Once Weylyn checked the address, we set out. Ever the perfect gentleman, Weylyn took the bicycle from me, making it clear that he would be the one to wheel it to our destination. We exchanged small talk as the walk went on. He pointed out the sights, the shops, the locals, and after a few blocks, we reached Edward’s office.
It was an old brick building, and I noticed a short, portly, balding man in his mid-fifties out front, smoking a cigarette. His eyes were a muddy brown, and set deeply behind a pair of bifocals, but something in the way he stood made me wonder if this guy was a looker in his day. He gave us a brief wave as he made his way toward us in his black pinstripe suit.
Immediately, Weylyn spoke to him with a familiar tone. “So, is it your staff making you join the patio people then?” Seeing my puzzled look, he added “That’s what we call the people forced outside to smoke, darling.”
The older man beamed upon seeing my tour guide. “Weylyn, I didn’t get to thank you fer the job you and yer brother did on me kitchen.”
“Who cares what you think? Is the trouble and strife happy?”
“Ah, sure, my wife’s olagonin’ with pleasure. You truly outdid yourself, son,” he said as he pulled him into a tight embrace and patted him on the back. “And who is this lovely young lady?” he asked, turning towards me.
“This is Keira,” Weylyn said. The man’s change in demeanor was immediate; he stood stock straight up, suddenly looking formal and business like.
“Keira? As in Keira Morrigan?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“Edward Finn,” he announced. “I wasn’t expecting you just yet.” Apprehensively, he tried to wave away the cloud of smoke surrounding him and extended a hand. I shook it gently.
“Nice to meet you.” My eyes drifted back over to Weylyn. He looked like a startled deer, almost tripping as he took a step backward, a peculiar deviation from his flirtatious, smooth self.
“Sorry,” he mumbled. “I just realized you’re Edna’s kin. She was like a mother to me. I should have seen it. You have her eyes.” Weylyn looked me up and down. “It all makes sense now. I was wondering why we were heading for Edward’s office.”
“Yes, why is everyone so surprised?”
Ignoring my question all together, he continued to talk. “Why, you’ve met my brother, Orin, haven’t you?”
“Orin? He’s your...?”
“He wasn’t too rough, was he? Orin can be a bit of a brute sometimes.”
I tried to keep my tone casual. “If you must know, he was very kind. He’s a gentleman, though not... quite in the same way you are.”
“Oh, that’s a relief,” Weylyn said.
“It’s funny. When I first saw you, I thought you reminded me of someone. Like two totally different statues, but made from the same material.”
“Well, we are twins. Fraternal, obviously. Now that we are here, I’ll leave you to your business with Mr. Finn. But if you need anything, please feel free to let me know. Pass me your phone and I’ll give you my number.”
I did just that and found myself wondering who I was. Two phone numbers in two days? You go girl! I couldn’t wait to tell Katie.
“And I do mean anything,” he said with a cheeky smile and a wink.
“Now that you two have all that settled,” Edward said, crushing his cigarette out, “Keira, why don’t we step inside?”
I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this meeting, not even an inkling. I figured I’d just go with the flow, but knowing me, that would be difficult. I had a tendency to raise probing questions.
And considering all the mystery around my grandmother, that alone gave me a feeling this would be a long session.
Information Overload
- Keira -
“As I was saying, my family has been handling yer family’s legacy for many generations.” Edward’s voice was like heavy steel wool rubbing against his vocal cords, deep and gravely. He sat back in his old black leather chair, hands resting on his ample stomach. His salt and pepper mustache was neatly trimmed, and his double chin wobbled as he spoke. Behind him, a floor to ceiling wall of bookshelves was packed with law books, abstracts, an antique globe, and some framed pictures.
“So, I am well acquainted with the... oddities of your grandmother’s particular will, as they are similar to the quirks of wills before her. Next...” He rifled through the papers on his dark oak desk, and slid one paper toward me. “The most basic detail is your material inheritance, which amounts to a small fortune, it would seem,” he added tapping a figure listed on the sheet.
I glanced down, and felt my eyes nearly fall out of my head. With all those zeroes, I hoped that he was being sarcastic, because there was no way that was considered a ‘small’ fortune. No wonder Orin said not to worry about money. I reacted with all due delicacy. “Holy fuck, you can’t be serious!”
“The Morrigan’s have always had great foresight with investments, with favorable results. These fiscal matters are handled by Mr. McDonough. Perhaps you’ll meet him later.”
Outwardly, all I could do was nod. The rest of my limbs were awaiting the return of steady circulation. I listened as Edward continued. “Your family has quite the history, Keira. There are a great many other things you should know.”
No shit, Sherlock. But do I really want to know them? Wondering what wild tales Edward was about to spin, waves of emotion rioted through me. In fact you could say ‘surf’s up’. Edward gave his throat a vigorous clearing, and dove in. “Long ago, before Westhaven was founded, several clans lived on this land. These clans idolized warfare, and protected their territory fiercely. Yer family’s ancestors landed in Ireland, wishing to settle here. The existing clans resisted, and a great war
