the time you’ve got it all set up. Okay?” I nod my head. 

“I don’t feel that way at all Mom. I’m so happy to have this
gift from Daddy and you both.  My heart feels like it’s going to burst.  And to
be honest, now that we don’t have to worry about purchasing a building, we can
use those funds to make our dreams for inside the store a reality.  Everything
we only dreamed of having, we’ll now be able to have.”  Kami is nodding her
head and clapping her hands as she wipes tears from her face.

“Yes, that’s true.  You both can now focus on all the other
aspects of creating your dream store.  In that envelope,” she points to my
hands.  I’d forgotten about it, what with all the talk of our shop!  I open the
envelope and a piece of A4 paper and a non-descript key falls into my lap.  I
pick up the paper and see a list of words with corresponding numbers and a
total at the bottom.

 “That is now yours, it’s the leftover money I spoke about
from before.  It’s all yours to do with as you please.  Leave it for your
future, buy a house, invest, fund the store, go on a holiday.  Whatever you
chose to do with it, you can.  I know Seb left you some money when he passed as
well, so I know you don’t
need
it, but it is yours to do with as you
please.”  I look at the total
$2.7 million.
Holy Jesus. 
Two
point seven million dollars!!!!  Oh.My.God.  Omigodomigod

“Holy fuck,” I whisper.

I hear Mom suck in a breath, clearly shocked because I don’t
think I have ever cussed in front of her before, and I think I hear Michael
suppress a chuckle at my crassness.

“Some of that money also comes from a trust fund I didn’t
know about until recently.  Your Father had been estranged from his parents for
most of his adult life, however, they always sent you gifts and I always sent
them photographs of you as you grew.  Your Father didn’t like me sending them
updates about you, but I told him they deserved to know their grandchild in
some respect.  He forbade me from letting you contact them.  Instead, I showed
you pictures, do you remember the album?” I nod, as I recall an album my Mother
used to show me of Grandpa Win and Grandma Stella.

“I thought they had passed and that’s why you showed me
their pictures?”

“No, darling.  Like I said, your Father forbade contact
between you and them.  I always passed on the gifts they sent to you though. 
Your Grandparents passed away the year you turned eleven.  It was not until a
month ago that their lawyer contacted me and asked for a meeting.  I took
Michael along with me and the lawyer, Mr. Barclay, explained that because you
had reached the age of twenty one and you were two months from graduating
college, as per the requirements of your inheritance, he could now contact me
to start the proceedings of releasing your inheritance fund from your
grandparents.  He also told me that the key is for a safety deposit box which
holds, among other things, a letter that your grandparents wrote for you”.

I’m so overwhelmed I don’t know what to say.  I’m sad that I
never got to meet my grandparents, I’m confused as all hell as to what could
have caused my Fathers estrangement from them, I’m honored that they thought to
leave me an inheritance despite never meeting me.  Mostly I’m just shell
shocked.  I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to do.  Nobody says a
word as I sit and try to process all the information that was just handed to
me.  I knew my father had money, mostly because we lived in an affluent, gated
estate in a mansion and I never went without anything, even after he passed, my
Mother made sure to cater to my every whim without turning me into a spoilt
brat.  I’ve always known the importance of money and have tried to budget and
limit myself.  For example, the shoes Kami bought me for my birthday.  They
cost over a thousand dollars, and I very easily could have spent some of the
money Seb gave me by purchasing them, however, like anything I want that is not
a necessity, I make myself save for it.  I have no idea why I am like this but
I am. 

Despite my confusion over everything that has transpired in
the last hour and a half, I know one thing for certain; I will be opening that
safety deposit box.  Hopefully my grandparents will have some answers for me.

“I don’t really know what to say.  I’m flabbergasted.  I
guess I…well I’m sad that I never got to meet my grandparents and I’m humbled
that they cared enough about me, despite never meeting me, that they would
ensure my future is financially secure.  I don’t even know where to begin.  I
guess I just need time to process everything and then move forward… Mom? I
think I’ll go next week sometime and open the safety deposit box.  Are you okay
with that? Is this going to stir up old wounds or anything?  Above all else I
don’t want to hurt you”.

Tears fill my beautiful mothers’ eyes as she smiles sadly
and tells me, “Darling, I want you to do whatever you need to do.  I don’t want
this to weigh you down or make you sad.  I want you to see this for what it is;
a Father, a Grandmother and a Grandfather taking care of the most important girl
in their lives - even if they aren’t here to do it themselves.  This is what
they wanted.  They wanted you to be happy, to be financially secure and to be
able to make your wildest dreams a reality.  That would bring them peace,
wherever they are, to know that they played some small part in your
happiness”. 

I lean over to hug my Mom again, as Kami brings in a tray
with fresh glasses of Sweet Tea.  I didn’t even realize that she had left the
room, but I’m grateful she’s here. 

Mom and Michael stay for an hour or so before they take
their leave. “Have a good birthday darling.  I know you’re overwhelmed about
everything, but please, don’t let it weigh you down okay.”  She gives me a
tight squeeze, and lets me go to hug Kami, while Michael hugs me and wishes me
a happy birthday again.  I thank him again for the generous birthday present
and Kami and I wave them goodbye.

“Righto Chicky, I know you’re confused as all Hell and
you’ve got a lot of shit going around in that pretty little head of yours, but
it’s your birthday and we are celebrating, okay?”

“Okay” I smile, and then burst out laughing at the shocked
expression on her face.  Clearly she was expecting a little resistance from me.

“What Kami? Are you surprised I agreed?  Would you like me
to put up a fight and whine a little bit?”

“God no!  I’m just a little shocked that you agreed straight
of the bat.”

“I just don’t want to think about all that at the moment.”

She gives me a hug and slaps my ass as she tells me to get
changed and ready for Deuce.

I squeal as I make my way down the hall to my bedroom, and I
can hear Kami giggling as she goes to her own room.

I feel a little bit sad that I still haven’t heard from
Elliott yet, though part of me understands.  He did tell me that first morning
after we got together, which was only three weeks ago but sometimes feels like
a lifetime ago, that he didn’t do the hearts and flowers thing.  It was the
main reason I didn’t tell him my birthday was today.  However I thought he
would have at least wished me a Happy Birthday or something.  I have
contemplated calling him all day just to make sure he’s not pissed at me, which
I
know
he has no reason to be, but the way he left this morning, I can’t
help feeling as though I’ve done something wrong, nevertheless I decide not to,
telling myself that he might be doing an important job that may or may not be
undercover and his cell phone ringing might alert the bad guys to his position
and then he would get hurt and I would feel guilty.  That’s my story and I’m
sticking to it.