Page 10 of His Obsession Her Cure

“Exactly, these are the deeds, account and business investments that have been all transferred into your names. He made sure to place in his will that you were to receive everything once you completed your education and you both have more than done that with your own accomplishments in tech.” The older of the two lawyers spoke.

“Guess the old man knew we would make something of ourselves and be better than them. I don’t know. It still feels like it’s too little too late.” Aren said.

“Nah, it's right on time. We deserve this for what we went through at the hands of his son and daughter in-law why he sat in his big house and did nothing to stop it. Even after dad died and Amanda was gone he didn’t step in and help Ma raise us. He remained a ghost just like his son. So, I say yeah, we’ll take his money, we deserved everything that he had to give and more,” I said.

The older lawyer slid a final folder toward me that was also sealed with the same initials in wax.

“One more thing. This letter is your late grandfather’s last words to you directly. He asked that you read it together at home. You have taken up residence in the home he left you, correct?” He asked us and we both nodded.

The envelope was heavy in my hands, with my grandfather's neat, bunched handwriting across the front.

To my boys, when you’re ready to carry the weight .

I looked at it a few more times, turning it over in my hands before handing it to Aren. He barely glanced at it as he placed it on the bottom of the pile of deeds in front of him.

“We’ll read it. Is that all?”

“Yes, that is all.” The executor said.

I nodded, reaching for the keys as Alestar and Aren gathered the documents in front of them and stood with me to leave.

This shit was heavy. Not only did a grandfather we didn’t know leave us wealthier than we could ever imagine at this age, he left us with new questions to things we thought were in the past.

The ride back to the house was quiet as the details of my grandfather’s estate and his suspicions about Amanda's role in our father’s death.

From what we were told he was found dead in an abandoned home in the city.

The coroner ruled his death as an overdose, they found drugs on him at the scene, so no one questioned it.

But clearly our grandfather didn’t believe his son went out like that.

It was still fairly early when we got back home.

The house was eerily quiet, sunlight streamed through the tall windows, catching dust in the air as we moved through the rooms. Boxes lined the walls and furniture that we planned on getting rid of remained covered by sheets.

As soon as I entered the kitchen, I tossed the thick envelope containing the letter onto the island. Alestar sat the crate we got for our new puppy down in by the back door with the soft liner inside. It seemed that her previous owner abandoned her, so she was ours now.

“You gon’ open it or let it stare us down all day.” Aren asked, dropping into the chair after the puppy was secured.

Alestar leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, waiting for us to decide what to do with the letter. I sank into the chair, picking up the envelope and breaking the seal with my thumbs. The paper inside was thick and expensive. I pulled it out, clearing my throat before reading aloud.

Dear Boys,

If you’re reading this, then you have survived what your parents couldn’t.

I loved my son, but his weakness was his heart.

He loved your mother more than himself, more than his sanity, and that love destroyed him.

I believe her demons pulled him under, and I will go to my grave believing her addiction and greed was not separate from his untimely death.

I couldn’t save him, but I could save the both of you.

That is why I cut them out of my will and placed everything in your names.

The money, the homes, the investments are your responsibilities now.

Use it to build a life worthy of your name, one that would make your father proud, even if he lost his way.

I know you both believe that I should have done something when I found out about your parents' addiction. But I never knew how bad things were for you boys until after your father’s death.

If I could go back, I would have done things differently.

I won’t ask for your forgiveness, I’ll just ask for you to be better men than those that came before you.

Reginald Hale

I fold the letter carefully as though it might catch fire, placing it back into the envelope.

“So, he knew, had the power to stop it and did nothing. We were left alone to fend for ourselves with two unstable junkies. Fuck him, fuck all of ‘em.” Aren growled angrily.

“Yeah, fuck them. He was right about one thing though.”

“What’s that?”

“We are better men than the ones that came before us. Let’s get ready for Ma and the girls.

” I said, getting up to get some air before I lose my shit.

The tightness in my chest eases a bit as I move further away from our grandfather’s words.

I stop at the back door as the puppy paws at the door of her crate.

I bent down and scooped her up, bringing her to my chest and stroking her fur.

“May a love like Amanda and Stanton's never find us. To love a person so much you would do anything for them. He would have killed for her. Hell, he died for her. If that’s what love is, you can keep that shit.” Aren groaned.

“That ain't love. That was a sickness, and I’ll be damned if I let us repeat their fate.

We stood in silence for a while before Alestar spoke.

“Let's get started on brunch before they get here. You know Ma will try and take over cooking if everything isn’t done before she gets here. Let me get some air and I’ll be back to help.” I said before I opened the door before the darkness that lived inside of me took me under.