Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 86972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Putting it on the counter, I stared at it. “What is this about, Gran?” I asked aloud.
Sighing, I opened the box and there were three envelopes. The one on top said “Henley.” I picked it up and broke the seal. Sliding out the handwritten letter inside, I prepared myself for whatever I was about to read. Seeing Gran’s handwriting always made my chest hurt a little. Knowing she had written this for me made it more difficult. I unfolded the paper slowly and took a deep breath.
Henley,
I hope that by now you know all I wanted you to know. Things you should have known all along, and people you should have had in your life. I made a mistake keeping them from you. I did what I thought I had to do. Your mother had already proven to me that she would take you away. I couldn’t lose you again.
Now I am gone and all those fears are gone with me. But I didn’t leave you alone did I? Hillya is a good woman and I am thankful she’s there for you. I couldn’t have chosen a better grandmother for you other than me of course. She deserves some joy. She has lived many years with none. You, my girl, are a complete joy and I know she will find a reason to enjoy life again with you in it.
As for your brother, that is a regret that may stay with me even in the grave. That boy had a hard go of it for a long time. You are a gift to him more than he is to you. He has no father or mother, but he has a sister and I reckon that makes things better.
In this box are two more envelopes. One is the deed to this house. I imagine your mother wasn’t happy to hear from my lawyer that my will would be revealed at a certain time. Now is that time. My lawyer, Roger, will be contacting you soon. Betty will have called him by now. He’s her oldest son.
The deed to the house has been left to you along with my stocks and savings. It is up to you to sell the house or live in it. I know you have a home back in Chattanooga. I also know that you have been lost for quite some time. Trying to find your fit in this world. If you’ve found your way in The Shores then stay. If my small town isn’t the one for you then sell my house, take the money, and go find your town.
In the other envelope is a letter to your mother and a key to my safety deposit box. What is in it is what I left for her. When you are ready, give it to her and she can do with it what she may.
You have now met the people I cared for in that town the most. Lily, Wanda, Keerly and Betty all were special to me. Don’t forget them. Take time, if you can, to visit them. Lily is so broken I worry she’ll always be. A friend is all she needs. Wanda loves homemade lemon cookies and to talk about the past. Keerly is special and in time I believe that you will understand why, and Betty has been my closest friend since I was a young woman.
As you go on with the rest of your journey that we call life, know you were loved by your gran and cherished. I adored you from the moment you took your first breath. I was so proud of you. I want you to have a full life. One with love, happiness, and family. But I also want you to always be there to help others. See them when they are down and do your best to pick them up.
Serving others is the best medicine this life can give you.
One last thing, if you do fall in love with him please go slowly. Be careful. Trust your gut and know not all things are easy. Damaged things can become beautiful if they’re placed in the right hands. Loving someone isn’t always what we need but what they need.
Love you always,
Gran
I wiped at my tears and put the letter down on the counter.
Thirty-Six
I wasn’t ready to tell my mother about Gran’s letter. I wasn’t ready to tell Saul either. I needed time to think. True to Gran’s list, this wasn’t a twist I saw coming. Leaving here had been my plan because I hadn’t known there would be another option. Mom had told me when I was done with this summer, she would be putting the house up for sale. She had also threatened poor Roger with getting a lawyer of her own and getting Gran’s will.
That would have been a waste of money for her since the house wasn’t something she could fight for. My mom wasn’t going to be happy about the fact it was left to me along with the money Gran had saved and invested. That was a confrontation I didn’t want to deal with right now. I had my life to work out first.