But he could still exercise, and so he rolled out of bed, put on a pair of shorts, dropped to the floor, and started doing push-ups. He quit after a hundred and went to shower. At least he’d worked off a little of the nervous energy he was feeling at having to appear at the reading of the will. He did not look forward to another cold reception, but considering the circumstances, it was to be expected.
* * *
The New Year’s Day marathon of football games, and the ensuing party at Ray’s house, had lasted up into the wee hours of the morning. Junior set his alarm after he got home so he wouldn’t miss the reading, then after he’d had breakfast and dressed, he left to go get Ray.
Ray came out of his house carrying a cup of coffee.
“You look like hell,” Junior said, eyeing his little brother’s bloodshot eyes.
Ray winced. “I feel like it, too. I had a little too much to drink last night…but it was a good game, right?”
Junior nodded. “Yeah. Anytime the Atlanta Falcons win a game is good for me.”
They rode in silence for a couple of blocks, and then Ray glanced out the window into the side-view mirror.
“Hunt’s behind us,” Ray said.
Junior glanced up in the rearview mirror and saw his mama’s old black pickup and frowned. He wasn’t looking forward to facing Hunt. Still, he felt the need to be defiant.
“So?”
Ray sighed. “You know, he was gone so long, and no one ever mentioned his name… I almost forgot we had another brother.”
“Mama obviously didn’t forget,” Junior said.
Ray took another sip from his cup and let the conversation slide.
They drove up to the law office of P. Nutt Butterman, Esq., parked, and got out.
Hunt parked off to the side and headed into the building without acknowledging they were even there.
“Shit,” Junior muttered. “Let’s get this over with.”
And then Birdie arrived as her brothers were getting out, and sailed past them without speaking.
“What the hell?” Ray said.
Emma arrived and hurried to catch up.
“What’s up with Birdie?” Junior asked.
“She found out about the missing money yesterday,” Emma said.
Junior frowned. “Who told her? I’ll bet it was Hunt.”
Emma sighed. “It came out by chance when they were talking. He assumed she knew. She is pissed at all of us. But she’s going to have to get glad in the same pants she got mad in, because we’ve still got to bury Mama and do it with dignity. Not some family squabble. Understand?”
They nodded and followed her inside.
Betty Purejoy had already seated Hunt and Birdie in the outer office, and when the other three arrived, she took them all into Peanut’s office.
“Good morning,” Peanut said. “Please take a seat. This won’t take long, and then you’ll be on your way.”
Birdie stared at the floor.
Emma was verging on tears, and Junior and Ray were red in the face, but silent.
Hunt was the only one who was calm.
Peanut could feel the tension in the room and guessed it had more to do with their past than with their mother’s will. He couldn’t imagine how Hunt was feeling, but gave him props for coming back to such a cold welcome. And the sooner he got down to business, the sooner they would all be able to leave. He cleared his throat and picked up the papers.
“I’m going to give each of you a copy of the will so you can read it as thoroughly and as many times as you wish later, but it’s very straightforward. And I’m not going to dwell on the details of which you already know…like your mother’s name…the fact that she owns the house, and the black truck, and whatever money is in her checking account at the present time. I need you to know that if money comes in via direct deposit from Social Security next month, don’t assume it’s part of the estate and spend it. That legally ends with her death, and they will take it back once it’s discovered that she passed. What you may or may not know is that she has named Hunter Knox as the executor, and he has informed me that at her request per the letter he received from her only weeks before she passed, and which I have read, he will be staying in the home long enough to do the necessary repairs to make the house ready for sale.”
Both of Hunt’s brothers shifted uncomfortably in their seats, but stayed quiet as Peanut continued.
“Once the house repairs are finished, it will be offered at public auction. At that time, the executor will turn over all the receipts for the costs he has incurred in the repair of said house, and they will be held by me until the house sells. No matter what the house brings, Hunt is to receive full compensation for cost of the repairs off the top, plus the sum of eight thousand dollars, and after that, the proceeds will be divided five ways. This is in your mother’s will, which she made right after your father’s passing. So she was of sound mind and body when all of this was decided. Do you have any questions?”
“What about Mama’s personal things? Her jewelry…her clothes?” Birdie asked.
“I think that should be settled between the five of you,” Peanut said. “It’s the property and truck that are in question.”
Birdie was crying now.
“Don’t cry, Birdie,” Hunt said. “As far as I’m concerned, all that stuff should belong to you and Emma. You have my vote to do what you want with her clothes and jewelry. As for the pictures in the house, all of you take what you want. I’m not in any of them, so it appears I ceased to exist in this family after my college money disappeared. And the way you’re all acting, one might think I’m the criminal in the room.”
Chapter 4
Hunt’s comments took them aback. It was the first thing he’d said since they sat down, and neither Emma nor her brothers could bring themselves to look at Peanut, or each other.
“Thank you, Hunt,” Birdie said.
“No problem, kid. I don’t need earrings to fly choppers,” he said.
Emma gasped, her eyes widening as she and her brothers exchanged glances. He can fly helicopters?
“Where did you learn to do that?” Junior asked.
“In the army,” Hunt said.
“Were you ever in a war zone?” Emma asked.
“Seven years of it,” Hunt said. “But we’re not talking about me.”
Peanut felt the need to speak for him. They needed to know what Hunt had gone through.
“He flew Apaches…the attack choppers,” Peanut said. “And he forever has my appreciation for having served, and he is truly blessed for surviving being shot down.”