Keeping Victoria's Secret Read Free Page B

watched her. “Yes,
I see. Okay. Very good, see you in a few.” Closing the cell phone,
with a satisfied smirk on her face, she returned Jack's stare.
    “You’ll see who in a few?” growled Jack.
    “Mr. Douglas. He was my grandmother’s lawyer
and he’s going to explain to you that this property belongs to me
because I inherited it from Nanna when she passed away two months
ago. Then you, Mr. Jack, whoever you are, will have to leave.”
    Jack looked at Doc Sweeney, who simply
shrugged and said, “Douglas is a good man. You know Fred Douglas
I’m sure, lawyer in town?”
    Jack stood, with his arms folded across his
chest glaring down at her and said, “I’m not going anywhere.”
    The doctor rose, sighed heavily, and said,
“My advice is that we all try and remain calm. Let’s all just take
a deep breath and relax, shall we? I’m certain that this will be
sorted out in due course. I’m going down to the kitchen and make us
all a nice cup of tea. How does that sound?”
    "Thank you Doctor Sweeney, that sounds
wonderful," Vicky said.
    Jack just grunted and returned to his
chair.
     
     

Chapter 3
     
    Fred Douglas and Doc Sweeney were old
friends. They greeted each other at the front door and made their
way chatting upstairs to the bedroom where Victoria sat propped
against a pile of pillows. Jack sat stony-faced with a can of beer
in one brawny fist. After introducing the lawyer, Doc handed Vicky
a large mug of tea and joined the others in seats ranged around her
bed. A minute or two of silence ensued, everyone sipping
speculatively.
    Cradling her steaming mug of tea in both
hands, she watched them apprehensively. This is the weirdest thing
that ever happened to me. I really hope Mr. Douglas can straighten
out this mess.
    Fred cleared his throat and spoke. “I
represent the estate of Victoria Baxter. I am the executor handling
her will. Mrs. Baxter has left this home and the property
surrounding it, commonly known as the Willet Farm, to her
granddaughter, Victoria Buonadies.” He nodded toward her. Mr.
Conner I’m curious, how did you come to believe that you could
claim ownership of the Willet farm?”
    “Are you nuts?” Jack looked from the lawyer
to the doctor and back. “My uncle left this farm to me in his will
when he died. He promised it to me for years.”
    “I’m sorry to have to tell you, your Uncle
Charley never owned this property,” said the lawyer. I have the
deed, which is in her grandmother’s name. It was recorded in
1946.
    “He lived here all his life! You know he did.
What do you mean he didn’t own it?” Now Jack was becoming
agitated.
    “That is correct, he did live here.” Fred
Douglas stared thoughtfully at the ceiling for a moment, and then
sipped his tea before continuing. “Your Uncle Charley had a
reputation in this town, Jack. He wasn’t known for his
honesty.”
    “What do you mean?” Jack’s face grew
pale.
    There was a brief silence in the room before
Dr. Sweeney added, “Let’s not mince words, Fred. There’s no two
ways about it. Fact is, and I’m sure young Jack will agree, Charley
Conner was an unscrupulous ornery old son-of-a-bitch, that nobody
liked or trusted. Pardon me Miss.” This last was directed at
Vicky.
    She looked from the lawyer to the doctor as
they spoke, growing curious about Jack’s situation. Who was this
Uncle Charley they were talking about?
    The lawyer studied Jack as though trying to
gage his reaction to Doc’s words, but the younger man just sat
glowering at the floor. Fred said, “Don’t hold back Doc; tell us
how you really feel about him.”
    Doc spoke up, “I treated Charley for all his
various ailments as he got on in years. I can tell you Fred and you
too Jack, it was not an enjoyable experience. Not to mention the
fact, that I have a drawer full of unpaid bills. Charley was tight
as two coats of paint. He liked to hold onto his money.”
    Jack took a long pull from his beer and
looked down at the floor once again.