Then, early one afternoon, about a month after the funeral, what was going to happen happened. Two large SUVs and a cargo van pulled into the gravel driveway of my house. One of the SUVs was a sheriff's vehicle; the others were unmarked. Watching from an upstairs window, i saw two Female Deputies get out of Their vehicle and several Women in work clothes empty out of the cargo van. From the second SUV emerged a petite, stylish Woman i recognized as Ms. Forbes. Holding some papers, She conversed with the Deputies, looking about as though trying to confirm the address. When the three of Them stepped forward, up onto the porch, the other Ladies remained in the yard, surveying the house and workshop to the side.
As i descended the stairs, i had only a moment to collect myself before hearing the doorbell, followed a second later by an authoritative knock. When i opened the door, Ms. Forbes stood in front, the two Deputies behind Her, hands on Their holstered revolvers. I had a moment before She spoke to take in this Woman, my new Custodian. She was shorter than i'd thought, fuller, and a few years older, with darker and more intense features. With shoulder length hair and a sophisticated style, She radiated energy, confidence, despite being somewhat overweight. It flitted through my head that i wouldn't have considered Her "my type" ... not that that mattered anymore.
"larkin Nash?" She asked, in the hard accent of the east coast.
"Yes, Ma'am," i answered, keeping my gaze lowered.
"you know who I am?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Are you going to give Us any trouble?"
"No, Ma'am."
"Good boy." She turned to nod to the Deputies who stepped back off the porch. Then to me again: "Go the living room and wait for me there."
As i moved obediently to the living room, She waved the four other Women onto the porch and into the house. i could follow the sounds of Their progress as They wandered through the house, catching snippets of Ms. Olivia giving instructions. "Tag and inventory furniture, appliances, and the like for appraisal and sale. Workshop, too. Pack up his computer and any papers for me to take."
"Clothes?" one of the Women asked.
"Toss 'em, he won't need them anymore."
It took the Women some time to work Their way through the rooms on both stories of the house. Unsure whether i should sit or kneel or stand, i stood in the living room, watching the two Deputies casually standing guard in the front yard. As the tour of my house ended, Ms. Olivia stepped outside. After speaking with the Deputies, She went to Her SUV and pulled out a large tote bag. It also appeared She spoke to someone inside the vehicle, but i couldn't see who.
When She re-entered the house, She came into the living room. Without saying a word, She set the tote on the floor and sat down on the sofa. After a long moment, She cleared Her throat and said, "Come here, larkin." When i stepped across the room to stand before Her, a look of annoyance crossed Her face until i melted to my knees, which earned me a slow nod of Her head and a "good boy."
"you understand what's going on here, don't you, larkin?"
When i nodded my head, She gave me a lesson in Her control and Her preferences. "When I ask you a question, larkin, I expect an answer spoken in a respectful tone. So let Me ask again do you understand what's going on here?"
"Yes, Ma'am, i think so."
She gave me another lesson in Her preferences: "I prefer 'Maestra' to 'Ma'am,' larkin."
"Yes, Maestra."
"Good boy. As you know, I've inherited you; I'm now your Custodian. That means I own you." She probably saw the slight wince on my face. "I know that people out here don't like to think of it like that, but that's the long and the short of it. you now belong to Me." She let that sink in for a moment.
"Honestly, I don't know exactly what I'm going to do with you. The inheritance from My cousin significantly changes My financial situation and will almost certainly impact My lifestyle. With you and austen, I've also inherited significant new responsibilities. It will take me some time to sort all this out, but in the meantime I will take you back to the City with me." Again, She paused to let Her words sink in.