“no you have exactly 10 minutes to get out of my house before I call the cops this is my home Paul and I bought it together you have no right to be here”
This is my home
maybe it was the steal in my voice or the fire in my eyes but Maria and Olivia
But Maria and Olivia finally realized
finally realized they had gone too far they gathered their things and left but not before Maria turned to me with a sneer
“this isn’t over Julie you’ll be hearing from our lawyers”
the days after Paul’s Funeral were a blur of grief anxiety and paperwork I threw myself into sorting out Paul’s Affairs partly to keep busy
Youll be hearing from our lawyers
and partly out of fear that Maria and Olivia would try to take what wasn’t theirs a week after the funeral I received a call from a local Law Firm my heart pounded as I answered the call afraid it was Maria following through on her threat of legal action
I received a call from a local law
“Mrs Walker”
a crisp professional voice asked
“this is Scott Thompson from Thompson and”
Walker a crisp professional voice
“partners I’m calling about your late husband’s will”
I felt a small flicker of Hope
“his will”
I didn’t know he had one
Im calling about your late husbands will
“yes ma’am Mr Walker came to see us about five months ago he asked that we contact you in the event of his passing”
I scheduled an appointment for the next day my mind spinning why hadn’t Paul told me about this what did it mean
I scheduled an appointment for the next day
the next morning I wheeled Dad into Mr Thompson’s office the lawyer greeted us warmly His Kind eyes crinkling at the corners
“Mrs Walker Mr David thank you for coming in”
he said gesturing for us to sit near his desk
“I’m sorry for your loss”
Mr Thompson opened a file
Mr Thompson opened a file on his desk
“now as I mentioned on the phone your husband came to see us to draft his will he was very clear about his wishes”
I held my breath as Mr Thompson began to read
“I Paul Walker being of sound mind do hereby leave all my worldly possessions to my beloved wife Julie Walker”
I guessed and Dad’s grip on my hand tightened Mr Thompson continued
this includes our home my truck
“this includes our home my truck and all our savings it is my wish that Julie used these resources to care for herself and her father Larry David whom I have come to love as my own”
tears stream down my face even from Beyond the Grave Paul was taking care of us
“there’s more”
Mr Thompson said gently
Thompson said gently Mr Walker
“Mr Walker left a letter for you”
he handed me an envelope with shaking hands I opened it and began to read
“my dear de Julie if you’re reading this it means I’m gone I’m so sorry for leaving you and Larry please know that you two are the best thing that ever happened to me I made this will because I know how my mother and sister can be I didn’t want to worry you but I needed to make sure you and Larry were protected if anything happened to me you’re my real family Julie you and Larry not them take care of each other live your lives to the fullest and know that I’ll always be watching over over you all my love Paul”
I clutched the letter to my chest sobbing dad was crying too his weathered hand patting my arm
Theres one more thing
Mr Thompson gave us a moment before speaking again
“Mrs Walker there’s one more thing your husband’s truck was insured given the circumstances of the accident the insurance company will be paying out the full value of the policy”
I looked up sniffling and asked
“whatat does that mean”
Mr Thompson gave me a small smile and said
“it means you’ll be receiving a large sum of money enough to pay off your mortgage and more”
as we left the lawyer’s office I felt like a
As we left the lawyers office
weight had been lifted from my shoulders we were going to be okay Paul had made sure of it as we pulled into our driveway I noticed a familiar car parked on the street my heart sank as I recognized Maria’s Sleek saden
“oh no”
I muttered
Maria and Olivia were waiting
what now sure enough Maria and Olivia were waiting on our front porch but this time I wasn’t afraid I had Paul’s letter in my pocket and the strength of his love in my heart
“Julie”
Maria began as we approached her voice sickly sweet
“we need to talk about Paul’s estate”
I stood tall looking her straight in the eye
No Maria we dont
“no Maria we don’t Paul left everything to me it’s all legal and official and do you want know why because we were his real family not you now please leave your trespassing on my property”
for once Maria was speechless Olivia tugged at her arm Whispering urgently with one last venomous glare they got in their car and drove away the weeks after our meeting with the lawyer were busy I threw myself into settling Paul’s Affairs grateful for the distraction from my grief the insurance payout came through and just as Mr Thompson had had said it was enough to pay off our mortgage with plenty left over one afternoon as I was going through Paul’s desk I found a small notebook curious I opened it and saw Pages filled with his messy handwriting it was a journal of sorts full of his thoughts and plans for our
It was a journal of sorts
future thinking about starting a college fund for our future kids one entry read
“want to make sure they have the best start in life”
my heart clenched we had talked about having children someday but had decided to wait until we were more financially stable now reading Paul’s private hopes and dreams I felt a fresh wave of grief wash over me
“oh Paul”
I whispered holding the notebook close
“we had so many plans”
that night I tossed and turned unable to sleep my mind kept
I tossed and turned unable to
drifting to the journal to the Future we’d never have when I finally drifted off I dreamed of Paul he was smiling holding out his hand to me
“it’s okay Chile”
he said in my dream
“everything’s going to be all right”
I woke up the next morning feeling
Everythings going to be
different I couldn’t quite figure out what it was but something had changed as I got ready for work a wave of nausea
Something had changed
hit me and I barely made it to the bathroom in time the morning sickness didn’t go away in the days that followed at first I thought it was just stress and grief but a small voice in the in the back of my mind suggested something
The morning sickness didnt go away
else after a week of this I found myself in the pharmacy staring at pregnancy tests with trembling hands I bought one
I found myself in the pharmacy staring
and hurried home the 5 minutes I waited for the result felt like the longest of my life when I finally looked at the test there were two clear blue lines
There were two clear blue lines
I sank to the bathroom floor overwhelmed by a mix of emotions Joy fear grief and hope all swirling together
“Julie”
dad’s voice came through the door
“everything okay in there”
Julie dads voice came through the door
I opened the door tears streaming down my face dad’s expression changed from concern to alarm
“what’s wrong sweetie”
he asked
Dads expression changed from concern
I held up the test my hand shaking
“I’m pregnant dad”
I fell into his arms sobbing he held me stroking my hair like he used to when I was a little girl
“it’s okay”