Sighing, I put down my book and sit up, turning to face her. “I have no idea! Weren’t you listening to me earlier today? I’m freaking out!”
“I’m sure it’s just something you missed with your mom’s estate. That was all so much, so fast, and you had no idea what you were dealing with. Maybe you just filed something incorrectly. Or maybe you're the long-lost princess of a small country across the world.” She laughs.
She’s not wrong about Mom. It’s been two years since she passed away, and while I’m not actively grieving anymore, it still sucks. College kept me busy, as did sorting out her estate. Amanda has been here for me almost daily, so she knows better than anyone how tedious that whole process was since she was the one helping me deal with it.
“Maybe,” I say, gazing out over the ocean.
The sound of the waves crashing on the banks and the smell of the salt in the air have been a source of peace for me for as long as I can remember. Beside the ocean is where I’ve always felt a sense of belonging. But at this moment, I couldn’t feel more wrong. I’m about to say goodbye to my friend for a wholeyear.
I’ve tried to be brave and encouraging of Amanda’s adventure, but I can’t help feeling a little hurt that she’s leaving me. It’s been two years without Mom, but she was my only family, and without Amanda here…these times make me wish I had a big family. The guilt comes immediately, but it doesn’t change the fact that if I had a father and maybe siblings, I wouldn’t have been alone while mourning Mom. I’d have someone to share my memories with and lean on during my saddest days. As it is, I have no siblings, and I never even knew my father's name. Momwasn’t keen on talking about him, referring to him as my sperm donor whenever I asked. I know how important it is to feel all the feelings, and that they’re all valid, so I tell Amanda honestly what’s on my mind.
“I’m so proud of you, but I’m really going to miss you. I’m not sure who I am without you around.”
Amanda reaches out to grab my hand and gives it a little squeeze. “I’m going to miss you too. This is a fresh start for you, though, Lucylou. I’m confident I’m going to come back and you’ll be a whole new person with a life that’s going to blow me away.”
She’s right. This is the time for me to find myself since I’ll be left to my own devices for the first time. It’s always sad to say goodbye to a season of life, but all good things come to an end. Life is going to go on regardless, so I might as well make the most of it.
I have my health, a brand-new college degree, and I have a home and enough savings not to struggle financially until I find a decent job. If I can just get through this meeting unscathed, I’ll be okay.
“Thanks for the ride! And don’t forget, youhaveto let your dough proof a second time after you arrange your cinnamon roll.”
My cab driver returns my smile. “I won’t forget. Thanks so much for the tips. It was a pleasure to meet you, Lucy. I hope your meeting goes well.”
I close the door and watch as the car drives away before turning to face the cold industrial building where my appointment is. It’s a far cry from the peaceful beach, and I wonder again what I’ve gotten myself into. Lying on the warm sand and basking in the sun with a book in my hand was always my preferred pastime growing up, so I rarely ventured this far downtown. With a deep breath, I push open the heavy door to make my way inside.The sooner I find out what’s going on, the better I’ll feel.
“I’m here for a meeting with Mr. J. Carmichael.”
The receptionist looks up from her computer with a bored expression. “Name?”
“Lucy. Lucy Sommers.”
The woman pushes a button, opening the elevator to the side of where we were standing, and gestures toward it without saying a word.
“Thank you!”
As soon as I get into the elevator, I look around for a directory letting me know which floor to choose, but there’s nothing. “Oh wait!” I call out to the receptionist, but she doesn’t look up. “Excuse me, I’m so sorry. What floor do I need to push? There are no labels and…”
The doors close, and I shoot upward. Clearly, this is a direct elevator, and it continues uninterrupted until a cheerful ding announces my arrival to the top floor. Mr. Carmichael is obviously very important, and I’m even more intimidated and confused by why I’ve been summoned here today.
I can’t think of a single reason for this meeting. I don’tthinkI’ve done anything for someone to sue me over, but who knows. It’s LA, after all. All of Mom’s legal matters are settled. It took a while to get everything squared away after her death, but that’s been finished for over a year. And I certainly wasn’t working with such a hotshot lawyer.
“Ah! Ms. Sommers. Come in, come in. Please have a seat.” Mr. Carmichael extends his hand to shake.
“Please, call me Lucy!” I say before following him to the seat he gestures to.
He rounds his desk and sits as well before giving a smile. “In that case, call me James.”
His kindness eases some of my apprehension, but a quick look around the room reminds me that I don’t belong. It’s far nicer than the office of the attorney I worked with to settle Mom’s estate. It’s clean, well-decorated, and even smells like money. I’m out of my league here.
“Oh well, hello, James. Would you mind telling me what I’m doing here?”
“It’s your trust, of course,” he says, handing me a folio of paperwork.
I choke on nothing as I open the documents to see more zeros than I could imagine. “Excuse me?”
“You’ve reached the age of majority for the entirety of the trust that was set up in your name over twenty years ago. I agree it is a little strange, considering most trusts are set up so the beneficiary receives a certain percentage of the allotted funds at staggered ages. Seeing as the grantor isn’t specifically listed…”
I’ve been looking at the files but not hearing a thing Mr. Carmichael has been saying. Not that I would’ve understood any of it regardless. My eyes are barely working either as I scour the pages. The name I see is my mom’s, and Iknowshe didn’t have this kind of money. While I never wanted for anything growing up, it was obvious we were firmly in the middle class. There isno wayMom had access to this kind of cash. “I’m sorry,whatare you talking about? I know this isn’t from my mom. Who left mefive million dollars?”
