Over Her Dead Body by Walter Susan

Author:Walter, Susan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2022-11-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 33

* * *

NATHAN

There was nothing more to do at Louisa’s house, so I went to work for a few hours.

Winnie and Charlie weren’t due to arrive until dinnertime, so I caught up on emails, then opened Louisa’s “Death Folder” and got to work making the arrangements for her funeral. They were holding 10:00 a.m. for the burial, so I confirmed it, then emailed Louisa’s estate lawyer, whose contact info was also in the folder.

Dear Mr. Redding, I wrote. This is Nathan Lake, nephew of Louisa Lake George. I am writing to tell you the sad news that Louisa passed away early this morning. Her children are on their way into town, and we would like to schedule the will reading at your earliest convenience.

I hit “Send” and my phone rang almost immediately.

“This is Nathan.”

“Nathan, Simon Redding. So sorry for your loss,” the lawyer said.

“Thank you.”

“I am in possession of your aunt Louisa’s will and can administer it tomorrow if you like.”

“That would be appreciated.”

“Let’s tentatively set it for eleven o’clock,” he said. “I’ll contact the other parties named in the will—there are only a handful. If there’s a problem, I’ll let you know.”

By “a handful,” I figured he meant my siblings and parents, so I just said, “That’s fine.”

“There is one thing I feel compelled to mention,” he said.

“What’s that?”

“I saw your aunt just yesterday.”

And this surprised me. “Oh?”

“She had me make some changes. Some of them were quite substantial.”

“Like what?” My chest filled with dread. Shit. She did it. She made me her heir.

“I’m not at liberty to say, but you’ll find out tomorrow. Just thought I should mention it.”

I found it obnoxious that he would flaunt “substantial” changes but not tell me what they were. But I supposed I already knew—she’d all but told me herself—so I just said, “OK.”

“I thought she looked remarkably well,” the lawyer added, for some unknown reason.

“Yes, well, I guess things can turn quickly,” I said, because what the hell else could I say?

“Quite a coincidence that she would pass right after changing her will, don’t you think?” His tone was suspicious. Accusatory, even. Like maybe I murdered her?

“What are you suggesting?”

“I’m an estate lawyer, not a detective,” he said dismissively. “I just thought you should know I’d been to see her.” Well maybe you murdered her, then.

“Thank you. See you tomorrow.” And I hung up.

Redding’s “substantial changes” warning was swirling in my head when I greeted Winnie and Charlie that night. I didn’t want to say anything (because I didn’t know anything). Plus they had been traveling all day and looked exhausted. So I shared the schedule (and some tears) and then went home.

As I climbed into bed that night, I thought about what Louisa’s death meant to me personally. Her house was my home away from home. I know that sounds like I was snubbing my parents; I wasn’t. It’s just they had three other, younger, kids to make a fuss over, and to fuss over them. Louisa only had me.

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