Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: HEIR/HEIRESS (04/07/22)
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TITLE: Deep Betrayal | Previous Challenge Entry
By Corinne Smelker
04/13/22 -
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I moved to the United States and married in 1994. Granddad passed in 1996. Every month I’d call my grandmother and every month she’d tell me how she found my Granddad – he never woke up from his afternoon nap. I used to call a neighbour too – one who checked in on my grandmother every morning, got her shopping in, and even took her to the bank to get her pension money. I will never forget her kindness.
In January 1999 I called my grandmother.
“Who is it?” she asked.
“It’s me, Grandma, Laurel*.”
“Who?”
After a bit of back and forth I realized that her memory was fading and fading fast.
I called Alice, the neighbour. “Yes, she is not doing very well, I’m afraid.” Alice confirmed my fears. “She is having a hard time remembering to do everyday things.”
“I wish there was something I could do, but I'm so far away.” Plus, I was heavily pregnant and couldn’t fly anyway.
There was a pause on the phone and a rustling. Alice came back. “Your grandmother has this business card for a solicitor, he has the same surname. Is he family?” She read the name on the card.
“I think he is a nephew or something,” I replied. “Let me call. Maybe he can pop in and see Grandma or give us some ideas on next steps for her.”
“Hi, this is Peter Wildman*.”
“My name is Laurel…” I explained who I was and why I was calling. Peter’s tone was warm, oozing charm and concern. “She is my Great-Aunt. I knew Great Uncle Albert* died but had not really given much thought to Great Aunt Mildred*. I will drive there as soon as possible and let you know what I find out.”
Over the following weeks Peter and I called once or twice a week and sent letters back and forth. I was grateful to have a family member take care of things. The guilt lay heavy on me – I was supposed to be the one taking care of everything.
The inevitable happened and at the end of 1999, my Grandmother passed, peacefully in her sleep, just like my Granddad had a few years earlier. I could not have wished for a better outcome.
After a month I called Peter as I wanted to settle the affairs. I knew the house was worth about $250,000 (in 2000, today that is closer to a half-million dollars) and really wanted to sell it so that my family could buy a home in the States. Plus, I knew she had some expensive jewellery, there were stocks and bonds, and their savings accounts – all of it was meant to come to me.
As soon as Peter answered my call, I could tell there was something wrong. It was as though the air turned frigid. “There’s nothing for you,” he said. “Great Aunt Mildred changed the will a couple of months before she died.”
“But she was not in her right mind!” I spluttered.
“You weren’t here. How do you know?” He retorted. “My law firm handled the new will, and she chose to give everything to me because I was the one here, looking after her.”
“It wasn’t even you! You paid the neighbour £20 a week to run errands. How dare you? They were my grandparents!"
“And you couldn’t be bothered to see them,” Peter said triumphantly. “If you want to fight it, I'll see you in court.”
That was over 20 years ago, and my blood still boils when I think of the deep betrayal. Then I have to remind myself that vengeance is the Lord’s…
*Names have been changed.
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