Falling For You In Cape May

ONE

Maine

"This is Maine speaking." I turned on the bluetooth and put the call on handsfree.

Soon a female voice surrounded my Audi SUV, "Hi Maine, this is Judy."

"Oh, hey Judy!  What's going on? I wasn't expecting your call until Wednesday. Wait, why are you working late on a Friday night again?"

"Oh just until nine and after this I will be going out with my friends. I just wanted to finish some paper works."

"Go home girl!" I stopped on a red light on 3rd and 40th Streets. Swarm of pedestrians soon come walking in front of my vehicle. This is New York City on a Friday night.

"Ha ha ha, I will after this phone call. Okay, I just want to let you know that, the judge has already decided to grant you the transfer of ownership of the inn. You are now the proud owner of Victoria's Inn!" She beamed. "Congratulations!"

"Wait,what?" I replied, surprised. My stepbrother has set his foot on the ground that he wanted the inn. "What happened to Stefano?"

"We were surprised too. His lawyers gave us a call the other day and informed us that he will just settle for the villa and the vineyard in Italy. He said it seems fair to give you the inn and all the properties in America, since you are the one who is there anyway."

"Wow, so now it seems like I owe him for giving way? The audacity of that guy, really." I sneered.

My stepbrother, Stefano, and I really don't see eye to eye. We didn't grow up together. Stefano was raised in Italy by his grandparents and was never really close to our father. Our father married my mother when he was assigned in the naval base in the Philippines. My father was a surgeon while my mom was a nurse assigned in his wing.

When my father met my mom he was already a widower. His first wife died during childbirth and Stefano was their child. When my father's mission in the Philippines was over, him and my mom settled down in America, and then I was born two years later.

Our father died two years ago, while my mom passed only recently. When my father passed, he left everything to my mom, and that made Stefano really upset.  Since my mom is so kindhearted, she let Stefano manage the properties in Italy, but still remain as the owner.

When my mom passed, she left everything to me. And that made Stefano rage in anger.

My parents owned the villa and the vineyard in Italy. They bought it when my father retired from the navy. But since I don't really know anything about Italy and wine making, I told the lawyers that my stepbrother can have the villa and the vineyard, but he appealed. He also wanted to have a share with the proceeds of the inn.

In short, he just wanted more money.

The good thing is, the other properties were already transferred in my name before my mom passed away, well, except for the inn.

I shake my head in disgust, thinking of the phone call he made with his demands two months ago.

"We will have the papers ready by Monday night so just come by the office anytime after Monday next week so you can sign the deed." Judy continued.

"Alright, Judy thank you for the update and enjoy your date with your friends."

I ended the call and continued cruising along the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive to my home at Sutton Place, in the Upper East Side of New York City.

~~~~~><~~~~~

"Totoy!" I knelt down and gave a kiss to the little boy who is so happy to see me. He is barking so loud, his tail wagging and his ears are perked up.