The Inheritence

I don’t understand, no, seriously I just don’t’ Samantha slid the mobile phone across the table towards Tammy, then stood up, almost knocking her chair over in haste to order their cappuccinos and pastries. The girls were at their favourite bakery and always ordered the same pastries and coffee.

She continued the conversation on her return without missing a beat.

‘No, seriously, I don’t understand’ she repeated.

Tammy and Samantha were the best of friends. Their friendship had begun many years earlier when they had started there first job together straight out of school. Tammy was accustomed to Samantha’s dramatics. Tammy the sensible one, she was the calm one in every situation.

‘Ok, let’s have a look at the email again and see if we can’t make some sense out of it’ She entered Samantha’s passcode, unlocking her phone. She opened the email and began to read it out aloud.

‘Dear Miss Samantha Reilly,

We would like to confirm your appointment at Richard and Richard Solicitors on January 8th at 2.30pm.

Martin Place

Sydney

Please contact our office to confirm this appointment.

Your earliest response would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely Jane Martin, Assistant

Tammy quickly looked up Richard and Richard solicitors in her search engine and sure enough they did exist.

‘Call them’

‘It’s probably a scam, I’ve heard they have people in other countries on the receiving end of the calls, when you call the number and then they scam you and take your money’

‘Sam, you don’t have anything to scam, you work in a supermarket, live in a shared rental and you have a total of twenty-five dollars and twenty-five cents in your account, just ring them’

‘Maybe some rich aunt or uncle has left you something’ Tammy laughed.

‘Don’t think I have any aunts or uncles or much of any family. Before mum died, she did say I had a few relatives from my dad’s side of the family, but they were mainly jailbirds, drunks and junkies, and she warned me if they ever came on the scene to stay right away from them’

‘Sad story, sorry, but ring them!!’

Both girls laughed.

‘Ok, ok, I’m ringing’ Sam dialled the number. It answered on the fourth ring.

‘Richard and Richard Solicitors how can I help you?’ a pleasant voice said.

‘Oh, hi, um, hi, I received an email from you’

‘Who may I ask is calling’ the woman asked patiently but with a hint of sarcasm.

‘I’m, Sam, oh, I mean Samantha Reilly’

‘Yes, Miss Reilly, are you ringing to confirm your appointment on January 8th at 2.30?’

‘I guess so, can you just tell me what it’s about, I’m sure you must have the wrong Samantha Reilly’

‘I’m sure that’s not the case’ the woman snapped. Her tone clearly indicated that the firm of Richard and Richard did not make mistakes. Nor did she.

‘So, we will see you January 8th at 2.30pm. We insist, Miss Reilly that you are punctual, our office is very busy, and our solicitors time is very valuable, have a lovely day’ and she rang off.

‘What the actual hell is going on, did you get that, my time is as valuable as any solicitors, how rude’ they both laughed.

‘Guess we will find out next Wednesday, because you're coming with me, let’s go spend my last twenty-five dollars and twenty-five cents and get a bottle of wine and celebrate the unknown’ Sam linked her arm in Tammy’s, and they skipped to the pub. It was karaoke night and after a bottle of Sav they may even get up and sing.

It was a cold, wet Wednesday when Samantha and Tammy stepped off the 415 bus and headed towards the office of Richard and Richard Solicitors.

Samantha nervous, Tammy excited, she was more then convinced Samantha must have inherited something important if this firm of solicitors were contacting her friend.

The office of Richard and Richard Solicitors was on the 16th floor of the Business Centre building. The girls peered into the frosted glass door and pressed the intercom found on the door panel.

‘Miss Samantha Reilly, just push the door after the buzzer sounds’

‘Yes, ok’ Samantha answered.

The door buzzed and opened into a magnificent room. It shouted money, money, money, from every angle. Leather lounges to mahogany furniture. Both the girls stood like a pair of stunned mullets. Mouths gapping open.

‘Come in ladies we don’t have all day’

‘Hi, I’m Samantha and this is my best friend Tammy’

‘Yes, ok, I will just check if they are ready for you, don’t bother sitting, no time for that’ Jane Martin tapped lightly on the door and poked her head around. She spoke so quietly the girls couldn’t make out what she said. She stepped back nodding her head to whoever was inside and held the door wide indicating to the girls to enter.

Tammy gave Samantha a little push towards the door and followed close behind.

‘Come in girls, take a seat’ a lovely little grey headed man raised himself slightly as the girls sat themselves down on the extremely expensive comfy leather chairs.

‘I’m sure you're wondering why you’re here, now which one of you is Samantha’

Samantha gave a little wave.

‘Lovely, yes, so where do I begin, a little history perhaps, yes, I think that’s the best thing’

The girls sat staring wide eyed at the little man, waiting patiently.

‘So, as you know we are Richard and Richard Solicitors, a family firm, myself and my brother, Lawrence. He’s not in today, he likes to have two days off, mid week, always has, not sure why, rather odd now I think of it’ he gave a little laugh. He really was a cute little thing, not much taller then 5ft.

‘Sorry girls, I am the habit of rambling on, as I seem to do at my age’ he smiled.

The girls smiled back politely.

‘So, I guess your curious as to why we have contacted you’

The girls both nodded.

‘Well, good news, but also rather bad news also, just depends on circumstances really, of course it’s sad but at that age it’s to be expected’ he scratched his chin and seem to ponder on his own words.

The girls looked at each other confused and becoming slightly impatient.

‘Sorry, rambling again, well the good news is you have inherited a very substantial amount of money, sadly your Aunt Bessy, or should I say your Aunt Elizabeth has passed away’

‘I don’t think I have an Aunt Elizabeth’ Samantha said.

‘Oh, but you do dear, I knew her well. I have handled her affairs since she won the money, and she spoke of you often’

‘It would be lovely if it were true, but I think you have made a mistake Mr Richard’s, I have no family that I know of’

‘Oh dear, no there is no mistake, Bessy was your mother's sister’

‘My mother never mentioned a sister’

‘No, I’m sure she didn’t, they had a falling out many many years ago, over your father I believe, a love triangle I was told by your aunt herself’ he looked a little flushed with embarrassment.

Samantha looked to Tammy for support. She was sure there must be a mistake.

‘How much money are we talking, Mr Richard’ Tammy blurted, obviously not interested in the whys or hows, just the money.

‘Well, your aunt won the lottery a few years ago and being well in her eighties she never really spent much of it, and invested it wisely, I believe the amount after taxes and fees will be in the vicinity of two million dollars. Also, there is a few investments worth around two hundred thousand, perhaps a little more. The stock market has been promising lately’

‘Oh my god!’the girls both cried.

‘We can buy food; we can travel’ Samantha said grabbing Tammy’s hands and jumping up and down in her seat.

‘Is this real’ Tammy asked Mr Richard.

‘Yes, it’s real, I would be willing to continue looking after your affairs, if you would permit me’ he smiled at the very over excited girls.

‘Yes, of course’ Samantha said.

‘Jane will get all your details and organise to transfer your funds today. You are now an extremely wealthy woman, be careful of family and friends, present company excluded of course, they may start appearing out of no where. According to your aunt your father's side of the family leave a lot to be desired’

‘Thank you so much Mr Richard’ Samantha hugged him tight as he led them to the door.

‘Oh, thank you, I’m pleased for you and I know you never knew your aunt, but I can tell you she was a lovely lady’

He led the girls through the door and deposited them with his assistant Jane they had met earlier. Both the girls hugged him. He spurted and blushed by the outburst, Jane the assistant looked horrified, but the little man gave a little laugh and headed back to his office.

Paperwork was spread across the very large desk.

‘Now Miss Reilly, I will need you to read and sign all these documents. I must insist you read them throughly, we will not be having any problems in the future caused by you having not read nor understood what you have signed. Do you understand?’

Samantha nodded, she found this Jane assistant overwhelmingly intimidating.

Papers after papers were handed to Samantha and as promised she read but seriously didn’t really understand most of what she signed. Lucky for her Tammy was extremely bright and had studied business in high school, she had even considered that road but decided it was way too boring as a long-term career.

Samantha paused as she read and reread the final paper. There was a house. Her aunt had owned a house. She now owned a house. Samantha felt excited and was sure if she pinched herself, she would wake and it prove to be nothing more then a dream. With shaky hand she passed the page to Tammy.

‘Look what it says, I can’t believe it, no more sharing, no more landlord’ both girls began to hug.

‘No time for that ‘Jane the assistant snapped.

‘We need these things finalised today. We have taken the liberty in drawing up a will for you also, if you want to go ahead with it just fill in your beneficiary and sign it. If you would rather organise your own at a later date that’s entirely up to you. Here are your keys, the address and I have taken the liberty of providing you with some directions. The money transfer will be completed by this afternoon and should be available tomorrow morning.

These are your copies of all paperwork. Good luck in the future and we will be in touch regularly via email regarding your investments. Miss Reilly let me give you some advice, obviously you can do with it as you like, you are now a wealthy woman, be mindful who you share this knowledge with. Minimal information on social media is highly recommended. I’m sure many long-lost relatives would delight in sharing your wealth, so less said would be for the better. As I said take my advice or not it’s entirely up to you’

‘Thank you, I promise to be very careful’

Samantha agreed as she quickly jotted down Tammy as her beneficiary.

‘I will make sure she is’ Tammy spoke up.

‘Well, that’s it, good luck ladies’ assistant Jane led them out the door.

‘Pinch me, ouch!’

‘Well, you told me too’ both girls burst into fits of laughter.

‘We are rich’ Samatha yelled.

‘Shh! No, you crazy girl, you are rich, I shall be your assistant, just like assistant Jane, no time for that! get a move on ladies’ Tammy did her best impression of assistant Jane.

Samantha laughed.

‘I shall pay you an enormous salary then’

‘Sounds great to me and a company car too’ Tammy model walked, swaying her hips.

‘You can’t drive’ the laughing and baiting continued as the girls headed towards the train station, following assistant Jane’s directions. They were to catch the train from central station to Larimore Downs, in the heart of the Blue Mountains.

Then it was a 15min walk to the cottage.

The trip took nearly an hour. The girls found the cottage easily enough. It proved to be a lovely cottage with plenty of rooms for entertaining and the girls were keen for parties, music and dancing. Within a few weeks the girls had settled in nicely. They had discovered so many walking tracks with immaculate views of the mountains. They were happy. Their first party was to be held on the long weekend, lots of their friends were coming and they had even hired a live band. The catering was being done by a local company that prided itself on fresh local produce. The girls were so excited.

Finally, the day arrived, everything went well, the food was wonderful, music great and the wine flowed. Everyone was enjoying themselves when the torrential rain hit. They all got drenched but the laughter continued to ring out and the band after resetting inside continued to play.

No one noticed the two hostesses were nowhere to be seen.

On a cliff top they stood in the torrential rain. Thunder clapped, lightning flashed.

‘Why are we here’ Samantha yelled over the din of the storm.

Tammy had grabbed Samantha’s arm and raced her along the walking track in the opposite direction to the house when storm had hit.

‘Thanks for leaving me a fortune’ Tammy yelled as she pushed her friend over the cliff.

The End