down in her
seal
“And let’s not forget about the time Grandpa lost the family savings in that ridiculous ostrich farm scheme,” Frank barreled on. We’re lucky we didn’t all end up on the street!”
Laura’s mother had finally made it to the aisle and was rushing towards the podium. “Frank, that’s enough,” she hissed, trying to guide him away from the microphone..
But Frank wasn’t done. He clung to the podium, leaning away from Laura’s mother. “Oh, and Mary,” he said, pointing at Laura’s mom, “remember when you and tim eloped because you thought you were pregnant? Turns out it was just food poisoning!”
Laura telt her jaw drop. She turned to Jen, who looked equally shocked. “Did you know about that? Jen whispered. Laura could only shake her head
By now, Laura’s father and another uncle had reached the podium. They each grabbed one of Frank’s arms, forcibly pulling him away. In the struggle, Frank’s flailing arm caught a large floral arrangement, sending it crashing to the floor. Water and petals cascaded down the steps, adding to the chaos.
The pastor rushed to the podium, trying to regain control of the situation.
- n. “Let us…. let us how our heads in prayer,” he said, his voice
shaky.
As the congregation bowed their heads, Laura could hear muffled sobs and angry whispers all around. She kept her eyes open, watching as her father and uncle dragged a still–protesting Frank out of the sanctuary.
The rest of the service passed in a blur. Laura barely heard the pastor’s closing words, ton distracted by the tension she could feel radiating through the church.
As they tiled out for the graveside service, Laura caught snippets of conversations around her.
“I can’t believe Frank would say such things…”
“Do you think it’s true about Betty?”
“I always wondered about that ostrich farm…
Laura and Jen stayed close together, trying to avoid getting pulled into any discussions. They stood silently through the graveside service, which was mercifully brief. Frank was nowhere to be seen
After the burial, the family regrouped at a local restaurant for the wake. Laura and Jen found a quiet comer, watching as their relatives. milled about, speaking in hushed tones.
“Well, that was… something,” Jen said, sipping a glass of wine
Laura nodded, still processing everything that had happened. “I can’t believe Uncle Frank said all that stuff. Do you think it’s true?”
Before Jen could answer, they were interrupted by their cousin Betty, who looked like she’d been crying. “Have either of you seen my mom?” she asked, her voice trembling
“I think I saw her heading towards the restrooms,” Laura said gently,
CHAPTER THIRTY–SIX – The Question That Changes Everything
Betty nodded and hurried off. Laura and Jen exchanged worried glances.
As the afternoon wore on and more alcohol was consumed, the subdued atmosphere began to shift. Voices grew louder, and Laura could see heated discussions breaking out at various tables.
Their mother approached, looking frazzled. “Girls, can you help me? Things are getting a bit… tense.”
Laura and Jen found themselves moving from table to table, trying to calm tempers and change subjects. It was like playing whack- mole with family drama.
At one table, they found their cousins Mike and Steve in a heated argument.
“You always were Dad’s favorite, Mike was saying, his face red with anger.
Steve scoffed. “Oh, please. You’re just jealous because I actually made something of myself.”
“Guys, come on,” Laura interjected. “This isn’t the time or place for this.”
But her words fell on deaf ears. Mike stood up abruptly, knocking into the table. A plate of hors d’oeuvres went flying, landing squarely In the lap of their elderly Aunt Edna.
Aunt Edna let out a shriek, drawing the attention of everyone in the restaurant. The manager rushed over, looking alarmed.
“I’m going to have to ask you all to leave,” he said firmly. “We can’t have this kind of disturbance.”
Laura’s parents looked mortified as they tried to corral the family out of the restaurant. In the parking lot, Laura watched as various relatives stormed off to their cars, some still yelling at each other.
She turned to Jen, who looked as exhausted as she felt. “So… that happened,” Laura sald wealdy.
Jen shook her head in disbelief. “And we still have the will reading to look forward to. Think it can top this?”
Laura groaned. “Please don’t even joke about that ”
They said goodbye to their parents, promising to meet up the next day to discuss the will reading. As they drove back to their hotel, Laura felt a mix of emotions exhaustion, disbelief, and a touch of amusement at the absurdity of it all.
Back in their small hotel room, Laura and Jen collapsed onto their beds.
“I can’t believe all that happened, Laura said, staring at the ceiling. “Uncle Frank’s speech, the fight at the restaurant it’s like something out of a bad movie.”
Jen snorted. “Yeah, if the movie was called ‘Funeral Fiasco” or “Family Secrets Unleashed‘ ‘
They both burst into laughter, the stress of the day tinally breaking
“You know,” Laura said when she could breathe again, “despite all the drama, I’m glad we came. Can you imagine Mom and Dad dealing with this on their own?”
Jen nodded. “True. Though I could have done without learning about their almost–shotgun wedding”
Laura groaned. “Don’t remind me. I’m trying to purge that mental image.”
They chatted for a while longer, rehashing the day’s events and wondering what other family secrets might come to light at the will reading
As Laura set her alarm for the next day, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of dread and curiosity about what was to come.
“Night, Jen,” she said, turning off the light.
“Night,” Jen replied. “Here’s hoping tomorrow is less eventful”
Laura chuckled as she settled into bed. Somehow, she doubted it would be
Laura pulled into the parking lot of Goldstein & Associates, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. The sleek, modern building Toomed before them, its glass facade reflecting the bright Arizona su
“Well, here we are,” she said, turning to Jen in the passenger seat. “Ready for round two of family drama?”
Jen snorted, unbuckling her seatbelt. “As ready as I’ll ever be. At least there’s no open bar this time.”
They climbed out of the car, the beat hitting them like a wall. Laura smoothed down her blouse, suddenly feeling underdressed for the
occasion.
“Do you think Uncle Frank will show up?” Jen asked as they walked towards the entrance.
Laura shrugged. “After that spectacle at the funeral? I’d be surprised if he has the guts to show his face.”
As they approached the building, they spotted several familiar faces milling about outside. Aunt Mildred was fanning herself with a folded newspaper, while cousins Mike and Steve stood awkwardly apart, pointedly avoiding eye contact after their restaurant brawl
“Girls! Over here!” Their mother waved from near the entrance, looking harried but composed.
As they joined their parents, Laura noticed the tense set of her father’s jaw. “Everything okay, Dad?” she asked quietly.
He forced a smile. “Fine, fine. Just eager to get this over with.”
The elevator ride to the third floor was a cramped and uncomfortable affair. Laura found herself wedged between Uncle George, who kept clearing his throat nervously, and Aunt Susan, who was muttering under her breath about “that blasted cat.”
When the doors finally opened, they spilled out into a plush reception area. A harried–looking receptionist directed them down the hall to a large conference room.
Laura and Jen managed to snag seats near the back, away from the main cluster of relatives. As more family members filed in, the Toom grew stuffy and tense with anticipation.
“Is that… whiskey I smell? Jen whispered, wrinkling her nose.
Laura followed her sister’s gaze to see Uncle Frank slipping into the room, looking decidedly worse for wear. “Oh no,” she groaned.” This isn’t going to end well.”
Just then, a door at the front of the room opened, and a small, balding man in an ill–fitting suit entered. “Good afternoon, everyone,” he said, adjusting his glasses. “I’m Mr. Goldstein. Shall we begin?
As Mr. Goldstein settled behind a large mahogany desk, Laura could feel the tension in the room ratchet up a notch. He shuffled some papers, cleared his throat, and began to read.
“, Margaret Elaine Thornton, being of sound mind and body, do hereby declare this to be my last will and testament.”
Laura found her attention drifting as Mr. Goldstein droned on through the legal preamble. She was snapped back to attention by a sudden gasp from across the room
“The Royal Doulton china set to Cousin Ethel?” Aunt Patricia’s shrill voice cut through the air. “But Mother promised that to me!”
Mr. Goldstein paused, peering over his glasses at the interruption. “Mrs. Thornton’s wishes were quite clear, madam. If you’ll allow
me to continue.
Aunt Patricia subsided, but Laura could see her face growing redder by the second. This was just the beginning.
As Mr. Goldstein continued reading, the room filled with a growing chorus of mutters, gasps, and barely suppressed exclamations. Laura watched as faces around her cycled through shock, anger, and in some cases, smug satisfaction.
Suddenly, a loud belch echoed through the room. All heads swiveled towards Uncle Frank, who was slumped in his chair, a telltale silver flask peeling out of his jacket pocket.
“Frank!” Laura’s mother hissed. “Put that away!”
Mr. Goldstein cleared his throat loudly, “If we could maintain some decorum, please. Now, regarding the vacation property in Sedona…
“That’s mine! Uncle George leapt to his feet, pointing an accusing finger at Aunt Mildred “Maggie promised me that house years ago!
Aunt Mildred stood up, her face a mask of indignation. “Well, clearly she changed her mind, George. Perhaps if you’d visited her more
than once a decade…”
