An Inheritance

Chapter 7

“Well, at your grandmother’s eulogy, Roger Arsenault stood up and offered this story.  He said that as far back as his ancestors had lived in the area, the Arsenault and Labeaux families were very close.  In the late 1800s, there was a Yellow Fever epidemic, and one of the Arsenault’s women and her child came down with it.  Evidently one of your ancestors was credited with saving them.    Their family had no money, but they pledged that they would tend to the Labeaux’s cemetery as long as there were any Arsenaults in the region.  This has been going on for several generations.  It’s amazing that the Arsenaults, who now have gained their own wealth, have kept their vow through all of these years. 

“I liked your grandmother very much.  She was a pleasant woman and did a great deal of good for the community.  Your grandmother was someone who was greatly trusted, someone people could rely on when they needed help.  Everyone listened closely to what she had to say and it did seem as though she was able to use her instincts in a way that I could never fathom.”

“I’ve seen some of the plants and herbs she raised; a few I know are used in holistic medicine.  I hope she wasn’t selling any ‘miracle cures’.  That’s all I need is a relative selling illegal drugs.”

Pastor Paul laughed.  “No, nothing as blatant and commercial as all of that.  But she did have something, a blessing or a curse, I’m not sure.  I’m aware of her helping so many people, most who either could not afford traditional medical help or were leery of the medical profession.  But I’m sure she was guided by God to do all of the good things she did.  Many of the people around here relied on her.”  He gave a little sigh.  “I wish they had half as much faith in me as they did in her. 

I’m sorry to be so abrupt, but I have this most amazing sermon to prepare.”  He smiled, rose and he extended his hand.  “Look into your heart, it will guide your way too.”

That’s a weird thing to say.  Lauren thought as she too rose and shook his outstretched hand.

 As Lauren turned to leave, she hesitated, “I found the family Bible amongst Grand-mere’s things.  Did you enter this?”

Pastor Paul took the offered Bible and looked at the entry of her grandmother’s death.  “No, it looks as though it was entered by your grandmother.”  He handed it back.  “Your grandmother had an uncanny sense about her.  The Sunday before she died, she talked to her friend, Sara Young, after church.  Gave her a key to her cottage and requested that she come by the next morning.  When Sara arrived, your grandmother didn’t answer the door and when she entered, she found Alma had died in her sleep.”

“She committed suicide?”  Lauren’s face fell.

 “Oh, no, no, I didn’t mean it like that.  She just seemed to know it was her time.  The house had been cleaned, papers neatly laid out about the funeral, her lawyer, where all the important papers were.  Nothing was left to chance; even what she was to be buried in was hanging up in the bedroom.”  He gave back the bible.

“Up until the very end, your grandmother came faithfully to church every Sunday.  I hope that you will continue that tradition.”  The pastor said pointedly.

Lauren just stared at the pastor, “Uhm, well, I’ll see what I can do.”  She said weakly as she picked up the Bible and turned to leave.  Heading out the way she had come in, she hardly noticed two elderly women were standing at the back of the church.  They had stopped talking when they saw her and Lauren barely returned their greetings and smiles.  As soon as Lauren walked out the door, they resumed their conversation. 

In the car, Abigail had her paws at the driver’s side window, stretching her body to sniff through the opened crack, meowing silently.  Seeing Lauren heading toward her, Abigail jumped down and back into her own seat. 

Lauren slid into the car and stared silently ahead.  Her hands were shaking slightly.  The scene the pastor had just described was eerily reminiscent of what she had experienced just a year ago.  Right after the accident in which the Judge and her mother had died, she and Danielle had gone to their mother’s home to pick out the clothes needed for the burial.  The wills had been left out on the Judge’s desk and in the bedroom, hanging from a valet, they found a suit and dress as though waiting for them.

Danielle had freaked out and accused Lauren of playing some cruel joke.  It took a while for Lauren to convince her that she had done nothing and that it was just a weird coincidence.  But was it? 

Lauren shook her head to stop these disturbing thoughts and turned to the cat, whose tail was now swishing from side to side; a sure sign of irritation.  “Abby, you couldn’t go into the church, and it’s not hot in here at all.  I wasn’t even gone for very long ... oh, rats, I forgot, it’s past your snack time.  Well, we’re going back to the cottage, have something to eat, and then I’ll get back to going through that stuff.”

Abigail gave her a smug look, then settled down for the ride back to the cottage.