The Birth (The Black Wing Book 1) (11 page)

T
roy is taller than I imagined. Gray lines filled over his natural black hair. His dark suit unsettled me, looking at him is intimidating enough. He swiftly walked in shouting at his earpiece about shipments and costs. He looks energetic, unbendable, and authoritative—just like Ms. Clarisse.

Behind him trotted his wife, whom Ms. Clarisse referred to as Diane the ‘money hungry shark’. She is clearly younger than Troy, by how many years—I don’t know. Her rolled up hair bun gave me the impression that she was in a hurry to get here. Diane’s small body walked gracefully, her small nose looks like it’s reaching for the ceiling. She called over their two children to hurry up and sit beside their dad. Ms. Clarisse’s grandchildren appear to be in their early teens. The oldest one wedged his eyes on the flashy holographic game console. He walked through the rows of seats without tripping. The other is a pretty girl who resembles Ms. Clarisse as a child. Her blonde curls bounced in adolescence. Unlike her brother, she’s on her cell phone texting without once glancing up, she found her seat without any regard of those around her.

I watched them from the corner of my eyes, Troy and his family look emotionless, and preoccupied on their devices. Diane pressed her hands together, smiling like everything was okay.

A few minutes later, Ana arrived. Her figure almost ran into the room, pulling along an eight years old boy that resisted her. Ana had Ms. Clarisse’s face, round with almond eyes, but her hair is brown, like her father. She didn’t take notice of anyone because she’s too busy yelling at her son. They disputed, he didn’t want to wait a week before he returns back to his father’s house. The eight year old drew his hand away from his mother, and sat on the floor screaming. Ana covered her ears and walked ahead of him, sitting behind Troy—on the family side. The eight year old boy eventually gave up and sniveled behind, his feet stomped on the floor in rebellion. When Ana asked him to sit beside her, he purposely sat two seats away.

Ms. Clarisse’s grandchildren wiggled away texting, they whined about how much more time they needed to wait. Ana’s son found jumping on the seats was much more fun because it made Ana angry. Troy resumed his conversations on his earpiece, and his wife smiled away, blankly staring around. It has been only a week since Ms. Clarisse was buried, and I have yet to see an ounce of sorrow on their faces.

“Look who decided to show up.” said Troy looking behind the room. “Why don’t you say hi to him, my dear wife?”

His wife looked behind and held a sour expression. She asked Troy why he was bringing up the past, but Troy ignored her, resuming his conversation with the earpiece. Ben walked in laughing up a storm on his cellphone. He took a glance at us and told the person on the other line he would call them back. He sat between beside Ana and wiggled his nephew’s hair—the 8 year old grumbled and slapped his uncle’s hand off.

“Well isn’t this a rare sight.” declared Troy. “My backstabbing brother is here.”

“Put a sock in it, you knew I’d be here.” he teased. “Hey Ana, where’s your husband?”

“Were getting a divorce.” she stammered. “I can’t believe you forgot! I told you a month ago.”

“Oh sorry—I forgot.” laughed Ben.

It’s clear that Ben is anything but a family man. His smile is lopsided, fake, and one that can only come with the pleasures of a luxurious life. Mr. Müller sighed, and fixed his glasses to better read the papers on the desk. I locked my eyes at him, I watched him drink a glass of water, and scratch his head. I can no longer stare at the rest. Finally, Mr. Müller greeted us, and introduced himself.

“As you all well know, I am the family lawyer of your recently deceased mother Clarisse Elliot Mable, and of your late father Austin Mable—”

“We know that already!” shouted Ben.

“Can we get this over with, I’m needed at the office.” marked Troy.

“I apologize. I’m aware of the valuable time you all have. For legal purposes, everything is being recorded, under these circumstances, I’m not authorized to cut time for anyone. Let’s continue where I left off shall we? Troy, can you please finish your call.”

With a whispering groan, Troy ended his conversation. Out of frustration, he shoved the device in his pocket.

“When this is finished, we will see if you’re competent enough to represent this family.” ended Troy.

Mr. Müller doesn’t seem bothered by his threat, he stacked his papers, and started where he left off.

“Thank you all for coming to the formal announcement of Clarisse Elliot Mable’s Will, testimony, estates, and trusts. This will also contain all of the assets of Austin Mable who passed his assets to his spouse. Now that Clarisse Elliot Mable is no longer with us, we will now commence the declaration. Upon Ms. Clarisse’s request, our guest on the left seat was specifically summoned to be present. She was her personal care taker in Gilia until her death this passing—”

“But she isn’t a family member!” snapped Troy’s wife. “What is my late mother-in law’s personal caretaker doing here—Troy?”

“I don’t care, let’s just get this done and over with, I have lot of work to do.” he replied.

The rest of the members didn’t lay an eye on me. I don’t exist, to them, it’s that easy. The lawyers behind Mr. Müller recorded the time, and had us sign documents stating that we’re present. When all the formality was done, Troy has lost his patience, Ana was growing another argument with her son, and Ben got in trouble for calling someone in secret. Troy’s teenagers pretended like they aren’t here, they dipped their heads down into their gadgets.

“I don’t know why Dad didn’t just hurry up and pass down his company to me, I’ve been running it since his retirement.” said Troy.

“That’s because Dad didn’t want you to take over.” said Ana. “Mom’s going to pass it to me, the women in her family pass everything to their daughters.”

“You’re wrong Ana, the only thing mom is going to pass are those old resorts.” laughed Ben. “Good luck managing all that business stuff, just give me my rightful share.”

Mr. Müller mentioned the cabin being my small share and that I would be first to be signed off the Will. He mentioned the cabin’s address in Washington State, and declared it under his power to be legally mine. Mr. Müller approached me with a warm smile.

“A month before her death, she hired a few contractors to do some repairs on the cabin. From now on, please take good care of it and keep Ms. Clarisse in your memories.”

He gave me a thick manila folder with a red print reading confidential. I looked at the folder with tears whelping in my eyes.

“One final note.” he added. “She wanted to give you this letter, you may open it now.”

My hands shook when I accepted the folded letter. I ripped it open, the letter read:

Child,

If there is life after death, I will return to the cabin and watch over you and your baby.

p.s. I know this of late notice, but I have been too embarrassed to say it until now, sorry for that slap.

Clarisse Elliot Mable

I covered my mouth, unsure if I should laugh or cry.

To my surprise the family gave no objection. Troy’s son chuckled while he rapidly pressed his thumbs on the keyboard.

“Isn’t that the place grandma tried to take us for vacation?” he said, speaking to himself.

His sister who didn’t bother looking at her brother replied with a quiet yes.

“I was afraid she was going to pass that old dusty cabin to Me.” added Ana. “I wouldn’t know what to do with it besides sell it.”

“That’s if you sell it, isn’t that cabin in the middle of nowhere?” said Troy’s wife. “Not many people can visit that region.”

“You’re right, looks like mom saved me the trouble.” replied Ana.

Troy and Ben didn’t say a word, they don’t care about an old abandoned cabin. They wanted to know who will inherit what: which company, how much, which land, which mansion, which shares, how much, how much, how much. I left my seat. This is as far as I can stay. I have to get some fresh air before I smack somebody. Mr. Müller noticed my urgency to leave, and stopped me. Turns out, everyone must be present until the entire Will has been heard.

“Please.” he emphasized.

I sat back in the chair and remained silent. What should be happening next is some personal stuff, I shouldn’t be allowed to stay. Mr. Müller continued, he read a document and pulled out another sheet of paper. His eyes followed the print under his glasses reading carefully what Ms. Clarisse has written. The silence grew impossible to bear. The mysterious row or lawyers stayed as motionless as manikins can get. They look young, freshly out of college, yet they maintain a frightening posture.

“Go on with it!” shouted Troy, growing impatient once again.

Mr. Müller reverted to apologizing.

“According to this statement, Ms. Clarisse has another request. There is a letter she wrote specifically for her family.”

“How long have we been waiting? Just hurry up!” whined Ben.

“Well then, it will be easier if I read it to you all at once.” said Mr. Müller holding a familiar pearly white envelope, sealed tightly with blue wax.

“Read it fast.” added Troy “The entire company is hanging on a cliff right now.”

Mr. Müller tore the sealed wax with his thumb and pulled out a creamy sheet. I looked over at Ms. Clarisse’s family, everyone pressed their eyes on the letter. Troy’s son and daughter turned off their gadgets, his wife kept her hands glued together. Ana perched up from her seat. Ben leaned forward to get a better listening.

A week before Ms. Clarisse died, she wrote obsessively. The staff said that on my days off, Mr. Müller pays her visits. All of this was done without my presence. I wasn’t allowed to be in the room when stopped by, and Ms. Clarisse herself told me I couldn’t read her letter. She said she didn’t want me to see her throw way her fortune to her ungrateful children. But who can blame a mom from worrying about their children’s future? No matter what they did, and how heavy her heart became, Ms. Clarisse still loved them. The time for her to fulfill that love is now, I want to see how far Ms. Clarisse’s love will go.

Mr. Müller cleared his throat.

“To my children: Ana, Troy, and Ben. If you are reading this, I have joined your father Austin. Through a video recording, you will be informed of the details of your inheritance. Please listen carefully, for these are my last words to you.”

Mr. Müller nodded at the other lawyers who brought the visual video. Mr. Müller sat beside the desk and took off his glasses. When the visual video projected a familiar face, my heart began to tear apart, it’s Ms. Clarisse. She looks tired, staring blankly at the camera. Then she opened her mouth and took a short breath, and started to speak.

“I am happy to finally be given a chance to say what is in my heart. I waited for a long time to be given this opportunity.”

Ms. Clarisse closed her eyes, and opened them. She smiled at us and began.

“To my children, Troy, Ana, and Ben. Let me first declare this. Your neglect has hurt me a great deal, I went to Gilia holding on to those promises you made. For too long I have begged for your time, I left you all messages year after year—not once seeing you or my grandchildren. I shouldn’t work so hard to convince you to visit me, but through these years, you made it so. I’m glad Austin is not here to see how you discarded me. My years in Gilia I spent alone, without the comfort, and warmth of the family your father worked so hard for. There is much I wanted to tell you, much I wanted you to know. While there is a time and place for everything, my time is now spent. Thank you for listening to this old woman’s rambling.

Now let’s begin the purpose of this meeting shall we? The first portion of the inheritance that you three shall receive—”

Ms. Clarisse coughed. Her eyes watered up as she tried to control her itching throat. I almost stood up from my seat to assist her, realizing she’s no longer here. The image of Ms. Clarisse reached for a glass of water and drank it to calm her nerves. Even with her makeup on, her ill health is visible on visual video. The suspension irritated Troy, he folded his arms and watched his mother in fury.

When Ms. Clarisse relaxed, she apologized for the interruption.

“Hurry up and tell us!” yelled Ben from the dark.

Ms. Clarisse scratched her head and looked up at the ceiling, searching in her old mind. She lost her train of thought and openly asked herself what she was talking about. Her hands finally clasped together.

“Now I remember—silly old me! About your inheritance…you will all receive absolutely nothing.”

Ms. Clarisse let her words sink by silently staring at the camcorder, implying to us that this is no joke.  Then she proceeded to speak.

“The company, money, land, stock market, all properties will not pass to any of our grandchildren much less your spouses. That inheritance you value so much—will no longer be in your control. If so, you’re probably wondering where the Mable fortune has gone. I know you’re desperate to know because money and property are the reasons why you’re even in attendance. You’re not here to see my face, nor are you interested in listening to what I had to say. But fear not my children.

You no longer have the right or responsibility to affiliate yourself with the company and assets of the Mable family. You may keep the money in your personal accounts, but you are hereby locked from all accounts within the States and out. The family trust funds has been transferred, changed, and is no longer accessible by you. I took it upon myself to donate my valuable belongings and some land to so many numerous non-profit organizations, that I lost count to name. Our family heirlooms went to museums, they were grateful and honored to take them.