by K. S. Martin
“I don’t know sweetheart. We’ll work it out.” Jordan kissed her temple. “I’m sorry about Mister Thompson though, I know you loved him like a father.” Lettie nodded and wiped the fresh tears that oozed down her cheeks. “We’ll bury him in the family plot if you want.” Lettie nodded.
“I’d like that.” Jordan pulled her tightly against him and held her. “Jordan, I’m sorry I can’t be as sweet to you tonight as you wanted but I’m just not...”
“Ah sweetheart, holding you is just as nice. I’m just happy that your safe, healthy and in my arms.”
Chapter Eleven
During the weeks that followed Lettie set the schedule after deciding that the store could stay open until someone said otherwise. She kept her employees on the move and urged them to work as often and as long as they could because any day could be the last at Thompson’s Grocery. She ordered stock, received the trucks, opened, and closed the store. Jordan was not happy about the long hours but since she seemed to like it, he didn’t protest too much. Now that she was the boss, he brought her lunch and dinner and they ate in break room together every day. He helped mop and buff floors, put up stock, and answered questions from customers sometimes. Lettie surprised him with a paycheck at the end of the second week and he laughed. “I’m not an employee.”
“No but you’ve worked so you’re paid. Don’t get excited you didn’t make much.” She laughed one Friday afternoon. It seemed odd that no one tried to stop them from running the store but no one did. She nearly expected the police to come in and shut them down. They’d continued after the funeral. There were no relatives to claim Mister Thompson so Lettie put him in their cemetery. Her friends, employees, and Jordan attended. Jordan was planning a candlelight dinner later this evening. They were going to talk about pups. The pack was flourishing. The cold frame gardens were sprouting and the pack brought in more game than expected. No one in the Summerville pack would go hungry this winter or next. Not only had they filled his freezer but their own freezers were full of fish, venison, turkey, and duck, not to mention the squirrel. Mother Nature provided well when asked and it didn’t hurt. Lettie’s season was ending soon and he wanted to try for pups. He wanted to give it his best efforts. He grinned to himself. She had no idea what she was in for later. Jordan leaned casually against the counter while she priced gum.
“Excuse me.” A man appeared at the customer service window said. He didn’t seem to be their typical customer. This man looked expensive. His suit was new and designer. His shoes were black and as shiny as his gold watch. “I’m looking for Collette Giroux.” Jordan growled low in his throat already beside her.
“Why?” He glared at the too shiny man. The man backed up a step. Jordan watched his pulse pound and sneered.
“Uh, I’m Earl’s attorney.” The man glanced nervously at Lettie.
“Earl who?” Jordan answered.
“Mister Thompson’s name was Earl.” Lettie glanced up at him.
“Yes, Earl Thompson, are you Lettie?” She nodded. “Can we have a private conversation?”
“This is my husband Jordan and I don’t think that he will allow that.” She laughed nervously.
“Oh good, because this concerns him too. I didn’t expect him to be here. I was going to ask to set up an appointment with the two of you but we can discuss it now since you’re both here. Can we go to Earl’s office?” Lettie trembled and melted into Jordan’s side.
“Lettie found Mister Thompson’s body in the office. How is the break room for you Mister…? Jordan studied him.
“Sorry. Mike Jones.” He stuck his hand out for Jordan to shake. “Earl said that you were a big fellow, he wasn’t kidding.” Mike smiled. “Earl spoke very highly of you both.” He said walking beside them to the back of the store. “I see you’ve elected to keep the store open.”
“We weren’t sure what to do. He didn’t have any kin and I decided that since I could order and write payroll we would continue until someone told us to stop.”
“Who would tell you that?” He grinned and stepped into the break room.
“I expect that you will.” Lettie sat beside Jordan across the white Formica table from Mike. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”
“No. I am here to carry out Earl’s last wishes. I checked on him once I heard. I wasn’t notified like I should’ve been but I understand why that is now.” He grimaced. “You see, Earl didn’t have any family but he loved you like a daughter. If you’d gone into his office, you would’ve found a letter addressed to you saying to contact me. I understand that you buried Earl in your family plot?” Lettie nodded and eased closer to Jordan. “That’s fine. Um, Earl had a massive coronary, he knew his heart was bad and that’s why he didn’t bother to retire. There was no point because he was dying. We had a talk when you offered to buy the store so that he could move to Florida. He sat in my office and cried because he couldn’t give you what you wanted but he knew that you wouldn’t have to wait long. I advised him that it was best to wait and not to sell.” Jordan growled. “You see, legally, all of his decisions for the past year could’ve come into question by the state. Since the will was written several years ago they have no right to question.”
“I don’t understand. What are you trying to say Mike?” Jordan was getting suspicious. This man was talking in circles and Jordan was not patient with anyone but Lettie.
“I’m trying to say that Earl left you everything Missus Giroux. Under the conditions of the will, if the store stays open, you must manage it for as long as you are able. The house on Elm, the land behind the store and all of his liquid assets are yours. I need you to sign some things but it’s all yours. I had to be sure that there was no foul play which is why I know what he died of but I can see from your faces that this was unexpected?” Lettie and Jordan both nodded. Mike chuckled. “That’s just like him. He loved to surprise people and I see that he got to do it once more.”
“What do you mean?” Lettie asked softly.
“When I graduated law school he gave me the money to open my office. You see, I grew up next door to that sweet old man. He was like a grandpa to me and he said that if it weren’t for you he would’ve left me his estate. I never wanted all that though. He did leave me the chess set. We played often. He taught me when I was six. I’ve already removed it from the house and I’ve cleaned out the perishables from the refrigerator so you don’t have to worry about that, I’m sure that it’s a little overwhelming being Summerville’s newest millionaires.” Jordan choked.
“What? What do you mean millionaires? Mister Thompson had a million dollars, or the land is worth a million dollars?”
“I mean the liquid assets come out to three point four million, the land is worth five and the store is well, he always said that the store is priceless.” Jordan’s face dropped. “Because that’s where Lettie is. You can’t begin to imagine how special he thought you were. You delighted him every day and he wanted to repay that.”
“What did you do Lettie?” Jordan murmured in her ear. She shrugged.
“He said that just listening to her stories and talking to her brightened his day. He never had a harder worker or a more diligent one. She expected nothing but gave everything. He appreciated that, he said that you deserved a bonus and he’s finally given it to you.” Mike smiled and pushed papers toward them. “I need you both to sign these.” Lettie picked up the pen and scrawled her name on the line. She could hardly see because of the tears. Jordan signed after her and pulled her close. “Oh one more thing, a request only, you are not obligated in anyway. Earl would like you to name one of your many pups after him.” Lettie gasped. “Yes, I know. I loved Missus Thompson and she taught me things.” He grinned. “Well folks, that’s about it. If you have any questions or concerns, you can call me.” He pushed a business card across the table. “You’ll need to take these papers to the county attorney and to the bank but if you have any problems call me and I will help you through it.” Mike stood. “I’ll see myself out
. You have plenty to discuss.” Lettie burst into tears as soon as he left the room and Mike stuck his head back inside. “He said you’d do that. He said that most people would jump up and down laughing at newfound wealth but my Lettie will cry. She’s so sentimental. I lost that bet so I guess I owe the estate five hundred bucks.” He grinned and left. Jordan wrapped her safely in his arms.
~Epilogue~
Jordan stretched in the warm bed. She was not beside him. He hated it when she got up first unless she brought coffee back to bed to surprise him. There was no coffee anywhere! His mood started to turn grumpy until he smelled bacon. Jordan hopped into his jeans and shoved his feet into his slippers. Following his nose out to the kitchen, he smiled at his mate. God she was beautiful. They kept the inheritance a secret. The pack would expect to laze around doing nothing if they knew that they were rich and Jordan believed they were happier poor. They enjoyed hunting for their food and digging it up out of the earth. The cold frame gardens worked wonderfully during the winter and they had fresh vegetables all season. Now the entire pack had gardens in their backyard and soon they would be canning a zillion tomatoes and pickling cucumbers. Nelly found canning recipes for nearly every vegetable in existence. Jordan had already decided to throw a barbeque feast in her grandmother’s honor at harvest time. Thank God for Nelly’s grandma Beatrix. She saved them from starvation and she deserved to be honored for it. He considered making a pack holiday called Beatrix Day that they would observe with a feast every year like Thanksgiving. Jordan never wanted to be rich but he never wanted to be poor either. A wolf needs meat, a mate, pups, and a soft bed to be content he thought and soon he would have all of those things. Lettie stuck a piece of bacon in her mouth and turned to put a pancake under the lid covering them. She saw him and grinned. God she was beautiful pregnant. As soon as she had this pup and came back into season, he would go for number two if she would agree. They had plenty of food, shelter and the means to buy all the video games that she thought a pup needed. She was happy. He would take credit for that. It was a long rough road to get here but she was happy and that was all Jordan ever wanted.
~End~
