Vincent Kinsington

The estate attorney's office was what I'd expected. The waiting area had leather chairs. On the coffee table was an assortment of muffins and fruit. Expensive looking paintings lined the walls. The place was immaculate with not one thing out of place and no speck of dirt or dust. I pulled Chet with me to the reception desk.

"I'm Vincent Kinsington," I said.

"Oh yes. I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother," the woman behind the desk said. She didn't seem much older than us. "She was a great woman and loved by many. She always made me smile when she came in. The attorney asks that only immediate family hear the initial reading of the last will and testament. You may have a seat in the waiting area," she said to Chet.

He gave my hand a gentle squeeze before he let go. I watched him until he settled on one of the leather chairs. The receptionist led me back to a large office. Several chairs were set in front of a large desk. The man behind the desk stood up and came around the desk to shake my hand. His navy blue suit was pressed and perfect. His brown hair was coiffed professionally.

"You must be the youngest Kinsington," he said, "Vincent."

"Yes," I said.

"Please have a seat." I sat on one of the end chairs.

The attorney didn't go back to his seat. Instead, he sat on the corner of the desk in front of me.

"You're in college now, right?"

"Yes," I said.

"Margaret only had great things to say about you."

My throat started to close off as it always did whenever I thought of my grandma. Everyday jolted me with new unbearable pain when I remembered she was gone. I still dreamed that she was alive. There were times I reached for my phone to text her only to remember she wouldn't respond.

"She was a great woman," the attorney went on. "She is greatly missed."

"She is," I managed to say passed the hard lump in the back of my throat.

The attorney stood and looked to the door. It wasn't until then that I realized the receptionist had brought back Aiden, my dad and my mom. My dad frowned when he saw me, but he didn't say anything.

"Please, have a seat." The attorney went around to the other side of the desk. The receptionist closed the door when she left.

"Normally, we would just give you each a copy of the will, but Margaret thought there would be contention and wanted me to read out the will with all of you here so there wouldn't be any disputes." He picked up several papers off his desk and handed each of us a will.

A lot of it was legal jargon, but what it came down to was that Aiden inherited my grandma's shares in Kinsington Plastics. That meant Aiden now had more shares in the business than anyone else including our dad. My dad got everything else except for the house. The house went to me. My mom, not unexpectedly, got nothing.

Everything went still at the announcement that I got the house. I scanned the will not quite believing it until I saw it with my own eyes. I could feel my dad's eyes staring at me. Grandma left me the house. The house I hated. The house I had panic attacks in. Had she expected me to kick out my family and move in? Because that was not going to happen.

When everything was done, the attorney asked me to stay behind a moment longer. He walked the rest of my family to the door and then closed it behind them when they left. He sat on the corner of the desk like he had earlier.

"You're probably wondering why you got the house of all things," the attorney said.

"Yeah," I said.

"Your grandma thought you could sell it to your dad and use the money for school and to start up your own company. There is no stipulation with what you do with it. You could sell it to someone other than your dad and kick your family out. You can charge your family rent each month. You could kick them out and move in yourself. Whatever you want. The house is yours. If you do want to sell it, I know a good realtor I could recommend."

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"Who is it?" I asked.

He gave me the phone number of the realtor.

I stood to follow the rest of my family out. He walked me to the door, but before he opened it he said, "I'm sorry about your grandma. She loved you a lot."

I nodded and managed to mutter, "Thank you."

When I went back out to the waiting area, Chet was no longer sitting. He was now standing and Aiden and Jasmine stood in front of him talking with him. My parents were near the exit doors ignoring everyone else. Jasmine must have been waiting with Chet while the rest of us were in the meeting.

Chet's eyes followed me as I walked over to my parents. My dad scowled at me. There was no hint of affection in his eyes.

"Do you want to buy the house from me?" I asked.

"Yes," he said.

"I'll have someone contact you about it then," I said.

I didn't have to look to know Chet was now next to me. I could feel his presence. It warmed me despite the cold glare my father gave me. My mother's eyes switched between me and my dad not sure what she should do in this situation. She didn't have to do anything though. She had chosen my dad over me a long time ago. It didn't bother me so much anymore. I took Chet's hand in mine and walked passed my parents and out the door.

We walked along the sidewalk towards the bus stop. It was a sunny day. Pigeons cooed from nearby buildings. The air was warm against my cheeks. It got a little warmer everyday. The grass had turned green and flowers were beginning to grow.

"She gave you the house?" Chet asked.

"Yes," I said.

"And you are selling it to your dad?"

"The attorney said it was grandma's suggestion. She thought I should sell it to them and use the money to pay for school and start up my own business so that is what I'm going to do."

We took several more steps before Chet stopped and said, "Vincent."

He wasn't expecting a response. His tone told me everything - that he knew I was hurting and reminding me that he was my safe haven.

He wrapped his arms around my waist. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I hugged him back and buried my head in his shoulder so no one would see me cry. My tears wet his shirt, but he held me and stroked my hair.

"I miss her," I whispered passed the painful lump in my throat. My heart twisted as I said the words. Chet held me closer.

But then I remembered my family would be coming out of the building and we were still close enough they would be able to see us. I pulled back and wiped my tears away just as my family came out. I took Chet's hand in mine again and pulled him to the bus stop.

I sent Trevon and Alex a group text to let them know what had happened at the attorney's and what I planned to do with the house. They both agreed that it was the right thing to do. Trevon added that I make sure to get the full value of the house and then some. I shouldn't go easy on them just because they were family because they never went easy on me. I sent a text to Dean giving him the update. His response was a little awkward. I knew he wanted to support me, but wasn't sure how to respond since his own experience with my grandma was to keep me away from him. My grandma hadn't been perfect, but she had loved and supported me in a household that had ostracized me. I would always be grateful to her. I would always love her.

We got on the bus and sat near the back. I sent another group text to Nate and Nat to give them an update. Nate basically said the same thing Trevon did. Nat said she knew of a few realtors if I needed someone.

"Did Jasmine talk to you while you waited?" I asked Chet as we got off at our bus stop and started the walk to our apartment.

"Yes," Chet said. "I like her. She's nice."

"Was Aiden nice to you too when he talked with you?"

"Yes," Chet said. "He asked how you were doing. I didn't talk to him long because you came out then and your parents had been scowling at me while I talked with your brother. I think he's going to keep in contact with you now though. I don't think he is going to go back to doing everything your dad says."

"He is the strongest shareholder now in Kinsington Plastics," I said. "I think my dad is going to listen to him a little more now."

When we got home, I started on my homework because as much as I wanted the world to pause and grieve my grandmother's death with me, life didn't work that way. Chet sat next to me at our folding table and did his homework with me. He ordered some food for delivery because I didn't feel like cooking and Chet couldn't cook a decent meal. I hadn't cooked at all since my grandma died. Nate brought over his home cooked meals when my grandma first passed away.

Later that night, when we were in bed, I tried to sleep. I closed my eyes and felt the warmth from Chet's body, but I couldn't stop the deep pit in my chest. I couldn't stop the memories of my grandma and how I wished I had more time with her. Tears spilled from my closed eyes. The moisture cooled on my cheeks. I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling.

I thought Chet might be asleep, but he wasn't. He shifted next to me and caressed my jaw. I readjusted so I was on my side looking into his rich brown eyes. He didn't ask me if I was okay. He didn't tell me everything was going to be alright. He didn't tell me he was sorry. He just touched me. His fingers spread warmth and comfort through me. I closed my eyes and more tears spilled out.

"Make me forget," I whispered. "For a moment, take away this pain." I opened my eyes again to stare into the depths of his. He was love, compassion, trust, safety, repose, tranquility, my family. My Heart.

"How?" he gently asked.

I crashed my lips to his. He responded immediately to return the passionate kiss.

"Comfort me," I said as I pulled him on top of me. But he was already moving to do so.

I let myself get lost in his kisses. His touch gave me warmth. His eyes filled me with love. It was desire and ecstasy when he was inside me. More than that, it was an all consuming love that made me forget everything else, but him.

I fell asleep in his arms and the ease in my heart that he gave me.