Chapter Four
Riley
I was getting ready for another day at the pub, sighing out loud as I put my outfit on. We had to wear all black at the bar, and short skirts were encouraged. But I always wore black leggings instead. I knew that my boss couldn’t make me wear a skirt, and he knew it too, but I knew he was disappointed in me for not doing it. He had a soft spot for Paisley and more than likely kept me on simply because he liked her. I didn’t mind that he didn’t like me as much. As long as he kept giving me shifts and kept paying me, it was all that mattered. I pulled out my ironing board from under my bed and plugged in the iron. My apartment was small, and I had to find ways of storing things so that there wasn’t too much clutter. I didn’t work well in a messy place, but it wasn’t always easy when you lived in a place so small. I told myself that it didn’t really matter because at least I was saving money. I mostly didn’t buy anything for the home because there was just no place to put it. I hardly ever went clothes shopping because my closet was so tiny. Still, it would be nice to have a place that was at least a little bigger than what I had now.
I ironed my clothes, put the board back under the bed and got changed. I had just finished applying my makeup when my phone rang. I prayed that it wasn’t my landlord telling me that rent was going up yet again. I couldn’t handle any more bad news from him. But the phone showed a number that I didn’t recognize.
“Hello?”
“Hi, I’m looking for a Miss Riley Yelling?”
“Yes, that’s me. How may I help you?”
“Miss Yelling, my name is Quinton Spurdock. I’m the lawyer assigned to your late grandmother’s case. Is this a good time to talk?”
My late grandmother? I barely knew her at all. I knew she had passed away, but we’d had so little contact over the years that I hadn’t given it much thought. Why would a lawyer be calling me? I sat down on the bed.
“Uh, sure. Yeah, it’s a good time.” The clock above me showed that I still had some time before my shift started. I wouldn’t be late from a phone call, and I was too curious not to find out more.
“Good. Good. Well, like I said, I’m the lawyer representing your grandmother’s case. As I’m sure you know, Mary passed away a few months ago. We’ve been going through her will and her papers, and it has come to our attention that her house was left to you.”
“Her house? Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Would it be possible to meet me at the house now? I know it’s short notice but I have a jam-packed week and today would be the best day for me. We like to sort out affairs as soon as possible.”
How could I not go? I hardly ever missed a shift at work. I even went into work when I was sick, so taking off one day was surely well deserved. I had to find out more.
“Of course. I can meet you there in, say, half an hour?”
“Great. I’ll see you there. Thanks for being so accommodating, Miss Yelling.”
“You can call me Riley by the way. And, uh, can you give me the address.”
“You don’t know the address?” he asked.
“Uh, no. Sorry. My grandmother and I weren’t exactly close. That’s why I’m so surprised by all of this.”
I got the address and quickly called my boss to let him know that I wasn’t coming in. But his phone went straight to voicemail. I sighed and called Paisley.
“I can’t get hold of Derrick,” I said when she answered the phone. “Do you know where he is?”
“I have no idea. Why do you need to speak to him?”
“I can’t go into work today. And I’m supposed to be there soon. Shit, I hate bailing on people at the last minute like this. He’s going to be so mad.”
“No, he’s not. I’ll go in for you.”
“No, Paisley, today is your day off. You don’t have to do that. I’m sure it’s okay if they’re one woman down for a change.”
“I’m honestly happy to do it. I had nothing else planned for tonight anyway.”
“Really? Wow, thank you. You’re amazing. I owe you big time.”
“Yes, I am, and yes, you do. So, what’s going on? You sick?”
“I’m actually going to my grandmother’s house to meet with her lawyer.”
“A lawyer? Isn’t your grandmother dead?”
“Yeah. And apparently, she’s left the house to me. The lawyer just called me now and asked me to meet with him.”
“What? Are you serious? But . . .”
I laughed. “I know! I hardly knew her. I think there’s a mistake. But I figured I better go and meet him and find out more for myself. How embarrassing though, I had to actually ask for the address.”
Paisley burst out laughing. “Oh, I can just imagine that. You just asked for the address for a house that someone left you. Sounds insane. You better let me know what he says.”
“I will. And thanks for helping out today. Coffee tomorrow?”
“Coffee sounds great. Ooh, this is so exciting. It feels like you’re in the middle of some movie plot or something.”
“Yeah, with the great big twist at the end showing that they made a mistake and all that my grandmother left me was her stuffed cat.”
“She had a stuffed cat?” Paisley exclaimed in horror.
I giggled. “No! I was just joking. Well, I hope not anyway. Ooh, I better get going. Thanks again!”
“Anytime! See you tomorrow. Leave the stuffed cat at home.”