Chapter 4
She started packing up when she entered her room, with the single hope of getting out of Roswell as soon as possible.
Her cell phone rang and after a quick debate she answered it "Hello?"
"Maria, we need you at the reading of the will" Philip's calm voice said through her phone line.
"Why?"
"As a beneficiatiary, you're required to be at the reading"
"What? A beneficiary? Why?"
"We'll start when you arrive, and you'll have the answers to those questions. Do you still have the address for my office?"
Maria plopped down on her bed in defeat, "Yes, I'll be right there"
"We'll be ready to begin when you arrive"
Hanging up her cell phone, Maria covered her face with her hands. Her thoughts were frantic and were overriding the slim control she had over her sanity. She wanted to lie back in her own bed and stay there until she wasn't a complete mess.
A couple of years would do...
Instead she rose off the bed and went to the bathroom to take a quick shower before leaving. At her present state she felt too raw and dirty to face the world. After her shower she used a hand towel to clean off the mirror to glance at her reflection.
Who was this girl?
The person staring back at her looked older than her twenty-two years. With pale skin, lifeless eyes and a mouth that hadn't smiled in a long time. She turned away sharply, hating that she existed in this state with no choice but to trudge along, hoping for the good that she'd always believed to follow the bad.
Making sure to get dressed and groomed as quickly as possible, Maria was ready in no time. She tried to keep her thoughts light and instead of reflecting on the funeral from the morning, she wondered about Thomas's will.
What could he have possibly left her?
He hadn't felt the need to give her anything before. Squashing the small glimmer of hope, Maria reminded herself that she didn't care. Anything he wanted to give her now was too little, too late.
With this determination, Maria parked and entered the law office. After speaking with the secretary, Maria was escorted to a conference room. As she entered, all eyes were on her. She noticed the widow from earlier, who'd changed into a stylish, black suit. The blonde, Tess, was unchanged and sat next to her stranger.
At the frowns on the faces of the two women, it was evident that she was an unwelcome guest. She didn't bother to discern the questioning in her strangers eyes.
"Ah, Maria" Philip Evans welcomed with a smile "Now, that you're here we can begin". Remembering her manners, she smiled in response and took her place in the seat two chairs down from the widow.
She looked at and around the rectangular table they were seated at. Philip sat at the head with documents spread out in front of him. To his left sat Tess and the stranger, to his right sat the widow and Maria.
"The last will and testament from Thomas William Menton, was revised a couple of weeks before his death. It states that his home on Creek Hill Crescent belongs to his wife Naomi Menton, as well as a sum of seventy thousand dollars"
Naomi's body straightened as she received the news.
"To, Tess Menton he leaves approximately two point five million dollars"
"To Michael Guerin, he leaves his entire car collection, including his '57 Harley Davidson"
"To Maria Deluca, I leave the remaining portion of my estate which totals five point four million. I know that I don't deserve anything from you but I hope that this money brings you happiness. Accompanying it will be a tape that hopefully will answer any questions you have. I'm sorry that I wasn't the dad you needed and deserved"
"What?"
"Maria?"
Ignoring them Maria sat shell-shocked. Money. More money than she could have possibly dreamed of. "All my life, my mother struggled to take care of us. And he always had this money just sitting in a dusty bank, instead of taking care of his responsibility. "All this time" she said out loud.
"Naomi, take Tess home. Maria, I hope you take a look at this tape" Philip Evan's said pulling her out of her daze.
"You've been nice to me...why?"
"I've been best friends with your father for a long time and there wasn't a time that he didn't speak about you or show me pictures of you growing up over the years. You may not feel he cared for you and it's understandable because you didn't know that he was keeping an eye on you. He loved your mother so much but he was married to Naomi and she was pregnant with Tess. If he left her he'd be disowned and then he wouldn't be able to provide for Amy or Noami, so he made a choice. In our circles, we don't get divorced and Naomi was a good wife who didn't deserve that type of stigma attached to her. He's regretted the decision since then and Amy was adamant that once he made his choice there was no going back"
"He sent her letters and even though Amy didn't tell him where you were living she sent him pictures when he begged for them. He was so proud of the woman you were growing up to be and proud to call you his daughter"
Sadness lined Philip Evan's eyes but there was something else there. It seemed a dimmer of hope was alive as well. Hope that Maria would somehow change her mind about her absent father?
Not Likely
"Take this tape and watch it, you'll find out everything you need to know and hopefully find the closure you need" He placed the tape before her and cleared his throat "I'd suggest you take it but the decision is completely up to you. I will say this: Tom was a great man who made many mistakes. But I'll always be proud to say he was my best friend". He exited the room quietly leaving Maria to the decision at hand.
Staring at the tape, she thought of the things she'd learned in Roswell. What was the truth? Did she really have this father who had to stay away or was he the heartless man she'd always believed him to be? Confused and emotionally drained, Maria left the tape. She hesitated slightly as she placed her hand on the doorknob. She glanced at the tape lying on Philip's desk but in the end she'd made her choice.
As she walked outside into the brilliant Roswellian sunshine, she thought about things. Life mostly, but also her plans, her future. What did it have in store for her? It was clear she needed to make changes. The was no happiness to be found if she went back home to the mundane existence she'd sleep-walked through. But if she couldn't go home than where was she to go?
Pretty much anywhere, now that she didn't have to care about money. But what was the use of having that kind of money if she couldn't enjoy it with family or friends or...a lover. Money solved all types of problems but loneliness.
Sighing she hopped back into her Jetta and drove to her motel room.
Well at least she could now afford an upgrade.
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Maria was just about to sink into her new bed when she heard the knock on her hotel room. Puzzled, as she didn't remember telling anyone she'd switched to a better hotel she went to the door. It was probably a maid or something.
Surprise, wonderment and something much deeper went through her as she opened the door to reveal none other than Michael.
Regaining her composure, she asked "What do you want?"
"You forgot this tape" He replied pulling his hand up to give it to her.
She stared at the tape and fought her opposing internal opinions.
To take the tape or not? She remembered what Philip had said to her and how it connected to her future, the future she wanted.
She reached out to grab the tape, a symbolic gesture she was sure would have a drastic effect on her life. "Thanks"
Ignoring the connection she could feel between them, she fought hard to maintain her calm composure "Is that it?"
Michael opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, her heart leapt as she waited. Then he closed his mouth and shook his head. Disappointment spread through her, though what did she have to be disappointed about she questioned.
Instead he said "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow" She said, not sure when she was leaving but knowing it would be best to end whatever it was that they shared. Feeling cowardly, Maria needed to retreat to rethink her situation and this man, whom she'd only known for such a short time period, seemed to have this effect on her. He made her want more than she had ever had. Made her hope, which was dangerous. Hope had only disappointed her in the past, why should she go through it again?
No this needed to end right now before she got in too deep. With more strength than she thought she possessed Maria looked Michael in the eye, determined to end things. "Good-bye Michael"
Michael sighed but nodded his acceptance "Maria- good-bye" and turned around to walk away.
TBC...