Unexpected Inheritance

1

Miranda adjusted her scrubs as she leaned against the counter in the breakroom of the hospital. It had been a grueling shift—charting patients, running labs, and helping out where she could in the ER. Her feet ached, and she was grateful for a rare quiet moment.

Just as she was about to take a sip of her coffee, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen. The number was unfamiliar, but she answered anyway.

"This is Dr. Bailey, to whom am I speaking with?"

"Dr. Bailey, this is Gregory Henshaw, an attorney handling the estate of a recently deceased relative of yours. I believe you're the beneficiary of a property."

Miranda frowned. "Relative? What relative?"

"Eleanor Bradford,"

"Never heard of her,"

"She has you named in her will as the sole heir to her countryside bed and breakfast. If you'd like, we can meet at the property to discuss the details."

Miranda's stomach twisted with unease. She didn't have time for games or strange surprises. After thanking the lawyer and ending the call, she immediately dialed her father

"Dad, have you ever heard of a Eleanor Bradford?"

There was a pause on the other end. "Eleanor Bradford... That name does ring a bell," her father said slowly. "I think she was some distant cousin of your mama's. Your grandma mentioned her once or twice, but I never met her. Why do you ask?"

"Apparently, she left me a bed and breakfast. Does that make any sense to you?"

Her father chuckled "Can't say it does, but hey, maybe it's a blessing in disguise. You always work too hard. Maybe this is the universe telling you to take a break."

"A break?" Miranda huffed. "You know me better than that. I don't have time for mysteries or vacations."

Later that week, Miranda convinced her best friend Callie to come along for the ride. "A bed and breakfast? This is like a Hallmark movie waiting to happen" Callie teased as they loaded the car

"Please. You think I've got time to run some country inn? I've got surgeries booked out for the next month," Miranda replied, shaking her head.

"Then why are you going?"

"Because I want to know who this distant cousin is and why she thought I needed this place in my life," Miranda said, gripping the steering wheel.

The drive was long, winding through wooded backroads and rolling hills, but when they finally pulled up to the property, both women were stunned into silence.

The property was nestled between rolling green hills, the main house a charming white structure with a wide front porch and wooden shutters. A few shed like buildings dotted the landscape, and a small sign near the driveway read "Bradford Haven."

"This... is gorgeous," Callie said, stepping out of the car.

Miranda, however, stood with her arms crossed, eyeing the house with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. "Let's just see what this lawyer has to say."

They approached the house, where Gregory Henshaw was waiting on the porch with a stack of papers. He was a tall, thin man in a crisp suit that seemed out of place in the rustic setting.

"Dr. Bailey, welcome," he greeted. "I trust the drive wasn't too unpleasant."

"Let's just get to it," Miranda said, cutting to the chase. "Why did Eleanor Bradford leave me this place when I've never even met her?"