The Inheritance: Chapter 5 - Part II (Updated 11/14)
Glamily:
Oooo.. lovely
magma067:
i luv it...i was so excited when i found out this got updated...and now i'm working on a legacy since i have so much more time to work on it. thanks fro the update, it was great
CuriousSimmer:
The Inheritance
Chapter 5 - Part II
February 1965
The lawyers came for a meeting at the villa the second week of February to discuss the division of assets. "Of course, Mrs. Moretti should be entitled to remain in the house, given that it is owned by her aunt. Mr. Moretti will need to seek alternative housing," my lawyer said.
"Agreed," said Dante's lawyer. "As for property...my client is willing to stipulate that the Signora can keep any and all jewelry, clothing, furs, and other gifts given to her by him."
"That's well and good, by my client would like to return any jewelry that was an heirloom of Durante's family," said my attorney. "As a show of good will."
I tried for a smile; Dante looked miserable. "I want you to keep your wedding ring," he told me.
"It was your mother's, Dante. I can't. You'll want it to g--" I caught myself before I said that he would want to give the ring to his next wife. "You'll want it for safekeeping."
"No," said Dante. "It's yours."
"As for the debt you owe?" asked Dante's attorney. "Shall we say that Elizabeth shall be responsible for her legal fees, and Dante will be responsible for his hospital bills upon the dissolution of their marriage? Until then, payments can be made out of their joint checking account."
"Sounds fair," said the other attorney. "And as Signor Moretti has already stipulated to a large and generous package of alimony and child-support, I don't think we'll need to go into that, unless of course you want to reconsider, Signora?"
"No," I said dully.
"Well that about sums it up," said my attorney. "We can talk about custody and visitation next time," he said as Lara walked into the room.
"There's the birthday girl," I said cheerily as the lawyers began to collect their papers. "I'm sorry, darling, this meeting ran longer than I expected. I've still got a cake to ice for you."
"It's okay, mom," said Lara. "You don't have to."
Twenty minutes later...
I pulled the cake out of the oven where I had left it for safekeeping, iced it, and brought it to the table. We all sang 'Happy Birthday' to Lara, who seemed anything but pleased. I served the cake and we all sat down.
Was it a coincidence, the way they all sat down, grouped to one end? Looking down the length of the table at a daughter who wasn't smiling, even on her birthday, a son that seemed distant, and a husband who would soon be leaving...
...I couldn't help but feel far away from all of them, and the thought of being apart from my children sent a dull ache to my stomach.
Later that evening...
I was getting ready for bed when Dante came in. I stopped in my tracks as I crossed the bedroom. "What is it, Dante?" I asked quietly, studying him for a moment.
"You look..." Dante said, his voice quiet. "Beautiful."
"Nothing you haven't seen before," I said dismissively. "What's on your mind?"
"I'm concerned about Lara. Andre seems fine, but Lara seems to be taking this hard," said Dante. "Do you think we should sit down with her?"
"It can't hurt," I said. "If she wants to, that is. I think treating her like a child, making her sit down and talk to us, would be a mistake."
"You're probably right," said Dante. "Well, I'll go ahead and take a shower. Good night, Elizabeth."
"Good night, Dante."
Glamily:
wonderful
magma067:
good update...
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