An Inheritance

Chapter 24

An older man was laughing so hard he had to wipe the tears from his eyes.  Wide grins spread over the faces of the rest of the guests.

“Of course, after that, Grandmere Labeaux had her own private car washer and once Alma found out about Jerry’s mechanic abilities, that too, was added to the list of things she had him do.  But by then, there was a real friendship between the two and Jerry would do almost anything for her.  She got him to finish high school, helped him get into a mechanic trade college and  then co-signed on his loan for the business we have now.  So Lauren, you have a mechanic for as long as you’re here with us.”

Even in the emotional state Lauren was in, she was touched and smiled her appreciation. 

It was a warm and inviting atmosphere and one by one they told their stories of meeting Alma for the first time or how she had helped them with a problem or ‘healed’ them with her herbs or found doctors who would take their case.  Some were funny, others heartwarming and a few were even sad.  And so it went on for almost two hours, each person telling their ‘Alma Story’. 

As each story was told, Lauren became calmer and more receptive to the comments directed towards her.  Through their stories, the image she had of her grandmother got stronger and a warm relaxing sensation flowed through her body.

Wanda told of Alma’s help in getting her into the junior college.  Her parents wanted her to go to work to help support the family, but Alma found a way Wanda could work part-time and still go to school.  As she spoke, Wanda relaxed and her heavy bayou accent started to creep in.  Lauren realized Wanda had worked hard to get where she was in the bank, including making sure she could articulate and make herself understood to those not of the bayou.  “My parents are so proud of me now.  I still go to school at night; I’m working on my Bachelor’s degree in finance.  And none of this would have been possible if Alma hadn’t stepped in to help me.”  Wanda concluded with tears in her eyes.      

One woman told how Alma allowed her and her two children to stay in the cottage when she finally had had enough of her husband’s abuse.  Alma helped this woman maneuver through the court system and secured living arrangements in another town so they could get a fresh start.

Then Odilia looked over the group and nodded to a pretty middle-aged woman.  “What about you, Kathleen, it looks like you’re the last person.”

“Sure.  I’m Kathleen Deveaux and Alma had been a dear friend of our family for as long as I can remember.  Her first husband, Eugene Morin, and my grandfather, Rene, were friends and business partners.  They owned a surveying company, and were hired as contractors for large road and tunnel projects. 

“One job they were contracted for involved roadwork and tunnels through some of the western states.  Both Alma and my grandmother weren’t happy about this arrangement at all.  Not only did it keep their husbands away from home far too long, but it was dangerous work.  One night Alma called my grandmother and they talked about how things just didn’t seem right.  Eugene was supposed to have called that day and he hadn’t, which was something he had never done before.  Alma said she’d go out to Colorado to find out what was happening.