Her landline rang. She picked up and listened. “Sure.”
She beamed at me and Cosmo as she glided around her desk and opened a door for us. “Ms. Connors is waiting for you.”
The cousins arrived while I was still debating if I should open the carrier and hold Cosmo or if letting him stay inside the thing was the better option.
Brian hugged me. “I can’t believe she’s gone.” Brenda did the same, after she’d recovered from spotting my periwinkle-hued mane.
I hugged them back. They hadn’t changed much since I last saw them on Aunt Violet’s seventieth birthday. Brian’s hair had thinned a little more, which he tried to cover up with slicking back his hair into a man-bun, but he still wore the sleeves of his jacket rolled up, with jeans, and an open-necked shirt. His sister had helped him pick his style when he set out as a wedding DJ three decades ago and he had stuck with it ever since. Neither too casual, nor too formal, she’d declared. She had a knack for matching people and clothes, and to find top-shelf garments at bargain basement prices.
Her eyes were reddened in her perfectly made-up face. Her chin-grazing bob had not a single hair out of place and her grey suit was wrinkle-free, something I couldn’t say about my clothes today. Or on any other day, to be honest.
Louisa shook hands with all of us. “I’m so sorry for your loss.” She peered at us through blue-rimmed spectacles that matched her cashmere sweater.
My throat constricted.
“Thank you,” Brenda said.
Louisa opened a thin folder. “Shall we start?”
“Please.” Brian grasped for his sister’s hand. I put mine on top of Cosmo’s carrier.
“Your aunt Violet has left a clear set of instructions in her last will, so probate shouldn’t take long. Each of you three will receive an equal share in her savings, which amounts to roughly $20,000 per person.”
I gasped. That sum would allow me to rent a decent place, hopefully here. Cosmo growled. I peered at him, startled by the unusual sound. He chirped at me, as if to say he was fine, and I returned my attention to Louisa. “The bulk of her estate is formed of her house and the lending library. She’s stipulating that the person who inherits it must carry on the business and look after it and the customers with the same diligence she’s shown it for over 40 years. This is also including caring for Cosmo.” Her spectacles slipped a little as she gazed from Brenda to Briana and, finally, to me. “’Both of my nieces and my nephew should be in the position to fulfill that request, should they be chosen.’Is that correct?”
“Yes,” Brian said. He rubbed his hand over his hair, dislodging a strand. “Most of my business is on weekends and holidays, and my sister is running her boutique online. As for Bex --” Both he and his sister mirrored each other as they cocked their heads a little to give me a pitying look.
I ignored them. “What do you mean, were they chosen?” I asked.
“That’s the unusual bit. The cat will decide who inherits.”
“Say again?” Brenda exclaimed. The cousins and I gaped at Louisa.
“Bex, can you please make sure the door is closed?” Louisa picked up the carrier and put it down at an equal distance from the three of us. True to character, she checked by walking around and counting her steps. Only then did she let Cosmo out.
My heart hammered against my chest. I’d taken it for granted that Cosmo would stay with me. My ex-husband had been allergic to pets, and I’d promised myself that now he was out of my life, I’d never bewithout a pet again. My palm felt sweaty as the cat moved. Cosmo’d be fine, whoever he chose. Brian and Brenda were pet lovers, too.
“Now, sit down, all of you,” Louisa ordered. I perched on the edge of my seat as a black paw touched the floor. In the blink of an eye, Cosmo emerged fully, stretched himself, and without hesitation he jumped onto my lap.
Louisa smiled. “Congratulations, Bex. It appears you’re to be Violet Merriweather Walker’s principal heiress.”
Chapter three
Cosmo stared at me and held my arm with his paws, as if to claim me as a prize. Or, considering my sorry state of affairs, the kind of consolation trophy they gave me at the Christmas fair when I’d sucked so badly at the ring toss, the stall holder couldn’t bear it any longer.
“Clever cat,” Brian said. “He made the right choice, given your situation.”
I didn’t know whether to wince at his bluntness or be thankful for his acceptance of the situation. To his credit he added, “You always deserved better, if you ask me. Cosmo’ll appreciate you.”
His sister chimed in. “It’s a relief, really. Now we don’t have to go through all the hassle of figuring out how to fulfill Aunt Violet’s wishes without rearranging our lives. Like Brian said, Bex, in your situation …”
“Just to make it clear, I do have options,” I said. “It’s not as if I’m homeless or unemployable. I have an excellent reputation as a furniture restorer.” Cosmo gave a weird noise. In a human I’d have interpreted it as a snicker. I hastened to add, “Although I’m more than happy to do whatever Aunt Violet wanted.”
“None of you have any objections then?” Louisa unscrewed her Montblanc pen.
We all shook our heads.
“If you’d sign here?” She handed the pen to Brenda, as the oldest. My cousin signed with a flourish and passed the document and pen on to her brother.
