I couldn’t stop the snort that came out of my face. Catty Maddie was always good for a laugh.
Someone cleared their throat, and I looked up. Phyllis had entered the room and snapped to her assistants to bring in several boxes, which they piled on the front table.
“Please, take your seats,” Phyllis commanded. “We’ll begin promptly at nine.”
Flint placed his hand in the small of my back as he led me to the only remaining empty chairs on the far left of the back row. Logan and Lance were sitting front and center, hopeful looks on their face. Across the aisle from them, Echo sparkled in a sequined black mini-dress. It barely covered her hoo-hah, much less her boobs.
Again. She was wearing black. Everyone mourns in their own way.
Tenley Keeton was in attendance, as well as a dozen other people I couldn’t place. All of their faces had the same look on them.
Expectation.
They all expected to get something out of Octavio.
I feared the only thing we were going to get was a big ole dead middle finger. Again.
Phyllis looked at her watch. “It’s nine. Let’s begin.”
She looked around the room, then opened her file folder. “I won’t read the legal mumbo jumbo for you because you understand Octavio Cruz was of sound mind and body when he signed this will.”
We all nodded.
She stared directly at Echo. “And this was the most recent will. There have been no updates.”
Goosebumps broke out on my arms. I rubbed them, trying to get warmer. Flint threw his arm around my shoulders, and I leaned into him for warmth.
I had a bad feeling about this.
The will reading. Not Flint’s arm.Thatgave me agoodfeeling that I couldn’t think about in the middle of all these people.
“The bottom line is, Octavio Cruz left everything to,” Phyllis paused for dramatic effect, then made eye contact with me. “Celia Saber Cruz.”
“What the actual FUCK!” Echo screamed as she hopped out of her chair, balancing on five-inch stripper shoes.
They were black, too,in case you were wondering.
“What the FUCK! I’m his wife! Where’s my money?” Echo slammed her hands down on the table, getting right in Phyllis’ face.
Phyllis arched a perfect brow, then signaled to security guards I hadn’t seen come in. “There’s no money for you. But, there is a letter.”
The guards pulled Echo back from the table. Phyllis held out a letter toward the disgruntled Mrs. Cruz, which Echo clutched to her chest.
“What about the house?” Echo cried.
“Also goes to Celia Saber Cruz,” Phyllis nodded.
“I guess you can call the Vagina Room anything you want, now,” Flint whispered in my ear.
If I hadn’t been so stunned, I would have laughed.
“Octavio left letters for everyone,” Phyllis explained over the din as her associates passed out envelopes to everyone in the crowd. “Once you have your envelope, please see my assistant, and she’ll show you the way out.”
People grumbled as they snatched their letters and made their way out of the room. Maddie harrumphed, then dragged her new old husband out the door.
I made my way to the front row. Lance and Logan both sat there frozen, staring at their letters.
“Lance, Logan,” Phyllis snapped her words toward my twins. “I know you have questions, but they’ll have to wait until I talk to your mother. You need to step outside.”
