January 28, 2011
The day was clear and sunny, inappropriate for the season, inappropriate for the activities she faced today. Tiffani Culpeper parked her Toyota Tacoma at the Office of J. Dean Goodwyn. She was dressed in her typical work-a-day style, jeans and a solid colored tee. An assortment of shoes in the floor and two different blazers hanging in the back made it the perfect anytime ensemble.
“Thank you for coming, Ms. Culpeper. Please have a seat. Judy here will get you something to drink, if you like.” Tiffani waved Judy off with a shake of the head and sat in a corner of the settee in the anteroom. She was the first to arrive just the way Uncle Nick taught her to be, but all were in attendance when Mr. Goodwyn returned. Diana, Nick’s former wife, stood in the corner of the room farthest from Tiffani. Though they had spent quite a bit of time together, Tiffani always got the impression that Diana was jealous of their relationship. The only other person in the room was Commander Mike Metcalfe, USN (ret). He and Nick had worked together at various times throughout their careers and had grown quite close.
“Commander, Mrs. Bradshaw I have for you each a letter. Mr. Bradshaw’s wishes for you are recorded there.” The lawyer made a ceremony of handing the oversized envelopes to them. Then he turned to Tiffani, “Ms. Culpeper. Your uncle has bequeathed to you the following; the property at 1950 Johnstown Rd , and all of the contents therein. All vehicles, assets, furniture, everything on the property or in the domicile constructed on the property are hereby bequeathed to said same beneficiary. Title and deed to all real property are immediately transferred to said beneficiary. “ Diana’s eyes rocketed from the envelope in her hand, to the lawyers face to Tiffani’s and back. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air as it lie on the dock. Tiffani was speechless too, but for completely different reasons. Her worries were no more.
While she’d never admit it to any living human, she was up to her eyeballs in school debt. She owed money to everyone. She lived in an apartment that her uncle’s friend sublet to her, and she drove a 12 year old car that Nick "sold" her for a paltry sum, just so she could maintain her dignity. Mr. Goodwyn explained that while her uncles death may have come as a surprise to her and the rest of the family, he had come to terms with the doctors' prognosis. "This knowledge and acceptance of his fate led Mr. Bradshaw to liquidate enough of his holdings to settle all of his debts. He also paid taxes on the property for 20 years. In essence, Ms. Culpeper. He wanted to be sure you didn't have to worry, or work too hard..." She smiled at the bittersweet news. It was just like Nick to think of everything, but she'd rather just have him here.
She drove away that afternoon shell shocked. She took a call from Joe, her uncles friend who sublet his apartment to her at less than half what he could've gotten for it. She felt obligated to pay through the end of her lease, since it was a contract. He said he wouldn't hear of it. They were doing each other a favor and now that the situation has changed, he could easily find someone else to rent the place, if and when she was ready to move into Nick's old house. He laughed into the phone and said "honestly pet, It may take you a full year to make that place livable for a woman! Stay in the apartment as long as you need to. and don't worry about the rent. I really don't need it anyway" Tiffani grudgingly accepted, as she couldn't think of anything else to say. She vowed to herself that she would have the house ready and be out within a month. Then Joe would be able to find someone to pay real rent.
Lost in her thoughts and operating mostly on autopilot, she found herself south bound on 168 and almost at Hillcrest. She made the quick and easy decision to stop and have dinner at her favorite little Chinese place to relax and think through the days events.
She drove away that afternoon shell shocked. She took a call from Joe, her uncles friend who sublet his apartment to her at less than half what he could've gotten for it. She felt obligated to pay through the end of her lease, since it was a contract. He said he wouldn't hear of it. They were doing each other a favor and now that the situation has changed, he could easily find someone else to rent the place, if and when she was ready to move into Nick's old house. He laughed into the phone and said "honestly pet, It may take you a full year to make that place livable for a woman! Stay in the apartment as long as you need to. and don't worry about the rent. I really don't need it anyway" Tiffani grudgingly accepted, as she couldn't think of anything else to say. She vowed to herself that she would have the house ready and be out within a month. Then Joe would be able to find someone to pay real rent.
Lost in her thoughts and operating mostly on autopilot, she found herself south bound on 168 and almost at Hillcrest. She made the quick and easy decision to stop and have dinner at her favorite little Chinese place to relax and think through the days events.
