"Surprised to see me, you little leech," the aged woman in front of me scoffs.

Words lodge in my throat. What is this woman doing here?

"Nothing to say. Didn't think so. Gary Lombardi doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut when he's trying to be smug about something. He thought I wouldn't get anything. But I know my brother wouldn't die without leaving me something."

"If you say so, lady," Estel says.

"Who are you?" She leers at Estel.

"This is my daughter of a sort. I didn't legally adopt her, but she's my daughter in every sense of the word."

"Why would you want to take care of this little leech?"

"You've missed out on a girl who is a beautiful soul and has a bright future."

"Is that so?" My aunt retorts.

"Yep, but you'll never find out."

"Hey, can I jump in here?" Comes from behind us, and I turn to see a man who looks vaguely familiar.

"You don't know who I am, short stuff?" he asks me.

"Uncle Gary?"

"In the flesh as they say."

"Where were you?" I scream.

"Mick." a hand lands on my arm.

Patting Estel's hand, I take a few deep, cleansing breaths. All the positives in my life come to mind. The energy within me settles, and I breathe in deeply before I open my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Gary. You couldn't have known, and if you had, I'm sure you would have been there. Things just weren't easy. But I shouldn't have lashed out at you."

"Is this the same spitfire I knew when she was a girl?" Uncle Gary laughs.

"I'm trying my best to pull in my anger until it's really needed."

A sound comes from behind us, and an unapologetic looking Aunt Angie stands there with a smirk on her face.

"She'll never be able to do that, Gary." Aunt Angie smirks.

"You're not lying on the floor, are you?" I reply

She jeers.

"I wouldn't test her, lady. She's the best in her taekwondo class and talented with a compound bow." Estel says.

"As if."

Whipping around, I have Angie backed against the wall. "Didn't Estel tell you not to test me? You're lucky, we're in a lawyer's office at the moment. Try this when we are outside and out of public sight and I kick your ass, you puta! Everything in my life fell apart when you threw me away."

"I didn't need some snot-nosed kid who wasn't blood relations, sucking me dry."

"And you don't have one. But you also now have not one or two new enemies but let's say ... how many would you say Estel."

"There's about twelve in our group, so ten more people." Estel responds.

"You now have twelve people that wouldn't think twice about leaving you in a gutter. They know what kind of life I had because of you. Don't mess with me."

Estel motions with her head. I step away from Angie and move to stand on the other side of Estel. An innocent smile is plastered on my face, when the lawyer's assistant looks in and beckons Uncle Gary, Estel and me through the doors, I wink at Angie.

"What about me?" Angie whines.

"I'm sorry ... you're who?" The assistant asks.

"Angela Price McDermott."

"Sorry, you're not on the list of people that need to be present."

"But ... but ... check again, I'm sure my brother would have left something to me."

"You're not on the list I was given. You'll have to talk with the Executor when this meeting is over."

"Gary!" My aunt screams.

"Lady. I suggest you calm down. You've now caused this meeting to start late. If you are going to continue to make a scene, I will be forced to call security."

"Fine."

And I hear the bell on the door jingle.

"What a hateful, desperate woman. Is she related to you?" The assistant asks me.

"Only by adoption."

The woman pats my arm as she goes by.

"I'm happy about that. You have a brighter future just not having to see that woman at holidays." She adds.

"I just can't imagine," she mumbles as she opens a large wooden door for us to enter.

The lawyer goes through his normal spiel about the legalities and such and such. I'm not sure what exactly he's talking about.

Should I have my own lawyer? I finally ask.

Not unless there's anything you contest, or you don't trust what we're telling you.

Okay. How about going over that part about bequesting or whatever it's called.

He nods and goes over what I wasn't understanding and answers all of my questions.

When I finally think I'm understanding it all, I look over at Estel. Don't worry. I think you've got this. It all sounds legit to me. Go ahead. I'll help you figure out what to do later.

She has this look, and I know what she's thinking. She'll help me find a way to get everything settled.

The paperwork is signed and we leave the office.

"Can I take two beautiful women to dinner?"

"Always the charmer, Uncle Gary. What's Diane going to say?"

He frowns.

"Did I say something wrong?" I question.

"Diane left me three years ago. She couldn't handle the stress of living overseas. It wasn't as glamorous as she thought it would be, so she packed up and moved home."

"I'm sorry. It's her loss."

"How about it, Estel?"

"Oh ... well ... I'm married."

I laugh and she looks at me strangely.

"He's not looking for a girlfriend, well, not between the two of us."

"Not that you aren't a beautiful woman, Estel." Gary adds.

Estel's checks flush.

"You stop that. You're gonna give the woman heart problems. Let's go before you try to sweet talk her anymore," I say.

I have to admit, Uncle Gary is still a nice looking man even though he's twice as old as me, not that I would date a man that old. That isn't my thing.

We go to the hotel to change, and he takes us to an upscale restaurant. We start eating our dinner before any questions begin.

"Now, what does all this mean for the future exactly?"

I look to Estel for agreement and she nods.

"I plan on moving out of the country within the next two weeks. Can I do things from Bermuda?"

"You're moving to Bermuda?" Gary asks.
"Ya. Estel has land there, and I found two of my cousins by birth."

"You did? That's wonderful news. What are they like?"

"Tally is a kind-hearted, generous, loving girl who doesn't believe in herself. She has so much potential, she just has to open up to the person that she is. Tanner is completely different. Jokester with a heart of gold. Loves to make people laugh, but I can tell he really wants to help people who are in bad situations. We have ... well, I know of a guy who is really bitter about his life, and he takes it out on other people. Tanner is working hard to get this guy to understand that the whole world isn't made up of people who resemble the people of his past."

"Sounds like you have a great family."

I smile at Estel. " I do. The woman sitting across from me has been instrumental in getting me to see things I refused to see. She saw the good in me before I did. She has been encouraging me every step of the way."

"And you are worth it." Estel says.

My cheeks heat. I'm so lucky.

"Well, let's celebrate, then." Gary says.

We spend the rest of the night chatting and laughing. We talk about the past and I talk very little about the future, but I do try to keep everything on the positive side. I talk about my future, or rather as much as I can.

The next morning we meet, and it is decided that I am going to let Uncle Gary manage the properties here in Texas. He will continue to get a salary, although probably much less than he deserves, for managing the property, and he will deposit the money in an account for me. Of course, I will draw the money out of the account in Bermuda and somehow convert it into something that can be used on the Avic Islands. I don't know yet, but I have a feeling I will be able to do a lot of good with this inheritance. Maybe not immediately, but my soul sings every time I think about helping others. There will come a time in the future. I know there will.