Maria had entered silently into the room. They had been remembering. Listening to her friends talk about her mom with kindness and love in their voices brought tears to form in the corners of her eyes. She would be missed.
At the first mention of her father, she froze. She hadn't even considered that possibility. Technically he had rights. Her parents had never divorced. She didn't even know if her mom had a will. What would happen to all her stuff? Her home? Her life?
Michael's statement broke through her reverie. Determined, she had walked out.
"Michael, you know I wouldn't let him take me. Not now, not ever."
"I know." He responded.
Maria looked around at the faces of her friends. Silently she took a seat next to Michael. "Did you know that when we got home from that trip, my mom told me that was the best time she had ever had on a vacation. She really loved you guys. Especially you, Michael. Do you remember that convention that was held here last year and the wrestler for my mom's show quit? You filled in for her. That meant so much to her. You see nothing good has ever really been given to my mom. Her nature makes her take the best out of every situation, but no one has ever treated her with respect and dignity. Not like she should have been treated. But you, Michael, you went out of her way to help her. That really stuck."
"It wasn't anything…"
"It was everything."
A loud knock on the door interrupted the reverie. At first they ignored it, but soon Max got up and let the person in. It was Sheriff Valenti.
"How is Maria doing?" He reverently questioned.
Max pointed toward the living room, "You don't you talk to her yourself?"
Slowly he walked into the main room. Taking his hat off, he stood like a statue before addressing Maria with his heavy thoughts. "Honey, do you remember when I told you I'd take care of the paperwork? Well, uh, there's quite a lot of it actually. I need to go over some things with you."
Maria was slightly intimidated. "Now?"
"If you want. I can also take you back to the station or come back at a later time."
"No, let's get this over with."
"Okay, um, there are several things. Your mom did have a will and she left most of her things to you. The house, the Jetta, her business, everything. You also have several hundred thousand dollars in a trust fund for when you turn 18."
"Oh my God, that's a lot of money!"
"Where did she get all that money?" Liz squeaked out.
"Child support."
Alex interrogated Maria with a confused tone in his voice. "Your father doesn't pay child support."
"Not for me, for her. Her father paid child support."
Now Liz was confused. "Your mom's parents are divorced?"
"Yeah. My aunts in San Francisco are only my half aunts. He remarried, had three more daughters, then divorced their mom, too."
"That sucks." Michael commented.
"Yeah."
Valenti cut in, "Maria, there's bad news. Because your parents are technically still married, everything goes to your father until your birthday."
"That's not fair!" she screeched, "That shouldn't even be legal! Why the hell does he get my mom's stuff when he left her!?"
"Sheriff are you sure? Shouldn't the government hold it for her? Or a lawyer or something? It can't just go to the man she's been separated from for fourteen years!" Max was puzzled. He was sure the legal system worked better than that.
"I don't know what kind of legal action in necessary, but I'll find out for you. Maria, when's your birthday?"
"April 20, 1982."
"4:20? Man, I'll bet your mom got a kick out of that one." Valenti chuckled at some internal joke no one but him and Maria seemed to know.
"What's so special about 4/20?" Max voiced.
Maria spoke up. "4:20 is international pot smoking day. It's a "sacred" number to pot heads everywhere."
"Your mom smoked pot?" Isabel asked.
"Hon, my mom was a hippie. She did just about everything out there."
"Anyway, back to the subject," Valenti cut in. "Did your mom have a lawyer?"
"Yeah didn't you get the will from him?"
"No, I got it from the life insurance company. You see if your mom had filled for a legal separation, then he can't have anything from you. It's almost like an annulment. If you're separated for so many years, I think it automatically voids the marriage."
"Okay so all you have to do is talk to the lawyer and see if they're still married?"
"How long will that take?" Alex wondered.
"I can probably see him today."
"I have one more question, Sheriff," Maria broke in. "Um, what about my mom's car. I mean, she was driving it when… well is it totaled? How do I take car of that?"
"Maria, that car's gone. I think you get the insurance policy, though, since the accident wasn't her fault."
"God, I know thins is terrible, but YEAH, I finally get an off-road vehicle! I'm getting a Range Rover." Maria danced a happy white person dance excitedly.
"Maria, those are so ugly!" Liz said with disdain.
"Yeah, but they can haul ass through the desert! They're even better than Max's jeep 'cause people don't fear falling out of a Range Rover all the time."
Max was slightly offended and commented jokingly. "Nobody but Michael has ever fallen out of the jeep so leave it alone!"
"Yeah but that little episode was due to Max's bad driving…!" Michael rebutted.
"And you hanging out of the side!" Max defended.
"That day was so great!"
For a few moments they all took time to savor Michael's smile. Some of them had never even seen Michael smile. To all, it was a beautiful thing.
****NOTE**** I know next to nothing about the legal process so if I f*** anything up, I'm sorry!