The Inheritance

Chapter Three

“Where is Eve?” I asked, turning to Darres with confusion.

She glanced up at Officer Reynolds with a look that clearly read he was in trouble. “The officers didn’t tell you?” she asked.

I looked at Reynolds and saw that he was quite uncomfortable. 

“Tell me what?” I asked.

“Eve was in the car with your aunt and uncle,” she replied in a hushed tone. My stomach squirmed uneasily. 

“She didn’t make it?” I asked, feeling sick.

She shook her head.

Eve was only seven years old when she passed away.

“Bef!” Fee exclaimed, waddling over to me with a big smile. “Bef!”

I picked her up and set her on my lap, smiling. “Hey, baby.”

“Jess?” she asked, frowning. Jess was her dog, and she wanted to know where he was. 

“Yeah, Jess,” I said as I flatted her hair down with my hand where it was sticking up in the front.”You’ll see Jess soon.”

She clapped her hands together and smiled. “Doggy!”

I smiled at her. “That’s right, Jess is a doggy.”

“Woof woof!” she said.

“Good job, Fee! That’s right!” I glanced up at Darres and her expression was unreadable. “Did she leave me any note or anything?” I asked. “Anything at all?”

She nodded and opened her desk drawer, fishing something out of it. She held an envelope across the way. I took it, turning it around.

Beth

That’s all that was written on it.

“Bef, I’m tired,” Fee mumbled.

I smiled. “Okay, baby.”

I stood up, setting Fee down on the ground. 

“Where are their car seats?” I asked. “I need to bring them home to get their things.”

“We have them in the back room.”

“I need them,” I said, turning to Officer Reynolds. I held my hands out for Cole and he leaned towards me, meaning he wanted me. I took him in my arms. “Officer, could you help me bring them to my car?”

As I was walking out, Darres came up behind me and said, “Here.” She handed me a small orange envelope. “You have a lot of paperwork, Bethany.”

I undid the clasp and looked inside. Their house key. “I’ll come in tomorrow morning and do it. I will see you at nine. Good afternoon.”

After grabbing the car seats, Reynolds followed me out to my car. His partner was in their vehicle as well and got out to help. Fee was holding onto my right hand and I held Cole with my left. Todd followed behind me like little duckling with a solemn face. 

“Thank you, officer,” I said after loading the children into the car. 

“Anything you need, we’re here,” he replied, scratching the back of his head with his hand. 

The other officer nodded. 

I smiled. “Thank you,” I told them as I got into my car and drove away. 

On the way to my house, Todd didn’t say a word. My mind was going a million miles a minute. For a while, I thought it was just a dream. I was waiting for reality to hit me.