After that Halloween weekend Adam and Jack took May in as one of us as Family. May also took them in as Grandsons into her heart. As the next week rolled by and the weekend came I went to visit May like always. And as always she would meet me at the front door with a smile, but this time she had a cold. I tended to her that weekend, but this time she wanted to have me sleep next to her. I did as she asked keeping her warm as I held her. I made sure she was comfortable fixing her soup as that night she feed me. Before I left that Sunday she was feeling a bit better as she walked me to my truck. Before I got in May suggested that Adam, Jack, and I come for Thanksgiving as it would be a family get together between us four. Smiling at the thought I exclaimed I would tell them giving her a tight hug. May gave me a hug back only to break it saying I better get or she would keep me hostage until Thanksgiving. We both laughed as I got in my truck.
The week before Thanksgiving was here as Adam, Jack, and I were looking forward to spending turkey day with May. It was a Wednesday as I just got out of my last class of the day. I had to make a trip to the store to get supper as it was my night. So as I got to my truck around 3:30 p.m. I had just put my bag in the driver seat when I heard a throat clear.
“ Are you Heath Thompson young man?” The voice asked as I turned to see who it was
Standing there was a Sheriff, and his deputy I guessed.
“ Yes, have I done something wrong officer’s.” I asked feeling scared all the sudden
“ No son far from it so calm down.” The Sheriff tells me as I nod
“ So what is this about if I may ask?” I say asking him as he looks at his female deputy
“ Heath, do you know a Ms. May Griffin?” The female deputy asks getting a nod
“ Yes, she is like a grandmother to me. Why do you ask is she ok?” I ask not liking the looks they both had
“ Is there anywhere we can talk son?” The sheriff asks as I shake my head
“ Sir if it’s all alright could you just please tell me what is going on.” I say seeing him debate about my request
“ Heath, she was found dead this morning by a neighbor. The neighbor told us about you going to school here.” The female deputy tells me as my heart sinks
“ No she can’t be as I just talked to her last night. She never shown any signs of bad health.” I exclaim as I back up to sit
“ Son we know this is hard, but we are just doing our duty. She named you her sole heir so her attorney asked us to give you his card.” The sheriff tells me as I numbly take it
“ If you need anything from our station give me a call.” The female deputy tells me getting a nod
They give me their condolences as they walk away leaving me there. I look at the card to see the attorney’s name and number. He put a time for me to see him which was next Wednesday. I shake my head back and forth feeling tears come to my eyes. I stop to see two familiar faces looking at me very concerned as I cry.
“ Heath bro what is it? Why are you crying man?” Jack asks me as I stand up to hug him
“ Jack I don’t like this one bit.” Adam says standing by Jack
“ Me either Adam, Heath what is wrong man? As this isn’t like you bro.” Jack says as my tears continue to fall
“ It’s May she’s….she’s..” I say trailing off as he breaks the hug having me sit in the truck
“ She’s what heath? Look at me she’s what?” Jack says trying to stay calm
“ SHE’S DEAD OH GOD SHE”S DEAD!” I yell feeling my self lose control
“ Come on Heath you need to calm down. Jack help me get him to our dorm.” Adam says taking my left arm as Jack gets my right
“ She’s gone Grandma’s gone.” I say feeling hurt and lost again as I did before summer
“ Calm down bro you have us to help you through this. We are not going anywhere.” Adam tells me as they help me to our dorm room
That evening goes slow as I sat on the couch. Both my friends help me the best they can. After I finally calm down Adam suggest I call the attorney to get more information as to May like if there is a funeral or what. I nod knowing he is right on that note as I didn’t know what to do. I got my phone from my jacket and with card in hand dialed the number. The phone rung a few times until a woman answered. She told me her name being Susan. I told her I needed to speak to Mr. Erik Goldsteen. She asked what it was about in which I said grandma May’s name. Susan told me to hold for a minute. It was just a few seconds that he got on the phone.
“ Is this Heath Thompson?” He asked with a calm tone but curious
“ Yes sir, I am Heath, the reason I am calling is the sheriff didn’t tell me of how to get ahold of a funeral home or anything of that matter.” I exclaimed to him as I heard a sigh
“ Heath, I already have that taken care of. She isn’t having a funeral as she didn’t want one. She wanted to be cremated. I know this is hard for you as May has told me so much about you. Look come to my office next Wednesday and we will talk. If you need anything between now and then just call me. And please accept my deepest condolences.” Mr. Goldsteen tells me as I have tears
“ Thank you sir for explaining it to me. I will see you next Wednesday then.” I say as we hang up
Adam and Jack look at me very intently as I try to calm myself for a moment to explain to them. Once calmed I tell them of what May wanted. Adam can see the reasoning, but Jack doesn’t at first until Adam explains it better. Jack just sighs accepting what grandma wanted before going to get a beer. He came back with three in which I waved off.
“ I still have to head out to pick up supper.” I stated as Adam shook his head
“ Sorry bro but your not going any where in your state of mind. There is cold pizza still in the fridge we nuke when we get hungry. So take the beer, and relax.” Adam tells me with authority as I see Jack agree nodding
Jack hands me the beer that I accept from him. They both take a seat on either side of me. We sip on our beers for awhile in silence. I start to think of my life now as May was a big piece of it. Out of the corner of my eye I see Jack raise his beer.
“ To a woman who had a big heart of gold. To a woman who loved those around her with a smile. To a woman that could cook with a soul so pure. To May as she will be missed.” Jack says holding back his tears
“ To May.” Adam says also holding back tears
I think for a moment as I raise mine up.
“ To Grandma as I will always love her.” I state with tears falling
We clank our bottles together taking drinks from them after. The evening turned into night as Adam as well as Jack keep a eye on me. I don’t know what to think as my mind still can’t grasp the loss of some one close to me again. I keep thinking why does things always happen to me. That night sleep hardly comes to me as my dreams are filled with May in a casket. She doesn’t move or speak to me. I see my father stand by the container that holds her, but he says no words except show tears. I feel myself cry as I see her being lowered into the sand as my father fades walking away. I shake my head as to not believing she is gone. It’s at that moment a look up into the sky of my dream and scream for her.
“ GRANDMA PLEASE NEVER LEAVE ME!” I scream so loudly that next I feel my body being shook
“ Heath wake up bro it’s Adam wake up.” I hear him say as I open my eyes
“ Adam what…why are you in here?’ I ask as he sits on the edge of my bed
“ You were screaming man. I had to shake you awake.” He tells me as I remember my dream
“ Sorry I guess it was a nightmare.” I exclaim as he nods
“ I understand Heath believe me. Just try not to let her death eat you alive as you still have Jack and Me. We care about you too.” Adam tells me as I nod agreeing with him
“ I know Abs it’s just hard as she helped save me.” I tell him as he nods
“ I know so remember that and don’t go into that dark void you have in your heart.” Adam tells me with sincerity
“ I won’t , why don’t you go get some sleep. I will be alright man.” I tell him as he stands up
“ You better be as I will stomp a mudhole in your ass.” He tells me getting a chuckle
I watch as he leaves just to close my eyes knowing I will be alright, but not for awhile as him and Jack don’t know the extent of my hurt or pain as May wasn’t the first I lost.
As the days that followed went by I kept being distracted by the coming Wednesday and not believing that such a sweet, caring woman was gone. That weekend I stayed at college as to not be alone at the house that stood by the beach that I grew to love. Adam and Jack stayed with me saying they were my brothers, and brother’s don’t leave each other. I cried to those words as my own brother left me. Although with these two that stayed by my side I could tell they were true.
Wednesday finally came as I sat in the attorney’s office around 4 p.m. He sat across from be pulling out a file that I assumed was May’s. He looks to be in his 40‘s, 6‘0, 220 lbs with muscle, short brown hair with brown eyes. Mr. Goldsteen once organized looks at me before speaking.
“ Heath first I want to say how much I am sorry for the loss of May. She was a very caring woman.” He tells me as I nod before he continues “ Now May came in about two months ago to have her will changed. She made you the sole beneficiary of her estate. May left you the house, truck, and bank account with the sum of 2 million dollars.”
I sit there stunned to all that he exclaimed to me until that last part was what shocked me.
“ Wait…what..what was that last part?” I asked as he smiled shaking his head
“ She left you 2 million dollars that she invested through the years. That was a mixture of what her husband left her as well as her sons. She had it also invested all these years.” He tells me as I just look down at the table
He slides over the papers for me to sign in which I wait to sign.
“ Mr. Goldsteen you sure May doesn’t have any other relatives?” I ask getting a nod from him
“ I am sure Heath as I checked a month ago to make sure nothing would come up on you later. Look I know how this must sound to real right now, but May made it very clear that she wanted you to have all that was hers. She loved you as a grandson so please accept all that she has given you.” He states to me as I slowly nod to sign the paper’s
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