“Thank you.” I give her a nervous smile.
She stands and heads down a short hallway, so I take a seat in the waiting room. I’d really hoped to talk to Clara before today. My stomach twists over how she’ll react to the news that I’m in town. Then again, I’m just assuming she’s been kept in the dark. Maybe her parents were up-front with her all these years.
“He’ll see you now.”
The receptionist waits for me to stand, then she walks me down the hall to his office door, holding her hand out for me to enter. After I do, she shuts the door.
I get my first look at Mr. Lawson, and my initial thought is that he doesn’t suit his voice. He’s a shorter male, stout and balding, but his voice holds this timbre that made me think he was six-five, two-twenty, and played rugby when he wasn’t in a courtroom.
He called me five days ago to tell me he had a client who had passed away and my name was listed in the will. I knew immediately who had died, and I was surprised to hear that she even knew who I was to be in her will. I booked a flight to Alaska, much to my mom’s dismay, and here I am—ready to get whatever broach or photo or letter of apology the deceased woman has left me. Then I’ll go back to Connecticut and my parents, especially my mom, will be happy it’s all over with.
Of course, there isn’t a ton for me to go back to other than a few friends and my parents. I haven’t really been hitting it out of the park in the job or social arena since graduation. Barely making rent, working jobs I don’t enjoy but enable me to live on my own. I’m not even going to think about my barren love life.
“Miss Knight. Good to meet you,” Mr. Lawson says as he stands behind his desk.
“Thank you, same.” His office chairs are surprisingly comfortable, and I cross my legs, placing my purse on my lap.
“I called you in on your own because as you may have guessed, Clara does not know you exist.”
I nod although I didn’t know that for sure.
He pulls out an envelope from the file folder on his desk and hands it to me. My name is written on the outside in handwriting I don’t recognize. “This is for you. She’s written one to Clara as well. I advised her against her decision, but she was adamant that these were her last wishes.”
I shake my head. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Your mo—Denise owned a building downtown. It was a sewing store, but she also taught lessons there or hosted group outings where she’d teach people how to complete a certain craft in one night. She was very talented with a needle and thread.”
“Yes, I’m aware of her store. I went by yesterday and it looked pretty empty.”
“With her being sick, Clara didn’t have a lot of time…” He shakes his head. “Anyway, as you might not have known, your fath—Walter passed years back in an accident on a fishing vessel. That left only Clara and… well, you.”
I nod, wishing he’d get to the point.
“Clara got the house, but when it came to the commercial building…”
“What is it?” I sit up straighter.
He sighs. “She left it to both you and Clara. The store, the building, is yours and hers to do with what you want. And if one of you wants to buy the other out, you can, or one of you can abandon the building, which would gift it to the other. You could both decide to sell it and split the profits. I tried to get an estimate of the value, but there are a lot of variables like whether you want to keep it as the sewing place or make it something else. I have all the appraisal paperwork in this folder for you to look over.”
I hold up my hand. “Together?”
He sighs and nods.
“Is she crazy? Or was she?”
“I warned her I didn’t think it was a viable plan. She didn’t have enough money in her estate for Clara to buy you out. I’m not sure about your financial situation…”
I shake my head to say I don’t have that kind of money. “There is so much wrong with this situation.”
“My job is to tell my clients the risks and rewards of any situation, but this was her decision. Now, I’d like to plan a time for you and Clara to come in together. I’ll be here when she’s told, and I’ll probably invite a close friend of hers in for support.”
So he’ll bring in someone for her, but I don’t need a support system? Easy to see whose side this town is on. I hate when my mom’s right.
I stand. “Okay. Just let me know.” I round the chair toward the door.
I hear his chair slide back. “Miss Knight. I need to know if you’re interested in the building?”
Turning around, I remember another piece of my mom’s advice—keep your cards close to your chest because most people who normally wouldn’t cheat will, given the opportunity. We might not be playing rummy right now, but he wants to know what cards I’m holding so he can help Clara because she’s a Sunrise Bay townie. Well, if all I get is half a building for not being the chosen one, so be it, but I’ll let him know once I meet Clara myself.
“Just let me know when you want me to meet her and we’ll talk then.” I open his door and leave his office.
Instead of requesting an Uber, I walk around Sunrise Bay. Spring in Alaska is very different from Connecticut. The ground back home is thawing already, with green buds on trees, whereas everything here is still dreary and gray. Part of me wonders what the bay looks like during tourist season.
I find a park bench and open the letter from Denise Harrison, who until right this moment was a woman I’ve hated, I’ve been curious about, and I’ve mourned well before her death.
Presley,
What a beautiful name. I’m not sure I would’ve chosen it, but it’s lovely. I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m deciding to write my first letter to you when you’re twenty-nine years old and I’m on my deathbed. But I feel that I need to try to make amends and help you understand before I take my last breath. I know about my mother, Beatrice’s letters and gifts to you. It was very kind of your parents to allow her to do that for you. But when I gave you up, I understood my decision and that they were now your parents, as hard as that was for me. I do hope you realize we didn’t come to our decision lightly. And I’m sure you’re even more confused finding out about Clara, your biological sister who we kept.
Oh, Presley, I so wish I would’ve thought life could change, but when we became pregnant with you, we were two poor kids trying to make it, and at the time, we just didn’t think you’d have a decent shot at life if we raised you. We were in a bad place as a couple and well… good or bad, we gave you up so you’d have a wonderful life. A better life than the one we thought we could provide you.
After your grandma Beatrice died, I found the pictures your mom sent to her. It was the first time I learned of the correspondence you had with her. The woman always did amaze me with what she could get people to agree to. You’ve grown into a beautiful woman.
I guess I’ll get to the point because if I were you, an old lady’s dying apology after all these years wouldn’t be worth much. I want to give you a chance and a reason to stay in Sunrise Bay. It’s a wonderful little town and I hope you’ll consider taking over the store, making it into whatever you want. But please do it with Clara. You two are the last in both your father’s and my families, and I’d love nothing more than you two to be true sisters.