Inheritance

    

Inheritance

      I watched my father limbered up the steps of the nursing home dragging my terrified gran behind him. He touted this home as a palace a place where the old are cared for as if family members. He had enough money he could have paid someone to look after her.

“Nothing but serenity and bliss,” I heard him say loudly to gran and I hated him with passion. Gran had sacrificed and done without so he could get an education at Harvard. When Mom died she stepped in and raised me since dad was never around.

Dad thought he had conservatorship over Gran's person and fortune but as soon as he left I’d produce the papers remove her from this place and make sure he never saw her again. I’d already gotten a judge to issue a restraining order against my father; but I’d not call the police unless he came after gran.

He left and I entered the place. It was dingy and the residents sat in wheelchairs in their own filth. I wished I’d had the guts to come in sooner as I saw gran crying.

“You always said dry your eyes my pet, tomorrows another day,”

“Meghan?”

“Yes it’s me and we’re going away from this place.”

“Where?”

I whispered in her ear, “Florida,” and she grinned from ear to ear.

Gran and I lived in a nice home on the beach. She loved the warmth and didn’t need any extra caregiver. We bought the nursing home and gave the people there a place that was worthy of their last days. Gran died last month after twenty years with me. She was ninety five and happy. Dad’s trying hard in court to seize her assets; but my lawyer’s about to tell him gran and I spent most of her funds and what she didn’t want to spend she put in my name.

©Sheilagh Lee  January 15, 2019