Tegan

I sat beside Brad and stared at the attorney. Dressed in an expensive suit and wearing greased back salt-and-pepper hair, he looked like a retired car salesman.

He peered over the top of his wire-framed glasses and sighed. “Your father was an interesting man.”

Brad nodded and squeezed my hand. “That he was.”

“With your mother still living, there is no property, and resolving your father’s will shall be rather simple and painless.”

Brad nodded.

“There’s a note written to each of you, and as they’re a part of the last will and testament, I can either read them to you, or you can read them privately. Have you a preference?”

“You can read mine out loud,” Brad said. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”

The attorney nodded. “You’ll each get a copy of them, but I’ll read what he has written. And, I quote:

Bradley. I leave you the BB gun you used to shoot the window. One of the many idiotic decisions you’d make through the course of your life as my son, but certainly not the worst. I told you I’d return it when I felt that I could trust you, and I’m quite certain that time is upon me. Lest you worry when this will was written, I ask that you check the date at the bottom, when I signed it. Yes, Son, it took that long. Furthermore, I leave you my coveted Padres World Series ball. You’ve spent a lifetime admiring it from afar, and now you can fingerfuck it for as long as your little heart desires. I must also clarify that I don’t think you or any of your brethren in the club are dip-shits or shit-heads. In fact, I respect each and every one of you. Keep the streets clean of filth, and keep the shiny side of your cruiser up. Lastly, proceed with your life knowing this: you’ve made me damned proud, Son. Damned proud. Just remember this, dip-shit. I’m up here watching you.”

The attorney paused and looked up. “That’s the end of yours.”

I glanced at Brad. He fought not to smile, but he couldn’t help it. A prideful grin covered his entire face.

I squeezed his hand in mine.

The attorney cleared his throat, and then looked at me. “Tegan? What about you?”

I sighed. “Read it.”

He nodded and then looked down. “Tegan. You came into my life like a thief, stealing my heart, my modesty, and my Son. I’ll be forever grateful that you came when you did, for I am convinced that in your absence, my son would have perished an early death, and losing him before he found true love would have killed me a second time.

I leave you with the Scrabble game that I built my relationship’s foundation on. Before you refuse to receive it, and I know that’s what you’re thinking, think again. I already talked to Deann, and she wants you to have it. Take care of it, it’s old and ancient, just like I was when we met. I ask that you use it to build the foundation of your relationship, and based on the promise I’m going to ask you to keep, I suspect you’ll do your best to make that happen. Insert a “wink* here.

Boyd’s Salvage in Encino has a door for your car that’s pre-paid. Call and ask for Rico, he’ll ship it to you, or you can pick it up. Have Brad put it on, it should take him 30 minutes. For him, it’ll sting a little, knowing he’s replacing the door that wrecked his bike, but repairing a car is the kind of shit men do for women they love.

Last things always come last, and I’ll close in saying this: Kid, I love you. And I know that on the day you showed up, you kicked Brad’s ass, regardless of whether or not you ever admitted it.

Don’t hesitate to do it again, if he needs it, that is.”

He set the paper on his desk and looked up. “Brad, your mother has your BB gun and your baseball.”

He looked at me. “And, Tegan, she has your Scrabble game.”

He clapped his hands together. “Any questions?”

We looked at each other, shrugged simultaneously, and both said “no” at the same time.

As we walked out of the office, Brad looked at me and laughed. “I can’t believe that asshole is making me fix your car.”

I chuckled. “I can’t believe he’s giving you your BB gun back.”

“I can,” he said. “He knows I’m a man now.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked.

“It’s a secret,” he said. “Between him and me.”