Mama's Table

It is old and scarred, full of chips and scratches. Everyone tells a story.

The family gathers around it a month after they buried mama. Her children, their spouses, her precious grandchildren, even a few great-grands.

Her eldest daughter sits at the head of the table with her son and daughter -in- law to her right. Her brother and his sons and daughters are on the left. The grandchildren and a few of their children are scattered around and between them. The youngest, a baby of two months, carries her great-gran’s name. It is the last baby she held. They are all thankful she got the chance.

“Mama,” Hanna, her eldest, swallows. The loss is still clear and sharp as the day she said goodbye to her, “she asks that we gather here today to discuss her will. You know how she was. The idea of getting lawyers involved would have been, would be,” she shakes her head, “unthinkable.”

“It shouldn't be necessary.” Her brother, Junior, says. The family has always gotten along. He firmly believes this. The fact that his mama had been the one holding them together was not yet known to him.

“I agree.” She takes a deep breath.

“Take your time mama.” Her son, James, lays his hand over hers. She gives him a grateful smile.

He knows his gran has been generous with him. As the eldest grandson, he was her favorite. He would never say this to his cousins but if it is known.

“Auntie, we have time. This is hard for all of us.” Jamie Lynn, James’ eldest daughter, says. She is the first granddaughter and the apple of her late Gran's eye.

She looks down at the folder that contains the will. She hasn't looked at it, honoring her Mama's last words, that it is read a month after her passing, with the family all together.

Slowly, she opens it. There is a letter in front. The envelope has her name with her Mama's familiar hand writing on it.

At the end of the table, her eldest great-grandaughter squirms. She prays that her great-gran left her a good amount. She is pregnant by a man that neither her mama and Dad or her own gran likes. She worries she won't get any help from them. Her baby daddy does have a steady job.

Beside her, her cousin looks bored but his heart is pounding. He has a gambling debt that no one at the table knows about.

Hanna opens the letter, giving it a quick read. Her eyes tear up.

“My darling daughter,

I know you are grieving. It will be hard. You know I love you. I’m sorry for what I am leaving you with. Being the matriarch of this group won't be easy.

Some of what is in the will may be a shock to you. But getting it all out in the open will be healing. I tried to be as fair as I could be.

I love you all.

Mama.”

She sits it aside and turns to the will.

What was auntie reading? Wasn't she supposed to read it all out loud? Several of the grands squirm as they wait.

“It was a letter addressed to me.” She feels their anxious eyes on her. She is anxious herself. What did her mama mean about secrets? She would have sworn they had none.

She then starts to read the will out loud.

“To my children Hanna and Junior, I leave my house. You may sell it and split the profits or decide between you how to use it. I trust you to work it out between yourselves.”

“We can do that.” Junior says. He is thinking that his youngest son could move in. He has just graduated from college and needs to move out of his house.

“Yes,” she turns back to the document, “it continues…

“To my eldest great- granddaughter, Sarah Anne, I leave the trunk of baby clothes and baby dolls. The dolls are antiques and, if sold, will be worth quite a bit. I pray you will keep one for my coming great-gran's and the clothes I dressed your dad and auntie in will be useful for the baby.”

She stops and lets that land. Is her niece pregnant? If Mama says, she believes it.

Sarah Anne bows her head. She is biting her lip. “Of course she knew. I’m sorry Dad and mom. Sorry all. It is Dave's.”

A groan goes through the group. Jamie Lynn takes a breath then turns to her daughter. “We will deal with it.”

Her husband sighs. “We will. He will support this baby.”

“Shall I go on?”

They all nod to her.

“To my eldest great- grandson, William, I leave the sum of 10, 000 dollars. He may use it to pay off his gambling debts or for inpatient gambling addiction counseling. Hanna you and James and Tammy, are in charge to make sure he gets the help he needs.”

All eyes turn to William. He slowly lifts his head. “I got myself in a bit of trouble. If you help me get out of it, I will do as gran wanted and get help.”

“How bad is it?” James asks his son.

“Bad. I owe my booky 8,000.”

His dad's sigh is exhausted. “We will pay that off and you will enter a treatment facility.”

“Yes. Thank you dad.”

“Thank gran.”

He looks up at the ceiling. “Thank you gran. I’m sorry I disappointed you,” he swallows, “all of you “

“Me too.” Sarah Anne says. Her cousin takes her hand. They will support each other.

“Okay. Are you ready for me to continue?” She isn't sure. A pregnant granddaughter, an addicted grandson with more to come. No wonder she had warned her.

“Maybe.” Her youngest granddaughter says. She wonders what her great-gran knew about her.

“Ditto.” Her brother says.

It breaks the tension and a titter of laughter runs through them.

“To my great grandchildren, I leave the sum of five thousand dollars each to be put in an account to draw interest until they reach adulthood at age 21. They may then use it to start their adult lives.”

They all breathe out in relief. Their teenage secrets are safe.

“To my daughters and sons in-law, I leave the sum of three thousand dollars each.

To each of my family members…

To my daughter, I leave my books.

To my son, I leave my truck.

To my grandson, I leave his grandfather's car.

To my granddaughter, I leave my engagement ring

All the rest, from oldest to youngest, I leave one thing from my house of their choice.

To all of you, my loves, my blessed family, I leave my undying love. Until I see you again…