Ezzie the Next Generation

So setting this series up means this chapter is a little slow and long. i promise more is to come. As always comments & suggestions are always welcome.

My name is Mary. My Mom & Dad died in a car accident when I was 12. My Dad was a crazy successful realtor. He owned his own real estate business called Goldstar that had offices across the entire state. He helped my Grandpa, his Dad, buy out the consulting firm he was an executive in. He helped my Papa, my Mom's Dad, grow his HVAC company. It was something Papa started out of his garage, and now it's a huge building with dozens of employees. Finally, he and his best friend, Uncle Joe, owned a bunch of apartment buildings.

For a few months after they died Grandma, Nana and Auntie Beth would come and stay with me at my house. I never realized it at the time, but I guess probate court and adoption takes time. So they decided the best thing to do was to not uproot me right away. A lot after my parents died is a bit of a blur. I spent a lot of time cuddling and crying into our dog's fur. Shannon was an old timer then. She was always by my side and would just snuggle with me while I cried.

It was made harder later that year. Just as I was coming to grips with losing my parents, I woke up and Auntie Beth told me Shannon had died in her sleep. My heart just broke again.

Uncle Joe & Auntie Beth had a daughter Anna that is a few months younger than me. I used to be a grade ahead, but I got held back when Mom and Dad died. So that summer I moved in with Auntie Anna and Uncle Joe, and I stayed back a year when I changed schools. That put Anna and I in the same class.

The tragedy aside, I had a good childhood with my parents and my teen years with Auntie and Uncle. I can't say that I ever wanted anything. I never realized until I got older we were rich, but we weren't just handed things. We had to work for it. What I never really realized was how rich I was personally.

Auntie told me Friday afternoon we were going to a lawyers office to handle some legal stuff from my parents now that I am 18. I have been nervous about it all day. School ends and Anna & I walk home. We walk in and Auntie, Uncle, Papa, Nana, Grandpa & Grandma are all staring at me. I was thinking Uncle, Auntie and I would be going to the lawyers. "No way. Nope. Not happening." I say and I run up to my room.

"I told you!" I hear Auntie say as I run upstairs.

I am on my bed when Auntie knocks softly on my door. "Mary?"

"Come in." I say. She opens the door and comes and sits beside me. "I can't Auntie." I say. She snuggles beside me hugging me.

"I know, Baby. It's ok. Papa, Grandpa and Uncle have been handling all this for you for years. They wanted to be there for this too." She says.

"I feel like I am getting ganged up on." I say.

"No Baby, not at all." She says and hugs me a little tighter. She holds me for a moment and asks. "Who do you want to go to the meeting with?"

"You and Uncle." I say.

"Ok, we can do that. How about if Anna comes too? Then we can go to your favorite place for dinner?" She asks.

I giggle. "Are you trying to bribe me?"

"Maybe?" She says.

I hug her arm. "Thank you. Can I ask a favor?"

"Sure."

"Send them away. I don't want to have to tell them I don't want them there." I say.

"Of course." She says kissing my head. "I will call you when the coast is clear." She says and gets off the bed.

I hear them leave. I hear the cars pull away, and I get up and head downstairs. We get to the lawyers, and Uncle introduces me and Anna to the lawyer, Mike. Anna gives me a hug, and waits in the reception area, Auntie is holding my hand as we sit in the office.

Mike smiles at me. "You look so much like your Mom. You have certainly grown up from the little girl that used to run around the building, when your Dad would bring you into work."

"I remember that." I say smiling. I leave out that I don't remember him.

Mike smiles at me. "Ok Mary. Now that you are 18, you are my client. Do you realize what I mean by that?"

I pause for a moment. "Um no." I say.

"It's ok." He says. "That means I have to do what you want, and to do my best to protect you legally. Ok?" I just nod yes. "So after your Mom & Dad passed everything they had became yours, including all your Dad's business interests. But you were just a kid so your Dad put your Aunt & Uncle, and Grandparents in charge. I oversaw the businesses and reported it to them at least twice a year."

"Ok."

"Now you are 18. So now you get to have a say in how things are run." He says. "But your Dad put one more hurdle in place. He has arranged at 18 for you to get a healthy payout once a year. I am in charge of transferring funds to a bank account and or making out checks for large purchases. Auntie or Uncle need to approve large payouts. Are you with me so far?" He asks.

"Yes."

"Ok." He says with a smile. "Let's get started."

He slides a bank statement in front of me. "This is your Swiss Bank Account."

I look at it in shock. I look up and everyone is looking at me. "No Way!" I gasp.

Auntie squeezes my hand and smiles. "Your Dad was a very good businessman."

"$145 million." I say in shock.

"He started this when you were just a toddler. He made large regular deposits to it all the time to avoid large tax payments on interest and investments. It started as a savings account for him, but since his passing 100% of the company's earnings have gone directly to the account." Says Mike. Everyone is looking at me, and I can't think. Auntie hands me a glass of water and I take a big gulp.

Uncle puts his arm around me. "Mary, do we need to stop? Maybe take a break?"

"A break? You mean there is more?" I ask.

I hear Mike chuckle. "Oh yes." He scoops up all the paperwork on his desk and puts it in a pile. "Why don't we save this for another day." He walks around his desk and stands beside my chair and holds out his hand. "Let's sit on the sofa." I let him help me up. Auntie and I sit on the small sofa, Uncle is on the arm of the sofa and Mike sits in an armchair.

I look over Mike's head and I see a picture on the wall of him and Dad standing outside of the building, on either side of the sign showing Grandpa's company name, Goldstar & the law firm's name. Mike laughs. "That sign took forever to get installed. It was just your Grandfather, your Father and me here that Saturday. Your Grandfather took that photo, and he should have one of him and your Dad, that I took." He smiles at me. "I am sure this is all very overwhelming so here are the broad strokes. Goldstar is 100% yours. You own a 15% interest in both of your Grandfathers businesses, and a 25% interest in this law firm. Last year that was about $15 million in profits total."

"Oh shit." I mutter.

Mike continues on. "But you can't control the money, or the companies until you are 26. You now have a say in what happens, just like your Aunt, Uncle and Grandparents have. Each family was given a say. So with 3 families there was never a chance of a deadlock. Now that you have a vote there are four, and in the event of a tie, I will be the deciding vote." Mike looks directly at me. "I will always vote in Your best interests."

I start adding things in my head. "So by the time I am 26 I will have about $300 million in there?" I ask.

Mike smiles at me. "By then there will probably be more. Your college money is already paid for. There is a separate account all set up for that. Your Dad put away more than enough for both you and Anna to go to any college you want. Tuition, books, housing etc. it's all covered and then some."

"Wait! Anna too? I ask.

"Yes your Dad covered both you and Anna, just in case. You were supposed to be in college now, but you got kept back after your parents passed. And that is perfectly understandable. Now you and Anna can go together." Says Mike.

I am dumbfounded. Uncle speaks up. "Why don't we call it. Give her a chance to think this all over, and come back another day for details and paperwork."

We stand and say our goodbyes. Mike hands me his card, and looks at me. "Mary, you are my client. Any time you have any questions feel free to call ok?"

I take the card. "Ok. Thank you." I head out and hug Anna. I look at her still not believing it myself. "I am rich." I say.

"Sure you are!" Says Anna, kind of not believing me.

"I have $149 million in the bank that will double by the time I can have it." Anna and I scream, hug and jump.

"Girls!" I hear Auntie's raised voice. "You are in an office.

Anna and I look back and we see Mike and his receptionist smiling at us. "Sorry." We both say together and run out to the lobby.

I tried to avoid it on the way in, but now Goldstar's corporate office is staring me in the face. Auntie puts her hands on my shoulders. "Do you want to go in?" She asks.

I stare at it for a moment. "No, I can't." I say and turn to leave the building. We go out to dinner and Anna and I keep talking. We are dreaming and making plans for the future. Thinking the money will solve all our problems.

Uncle is getting tired of it. "Hey! If you can't touch it you aren't rich."

I ignore him. I can't help it. I shake Anna's arm and look at Auntie. "Can we get a car?" I ask. "We could go to school. We wouldn't bug you for rides or need to get in an Uber with a stranger."

"We?" Asks Auntie, smiling.

"Yeah we." I say. "We go everywhere together."

Auntie puts her hand on Uncle's arm to shush him. "We figured that would be a request. Nothing crazy. No sports cars. Something practical, and safe." She says.

Anna and I are bouncing in the booth together. "We are getting a car. We are getting a car!"

Saturday, Uncle Joe takes Anna out, while Grandma, and Nana come over for lunch. After we have lunch we are in the living room. Grandma looks at Nana and Auntie and they all get teary eyed. "What is going on?" I asked, getting nervous.

Auntie takes the lead since Grandma and Nana are wiping away their tears. "Your Mom and Dad left a special message for you. It's so special they wanted you to be the only one to see it." Says Auntie now crying.

My heart stops. "Mom..Dad!" I can't stop the tears. Grandma hands me an old thumb drive. It's big compared to the ones popular today, but it also has a fingerprint lock. Oh my god I remember this. I remember playing with my Dad when he must have been setting it up. I can remember sitting on his lap. He was holding it to my thumb and tickling me. I was screaming, Shannon was barking and my Mom was telling Dad to stop. I just cry. Auntie hugs me and holds me tight.

Nana pulls out a small package and hands it to me. "Your Dad was very explicit in the will. One of us was to hold the package and one the drive, and give them to you when you turned 18."

Auntie holds my shoulders and looks at me. "They wanted you to watch the video and open the package when instructed to. Not before! This was your Mom's and Dad's last wishes. No opening it until you are told to." She stresses as she leans towards me and kisses my forehead. "You can go up to your room, and watch the video. Grandma, Nana & I will be here if you need us."

I sit on my bed just staring at the drive. I sit there wishing I had Shannon beside me to hug. To hold her soft fur and just cry like I did after my parents died. I finally work up the courage to connect the drive to my tablet. The first video pops up a screen of Mom & Dad sitting on their bed with Shannon beside Mom in our house. My heart is in my throat. "My Family!"

My Mom starts talking. "Oh my sweet Baby Girl. I hope you never have to see this." I can see Shannon react to Mom being upset. "It's ok girl." She says petting Shannon.

"Hi Beautiful." Says Dad. "Your Mom and I wanted to say a few words to you in case something goes wrong and we aren't around on your 18th birthday." I run my fingers on the screen. I can see Mom crying.

I cry through the entire video. They are proud of me. My Mom hits Dad's arm when he says he is glad I got Mom's beauty and his brains. The video pauses and then jumps a bit. "Now Beautiful." Says Dad. "I want you to pause the video and open the package. Take envelope #1 and play the video, and No Peeking." He says smiling.

I open the package and hold a smaller package labeled #1, and I start the video. Mom and Dad are again on their bed, but dressed differently. "Hi Baby Girl." Says Mom. "Open package #1." She pauses a moment and continues as I am peeking in. "These are our wedding rings." She goes on to tell me the story of how Dad proposed to her. He tells me how Papa grilled him a little bit when he asked for Papa's permission to marry Mom. I slide Mom's ring on my ring finger and Dad's on my index finger.

Mom tells me about how she finally realized Dad was more than just her best friend. I guess Grandma and Nana always hoped we would finally figure it out. Mom hopes one day I will find love like she did, and I can wear her wedding ring when I get married. Dad looks at the camera. "Ok we should wrap this up. Your Mom and I really hope you never have to see these videos. They are hard to make, and probably harder on you if you are watching it." Says Dad.

Mom looks up. "Go give Auntie a hug. Hold her tight and tell her I love her and will be eternally grateful to her for taking care of you. Then give Nana and Grandma a hug and tell them I said stop spoiling you. I Love You Baby Girl."

I drop my tablet and run downstairs. "AUNTIE!" I cry as I run into her arms. "I Miss Them." I cry. It takes the four of us about a half an hour to stop crying.

Auntie pushes my hair back behind my ear. "Do you want to stop, and continue another day?"

"No." I sniffle. I should go watch the next one. I hug everyone and head back upstairs. I sit back down, take envelope #2 and start video #2. This one is just Dad sitting at his desk. I take a deep breath and take the final envelope. Dad is holding up his hand playing with his lucky ring. "I want to tell you a story about a princess...". He goes on to tell me a fantastic story that is unbelievable. He then tells me to open the second envelope and put on Ezzie. Then he adds one last thing. "Don't Ever tell Anyone about Ezzie. Please trust me Beautiful, it won't go well. Tell No One!"

I open the final envelope and Mom and Dad's matching rings are in it. Dad told me one is Ezzie and one is a decoy. I slip the smaller one on and stare at it. I can't believe I am doing this. "Hello?" I ask.

Nothing! This is nuts. I swap rings, and I swear I see the ring shrink to fit me and the gem glows just a tad.

Then I gasp loudly. "Oh Mary, you have grown so much." I hear a girl say. Then I swear I hear sorrow in her voice. "Oh Mary, I am so sorry!"

"Who is this?" I say staring at the ring. This can't be true.

"I am Esmeralda. You Mom and Dad called me Ezzie." I realize I am hearing in my head.

"No way!" I gasp.

"You did watch your Dad's video he made." She says. "Do you think your Dad would lie to you? I remember the first time I felt your thoughts as a baby." She says.

"Oh wow. Dad wasn't kidding. You are real." I gasp.

"Yes, Beautiful I am real." She says.

I get choked up hearing her call me my Dad's nickname for me.

"Mary, I am sorry. I shouldn't have called you that. That was special between you and your Dad. I can feel you are upset, I am sorry." Says Ezzie.

"You can feel my emotions?" I ask.

"Yes and as you get used to it you will be able to feel mine. Oh Joe is home, oh and Anna is grown up too. Oh Beth, Grandma and Nana are here. It's so nice to sense them again. To feel their love and concern for you." Says Ezzie and she pauses. "It's only been about six years? It felt much longer." She sighs.

"Were you alone all that time Ezzie?" I ask.

"I was, but I have endured longer. Why don't you freshen up and go downstairs. We can talk more tonight when you go to bed. Remember your Dad's instructions. Tell no one about me." Says Ezzie.

I sigh. "I won't." I say as I would swear I can hear my Mom telling me not to do something. I do as Ezzie suggested. I splash some water on my face and head downstairs. As I come downstairs Anna is the first to greet me. She wraps me up in a big hug.

"Are you ok Cous?" She asks.

"I am now." I say hugging her back. We have a very close bond. I can't imagine her not being in the room next to mine anymore.

Just then Grandpa and Papa show up with a bunch of pizzas and head for the kitchen. Nana stops and looks at my hands. I am wearing all three rings. "Oh Honey I don't think you should be wearing the wedding rings."

Grandma starts to agree and Auntie holds her hand up to them and comes to me seeing how upset I am. "Nope, no more tears. I have the perfect solution." She wraps her arm around me and walks me to her room. "I knew Grandma and Nana wouldn't want you wearing the rings, and I knew you would want to. So I thought up the perfect solution." She says as she hands me a jewelers box. I open it and it has a pretty gold chain. It looks old. Auntie takes it from me and keeps talking, as she takes out the necklace and opens it. "This was my Nana's chain. She kept my Papa's ring on it after he passed. I want you to have it so you can always have them close to your heart." She holds out her hand, I give her the rings. She puts them on the chain, and closes it. She then holds it and slips it over my head. She fluffs my hair out, and smiles.

She takes my hand and wraps my hand around the rings. "Now when you need to you can hold them in your hand, and know your parents are always with you."

We hug as we cry again. I look up at Auntie as I hold the rings and the chain. "I will know All of my parents are with me." I say and we cry some more. We eventually stop and head downstairs. I can see Grandma and Nana aren't thrilled. I guess they think they should stay in a box, but I see Auntie give them both a look. They say nothing. The mood gets better as the evening goes on. I get some presents, there's cake, and then the doorbell rings.

Auntie smiles at me. "I think it's for you."

"What?" I say.

Auntie pulls me to my feet. "Go answer the door."

I open the door and Uncle is outside smiling at me holding a German Shepherd puppy. I scream in excitement. "Easy!" Uncle says. "Her name is Zeena, she is your warrior princess now."

I am crying happy tears. I hear Grandpa groan. I grab her from Uncle. "Hi Zeena!" I say as I hug her. She is squirming trying to lick me. "She isn't a little ball of fluff."

"No she isn't. She is housebroken, crate trained and has basic training." Says Uncle.

"A crate! No way she's sleeping with me like Shannon did." I say.

Auntie comes up beside me. "Even Shannon was in a crate when she was a puppy and no one was home. You remember her crate don't you?" She asks.

I do, but I always remember it with the door off. It was Shannon's place when she wanted peace and quiet. I just look at her. She raises her eyebrows and gives me a small smile. "Ok, only when no one is home." I say with a smile.

I am surprised when I hear a voice in my head.

"Mary, take her out back. Show her where the yard is. She needs to pee." Says Ezzie.

"Really?" I say out loud.

"Really, what?" Asks Auntie.

"I think she has to go. I should take her out back." I say as I walk to the back door. She goes almost the second her paws are on the ground. She wanders around the yard sniffing, then squats and poops. "Good girl!" I say to her when she is done.

Uncle sneaks up on me and wraps his arm around me. "So tell me Trouble, are you happy with Zeena?"

I turn to him smiling. "I Love Her."

"I wanted to get her for you last year, but I had no clue breeders had waiting lists." He says.

"Uncle, we could have adopted one." I say.

"No. I don't know if it was that Shannon was just an awesome dog, or if your Dad was a secret dog whisperer. I just know I wanted you to have a great dog like Shannon. Zeena will be a great dog and you can do protection training if you want to with her." He says.