As he came back upright, Gabriel took in his sister’s pinched expression. She was shaking. Her face was a little bit gray. Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying. Gabriel could imagine her sitting in the car having a meltdown, her husbandgripping the steering wheel, not knowing what to do. A detective for the D.C. Police Department, Dave rarely knew what to do around emotion, but he was a stand-up kind of guy, and Gabriel appreciated that he turned out to be a good family man.
The door opened, then the lawyer moved into the room; her focus was on Gabriel. “Hi. I’m Penelope.” She touched her hand to her heart.
Gabriel stood. “Thank you for agreeing to see us after hours. It made things easier to coordinate.”
Penelope started with some words of condolence, looking from Cathy to Dave, before turning to Gabriel, but those words sounded like they were wrapped in cotton, and Gabriel had had his share of solicitous remarks.
Next thing he knew, Penelope was at his side, reaching out a hand for an introductory shake. Her touch helped Gabriel tune back in when she said, “I knew Daniel in a very limited way.”
He didn’t like that she’d used the past tense of the verb.
“Knew” was a door shutting.
She was still standing close from the handshake, and Gabriel could use a little space.
“I visited Daniel at his apartment to draw up his will.” Penelope looked around Gabriel to where Whiskey was sitting politely attentive. “I, of course, met Whiskey when I was there, but Whiskey is the only family member that I’ve been introduced to. I'm so sorry.” She turned to include Cathy and Dave. “This is a very difficult day for you all. And to have it presided over by a stranger is tough, I'm sure.” Penelope chose the chair across from Cathy’s, and she placed a blue file in front of her. “Why don't we begin, and then you can ask any questions that you have.”
The will was short.
Daniel’s life had been impactful in relationships and deeds, and there was very little in the way of material things.
His life insurance would pay for his nephews’ college through grad school. Everything that he had should be given away. His bank account was probably empty, but if there were anything in it, he’d like it donated to a charity that cared for returning service members.
Gabriel thought Daniel did a good job with his will.
The only things Gabriel wanted to keep were his memories. The kind of memories that any parent would hope for their kids—the quiet days fishing, the talks about life around the campfire, baseball, apple pie, iconic boyhoods.
In a thin voice, Penelope mentioned that there was a timeline. Things needed to be cleared out of Daniel’s place by the end of the month.
The super needed to clean the apartment and sign a lease with someone else.
It was strange how something so cataclysmic could happen in one’s life, Gabriel mused, and yet, the earth turned, the garbage was collected on schedule, the birds flew tree to tree, and another life would play out for the newest tenants of the sunny little apartment with the picture window.
“And Whiskey has been left to Gabriel’s care,” Penelope said.
“Excuse me?” Gabriel leaned forward so he had a good view of the lawyer’s face.
“Daniel left Whiskey to you, Gabriel,” she repeated.
“No. Whiskey should be with the kids.” He turned to face Cathy. “Whiskey should be with you. You've been caring for Whiskey, bonded with Whiskey. The kids.”
“Gabe, listen to me,” Cathy pressed her lips together as emotions contorted her face. After a moment, she had herself together enough to say, “The kids knew all along that Whiskeywas staying with us for a few days. They never thought that Whiskey was going to be their dog. Daniel wants you to have Whiskey. He was very insistent.” She licked her lips and glanced toward Dave as if to ask if she should say something or not. She decided to say it and turned back to Gabriel. “This was Danny at his most adamant, his most spirited.” She took in a breath, then tossed another quick look toward Dave.
Dave leaned forward and said, “If you want to know why, I can tell you. Daniel said that he’s going to use Whiskey to—” he glanced over at Cathy and stalled.
For the first time, the ghost of a smile pulled at her lips.
Dave cleared his throat. “Daniel said the two of you had made a pinky swear about what to do when you died, and so Whiskey has to go with you.”
Gabriel had no idea what Dave was talking about. None.
Penelope sat silently through that exchange.
She'd probably been through worse. That was the TV trope anyway. The bickering families, the families who are surprised by what they found in the will, fighting each other over stupid things. Who got to keep the cameo? Who got the car? The money left to protect the cat, but not the grandchildren.
There was no fight here, just surprise.
Daniel wanted Gabriel to have Whiskey?
