Chapter 23: Chapter 23

THE INHERITANCE

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NARRATORS POV

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Caleb found himself at a crossroad. His maternal grandfather whom he got to know of his existence was dying and had asked to see him. According to him, they claimed that he wanted to seek his forgiveness. However, Caleb had insisted that he was not the person he should ask for forgiveness, he was glad he didn't have to stay with a shallow-minded person like him.

His parents had stopped him and pleaded with him to give his grandfather the benefit of the doubt and forgive him, Caleb succumbed to his parent's advice and went to see his grandfather.

He didn't expect to see a frail man with thinning white hair, he looked worn out and his eyes were the saddest he had ever seen. His speech was slurred that sometimes his nurse had to repeat what he said to him.

He was also baffled as to why his grandfather insisted on calling him Chris even though he corrected him multiple times, at a point he gave up and just listened to what the old man had to say. He begged him (Chris) to forgive him for separating him from his daughter, he also talked about how he had his son abandoned which led to his daughter Selena taking her own life. Caleb was mortified by the confessions but also understood why his grandfather needed to make them, at a point he became hysterical and wept uncontrollably. His nurse dismissed Caleb and gave him some injections to calm him down and help him sleep.

After Caleb left his grandfather, he went for a long walk to clear his thoughts, he felt sad as to how powerful hatred could make someone do despicable things even to their loved ones. He also felt a little sorry for his grandfather, he had lost himself and his family by allowing his petty emotions to override him. He also thought of his own wife's grandparent, even though some of their children strayed and went against their will, they never hurt their own but rather they tolerated their children's excesses, and their spouses. Though they could be mean with words at times.

Caleb shuddered as he thought about his in-laws and how cruel verbally abusive they had been to him, especially David and his wife Ella.

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Two days later

In the early hours of Thursday morning, Caleb received a call from his grandfather's lawyers. He had died in his sleep a few minutes ago. The lawyer informed him of his grandfather's wish, he would be buried immediately near his wife and daughter, his grandfather had made his funeral plans almost a year ago, Caleb was grateful he didn't have to make such an arrangement as he barely knew him. He had forgiven him but building a relationship with him even in death was out of the question. At exactly 10 am he was buried with few people in attendance, Chris made up his mind as he watched his grandfather placed inside the hole dug for his remains, and made up his mind that his fears were unnecessary. Since he found out that he was adopted he had worried unnecessarily that no one would genuinely love him since he was abandoned by his mum, so he thought. However, he felt a renewed love for his adoptive parents and he knew more than ever before that they loved him too.

The guests dispatched immediately for their offices after the funeral, their once solemn face and hunched shoulder was immediately replaced with the gait synonymous with the phrase that life continues no matter what.

The light tap on Caleb's shoulder brought him out of his reverie. “We have to leave now.” His mother placed her hands on his crooked hands and they walked slowly towards their car, they walked past forgotten graves, dying flowers that bloomed on the graveyard. The majority of the graves had a bouquet placed on top, the finality of death could be loud and quiet deafening.

His father was not able to make it since he had a banquet to prepare for at the Fernandez mansion.

“Wait a moment Caleb.” stopping himself from entering his car he turned to face his grandfather's lawyer.

“Hello Mrs. Thompson.” the lawyer extended his greeting to his mother. Going straight to business he continued. “Your grandfather insisted that his will be read immediately after his burial, according to him no one would mourn him so why wait.”

“He was right about the last statement,” Caleb's face ceased into a frown, he couldn't pretend to mourn for a man he hardly knew and who destroyed his family.

The lawyer chuckled, Caleb might appear soft physically but he had guts. “I need you to come to my office with me, your mother can come along too." Pausing for a minute "Your father is not here,” he said as he just noticed his absence.

“He has work,” Caleb replied, no one in the Fernandez family knew about Caleb being the grandson of Harry, and he and his parents had insisted on keeping it to themselves at least for now.

“Yourself and your mum will do then.”

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AT THE LAWYERS OFFICE

Caleb felt nauseous and couldn't wait for the reading to end. There were so many lawyers in the room and his grandfather's top employees, they all wore the same serious look even the faces at the graveyard were not as gloomy as theirs.

Thirty minutes later, Caleb sat wide-eyed, from an abandoned grandchild to the CEO of the biggest conglomerate in America.

“Congratulations sir.” I've worked under your grandfather for the past twenty-five years and I will be there for you every step of the way till you decide you don't need my help.

“Thank you .” he managed to mutter, too overwhelmed to speak.

“When would you like to take a tour of the company.”

“I will get back to you, once I'm ready.”

“It's okay, take your time.” his father's employees and now his, left the room followed by the lawyers. His mother had not said a word since after the will was read, when Caleb held her hands for them to leave her eyes were clouded and red-rimmed. He hugged her so tight his heart filled with love.

“I love you, mum.”

“I love you too.” she felt glad and relieved to hear her son say those words.