Woodlands

by Robin Jones Gunn

  “And exactly what is it I’m not making easy for you, Collin?”

  The grown-up, cosmopolitan part of Collin took over, and he opened his hands to her in an earnest appeal. “Leah, I want you to understand I approached this case originally as a lawyer approaching a client. However, now that we’ve had some time together, I feel more as if this is a friend-to-friend issue. I value your friendship more than I value the prospect of gaining a new client.”

  Leah didn’t want to play with the grown-up Collin. She wanted him to go back to being feisty, not engaging. “That’s what this is?” Leah challenged. “An attempt to rustle up some business, and you thought of me as a potential client? Sorry. I don’t need a lawyer.”

  Collin folded his arms and quietly said, “That may all change on Monday.”

  After that statement, Leah shut down in every way she could. If she could have figuratively taken her ball and marched home, she would have. But Collin had positioned himself as a cool, calm, civilized professional, and she knew she needed to respond in kind.

  He signed for the tab and asked if she wanted to take in nine holes of golf. She declined, saying she had too big of a project with the cupboards waiting for her at home. Besides that, she had left Bungee in the backyard, and she felt she should get home to check on him.

  They drove along the country road with the music from his car stereo softening the air between them. Collin spoke briefly of his credentials and listed a few of the big cases he had handled in California. None of it impressed Leah. She had no intention of feeding her imagination anything that would have dazzled a seventeen-year-old. She was fully her age and at full capacity in her ability to think rationally, with no intention of allowing herself to revert to a ridiculous fantasy world.

  When they arrived at her house, Collin said he thought he was doing what was best for her. Then he said one line that nearly toppled her over the edge of frustration. “I need you to trust me on this, Leah. Everything will make sense Monday. We’ll talk then, okay?”

  Leah simply answered, “I’ll see you at your father’s office at nine on Monday.”

  Stomping into the backyard, she found Bungee contentedly gnawing on a doggy chew that he must have retrieved from the mudroom. Hula was stretched out in the shade, apparently catching up on the sleep she had lost the night before. That didn’t sound like such a bad idea to Leah, but she had a major mess waiting for her in the kitchen.

  She spent the rest of the day organizing her cupboards. She had to go to the store to buy some mousetraps, and while she was in the checkout line, she overheard two women in the line next to hers. One was saying she was on her way to pick up her new car. Leah gathered from the conversation that the woman had been in an accident. She was raving about how much she received in the settlement and how great her lawyer was.

  “Did you go through a law firm in Eugene?” the other woman asked.

  “No, right here in Glenbrooke. Radcliffe and Sloane. My lawyer was the younger Radcliffe. The son who recently moved here. He’s really terrific.”

  “Did they charge you an outrageous fee?” the other woman asked.

  “Only fifty dollars, which he said was for processing some papers.”

  The other woman went on to say what a bargain that was and all about how high the lawyer fees had been for her cousin when he was in an accident.

  Leah left the grocery store wondering if Collin Radcliffe was really the dashing hero this woman had made him out to be. Was it possible he was out to protect Leah’s rights and did have her best interests in mind?

  She didn’t want to think about it. She wished Seth were home. He would help her make sense of everything. By nine o’clock Sunday night, Leah still hadn’t heard from Seth. She tried to call him several times, but when he didn’t answer, she tried not to worry about something having gone wrong on his trip. It was more likely that it took him longer to drive back than he had estimated. Or perhaps he was sleeping and not answering the phone because he was so exhausted.

  Whatever the reason, all she could hope was that Seth would show up at the lawyer’s office Monday morning. She didn’t want to face Collin Radcliffe alone. If Seth were there, she felt certain it would be easy to stay focused and not start thinking crazy thoughts about Collin being interested in her.

  On Monday morning, Leah wore a nice skirt and jacket. It was the same outfit she had worn to Franklin’s memorial service. She decided she needed to go shopping that week because her wardrobe was far too limited for this crazy life that had fallen into her lap. Women in California no doubt arrived at their lawyer’s office wearing silk dresses with their nails done in a color that matched. Leah knew she would never go that far, but it wouldn’t hurt her to own a decent-looking outfit.

  When she entered the efficient, air-conditioned office, Andrea Brown met her at the front desk. Andrea’s son was the tallest of the Glenbrooke Rangers. The two women chatted comfortably for a few moments before Andrea offered Leah some coffee.

  “No thanks. Am I early?”

  Andrea checked her watch. “Only by a few minutes. Why don’t you go on into Mr. Radcliffe’s office.”

  Knocking twice and then opening the polished wood door, Andrea ushered Leah into a large office and invited her to take a seat on the leather sofa. Collin, who was seated in one of the four wingback chairs, rose politely as she entered. He held an open file of papers in his hand.

  “Sure you don’t want any coffee?” Andrea asked.

  “No thanks.”

  Andrea left, closing the door behind her.

  Collin smiled at Leah and asked about her kitchen cleaning.

  “I caught the mouse yesterday,” she said. “Let’s hope he doesn’t have any pals.”

  “Yes,” Collin said politely.

  Leah felt certain that Collin Radcliffe had never lived where rodent infestation was a problem.

  Fortunately, someone knocked on the door so she didn’t have to come up with any more small talk. Collin’s father, whom everyone called “Radcliffe Senior,” walked in. A large, striking man with white hair and a white moustache, he shook Leah’s hand and placed a large file on the edge of the desk.

  “Franklin and I went back for years,” the distinguished gentleman said. “He will certainly be missed in this community.”

  Leah thought that was an odd thing for Radcliffe Senior to say since Franklin had led such a quiet life. He had very few visitors aside from Leah and had never been involved in local politics or civic events. Perhaps he simply represented the last living tie to Cameron Madison and the founding of Glenbrooke.

  “We’re going to wait for Mr. Edwards before we begin,” Radcliffe Senior explained.

  “Do you mean no other relatives are coming?” Leah asked.

  “No,” Radcliffe Senior said.

  “That surprises me.”

  “Does it?” the white-haired gentleman asked, pulling one of the wingback chairs closer. “Why so?”

  “Several of his relatives came to the memorial service from out of town. I thought this would be an important meeting for them as well.”

  “No, only you and Mr. Edwards.”

  Collin added to his father’s comment, “It’s unfortunate so few of those relatives came from out of town to see Mr. Madison before the memorial service.”

  Leah was beginning to feel uncomfortable. She had imagined several people would attend the meeting. Unless, of course, Franklin had nothing to will to anyone, and they all knew it. She wasn’t sure why she was here. And it concerned her that Seth hadn’t arrived yet.

  “Could I get a drink of water?” she asked.

  Collin immediately rose. “I’ll get it for you.”

  She smiled nervously at Radcliffe Senior. She felt as if she had been called to the principal’s office and was waiting to find out what she had done wrong.

  “Collin told me he had an enjoyable time with you on Saturday,” Radcliffe Senior said. He looked cool, calm, confident. After all, this was his domain. She
was the fish out of water here.

  “Yes, it was nice. I hadn’t been to the country club before.” As soon as she said it, Leah realized how much of a hick that made her sound like. “The brunch was scrumptious,” she added, trying to sound a little more sophisticated.

  Oh, brother! “Scrumptious”? Where did I pick up that cutesy word?

  Just then the door opened, and Andrea appeared with Seth beside her. Leah felt like springing up and running into his arms. He apologized for being late and greeted Leah as formally as he greeted Radcliffe Senior.

  Leah noticed Seth was in his PDS uniform, and she guessed he was slipping this meeting in between deliveries. She also noticed he looked extremely tired.

  “Here you are, Ms. Hudson,” Collin said, handing her a cold bottle of sparkling mineral water. “May I bring you anything, Mr. Edwards?”

  Seth held up his hand. “I’m fine.” He smiled warmly at Leah but then sat in one of the wingback chairs, leaving Leah alone on the couch and feeling deserted.

  “Let’s get down to business,” Radcliffe Senior said. He began to read through the papers in the file. It all sounded like blurry double-talk to Leah. When he finished the first page, Radcliffe Senior looked up and said, “Are you with me so far?”

  Leah glanced at Seth and then back at Radcliffe Senior. “I’m sorry, but I’m not catching a lot of this. Would it be possible for us to follow along on copies of what you’re reading?” Leah navigated complicated lab reports and monstrous stacks of insurance forms on a regular basis, but she always had the words to look at, not just listen to.

  “I would like that as well,” Seth said.

  “Basically, I just read you some of the preliminary information with respect to the estate of Franklin R. Madison,” Radcliffe Senior said. “In an effort to save time, perhaps you would allow me to continue. Andrea has prepared copies, and she will present them to you before you leave.”

  “But if the copies are already prepared,” Leah stated, “I don’t see why—”

  “Actually, Dad,” Collin interrupted. He leaned forward and granted Leah a gracious expression of apology for cutting her off. “I think we can tell these two the bottom-line of the will. We’re among friends here.”

  Radcliffe Senior looked at his son with startled disfavor. It appeared he was a man of the old school who always went by the book, line by line.

  Without waiting for his father’s blessing, Collin said, “Leah, you are to receive the contents of Franklin’s safe-deposit box, which has been kept sealed at the bank. Mr. Edwards, you are to receive the rest of Franklin’s estate, which includes his house, fifty acres of woodlands, and $250,000 in treasury bills.”

  Leah turned to Seth. He looked as if he was in shock. She couldn’t blame him. Fifty acres, a house, and a quarter of a million dollars was quite a fortune, especially when no one suspected Franklin still had such holdings.

  “However,” Collin continued, his voice going up a notch in volume. “There is one stipulation. Franklin Madison made it clear when he changed his will earlier this month, that the only way Mr. Edwards could receive his inheritance was under one condition.”

  Seth seemed to have lost his voice, but Collin was pausing and dramatically waiting for the inevitable question.

  Leah jumped in. “What condition?”

  Collin stood and turned to his father, as if inviting Radcliffe Senior the privilege of delivering the punch line. It seemed as if the two lawyers had choreographed the meeting to elicit the maximum shock from Seth and Leah.

  “The condition,” Radcliffe Senior began, “simply put, is that you, Seth Edwards, must legally marry Leah Hudson before the property, house, and funds are transferred to your name.”

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Leah and Seth exchanged stunned glances.

  “The estate will be held in trust for a year,” Collin explained. “If, at the end of that time, you and Ms. Hudson are not legally married, the entire estate will be donated to the Glenbrooke Historical Society.”

  Leah couldn’t move. What was Franklin thinking? Why would he make such a condition? Did the old fox even consider that he was making plans for other people and controlling their lives without including them in the decision?

  “Leah, are you all right?” The voice was coming from Seth, but it sounded far away.

  She turned and saw he was still in the chair, less than three feet from her. “Yes. Are you okay?”

  Seth nodded. “Did you know about any of this?”

  “No, I had no idea.”

  “This is the first I’ve heard any of this,” Seth said.

  “That’s how Franklin wanted it,” Radcliffe Senior said. “You’ll find all the details in the document, Mr. Edwards. Andrea has prepared a copy for you. Now you can see why I didn’t want you looking at the papers until after we had a chance to go over them with you.”

  “Thank you,” Seth said with a nod. He was still looking at Leah. His face had turned pale. With his right hand he kept rubbing his jaw line.

  “Do you have any questions?” Radcliffe Senior asked.

  “A dozen,” Seth answered numbly. “But perhaps I should read the papers for myself and then set up another appointment with you.”

  “That would be fine. Andrea can make the appointment for you.”

  Radcliffe Senior stood next to Collin, who was still standing from when he rose to make the shocking announcement. It appeared that Leah and Seth were being dismissed.

  Seth caught the cue and stood. Leah rose as well, but Collin stepped closer to her and said, “I wonder if you might stay a few more minutes, Leah. We need to give you the key to the safe-deposit box and discuss a few other items.”

  “All right.”

  “I’ll see you later,” Seth said, walking slowly to the door. “I’ll call you.”

  “Okay,” Leah said, trying hard to give him a smile. It seemed all her smiles were buried under an avalanche of stunned emotions. The best she could offer was a simple raised hand in a parting wave.

  Seth exited the office, and Radcliffe Senior followed him out, closing the door behind him. Collin sat down and leaned forward, as if he were about to offer Leah confidential information. “Perhaps you realize that Franklin Madison listed you in his will many years ago.”

  Leah shook her head and began to speak quickly, as if she had to defend herself. “No, I didn’t know. We never talked about it. I never expected anything. To be honest, I was convinced he didn’t own anything besides his house. I had no idea about the treasury bills or the property.”

  “He did in fact own some property,” Collin said.

  “Where is the property? Here in Glenbrooke? Is it from Cameron Madison’s original landholdings? Because Seth thought Franklin might still own land, but I didn’t think so.”

  Leah noticed that Collin’s eyebrows rose on her last statement. “What else did Mr. Edwards have to say about Franklin’s estate?”

  “Nothing.” Leah felt the need to slow down and watch her words. “I’m sure Seth is just as shocked as I am that Franklin had so much.”

  “Leah,” Collin leaned toward her and rubbed his hands together. “This is what I wanted to discuss with you the other day. You see, I don’t think you realize it, but all of this was in your name in Franklin’s will until a few short weeks ago.”

  “In my name?”

  “After Naomi passed away, Franklin changed his will. We have all the paperwork in his file. He willed everything he had to you.”

  “But why?”

  “I asked my father, and he said Franklin’s reasons were private. We may never know. Or perhaps the safe-deposit box holds an explanation for you. Regardless of the reason, for nearly twenty years, you were heir to his entire estate. Don’t you agree that it’s suspicious that a distant nephew would come into town and suddenly the will is changed?”

  Leah wasn’t ready to accuse Seth of anything. “Were you the one who went to Franklin’s house two weeks ago to change his will?”


  “No, unfortunately, my father was out of town. Franklin met with my father’s partner, Mr. Sloane. Their meeting was strictly professional with no explanations given. Franklin might have offered more of an explanation if my father had been the lawyer he was working with since the two of them had known each other for so long. I thought you might have some insight because I don’t understand why everything was changed to Seth’s name.”

  “I think that should be obvious,” Leah said. “He’s a relative. Franklin liked him. Seth has very little. He would benefit greatly from such an inheritance.”

  Collin looked at Leah, his eyes level with hers. “And you don’t find this a bit suspicious?”

  “No.”

  “Don’t you see that all this would have been yours?”

  Leah shrugged. It hadn’t sunk in yet, but she didn’t see why this was such a big issue. Leah was more eager to receive the key and get out of there so she could find out what was in the safe-deposit box.

  “I’d like to represent you in this case,” Collin said, reaching into his suit coat pocket to pull out one of his business cards.

  “I have several of your cards, Collin,” Leah said impatiently. “And I don’t have a case.”

  “Oh, but you do, Leah. If we can prove that Seth influenced Franklin unduly to change his will, or if we can prove that Franklin wasn’t in his right mind when he made the change, then the estate will revert back to you.”

  “But I don’t want Franklin’s estate!”

  Collin leaned back in the chair and pressed his fingers together. He drew the index fingers to his lips as if in deep contemplation.

  Leah rose to her feet and said, “If that’s all, I think I should get back to work.”

  Collin rose and looked down on Leah. His voice was calm. “I apologize, Leah. This is what I was making reference to on Saturday. You’re not like other women, and I’m approaching this the wrong way. Would you be so kind as to sit for just another moment? I feel there’s something important for you to know.”