The rumbling became louder.
Garrett turned toward the windows.
Tiffany stood up so quickly that her chair scraped against the floor.
"What is that?"
I didn't answer.
I knew exactly what it was.
Outside, several vehicles were approaching the lodge.
The first was a large professional vehicle.
Behind it was another heavy truck.
Then I recognized the silver SUV belonging to my attorney.
Garrett looked from the window to me.
"Dad, who is coming?"
I carefully placed both hands on the table.
"Someone I invited."
His face changed.
"Who?"
"My attorney."
Tiffany froze.
Garrett glanced at the documents.
Then he looked toward the driveway again.
"Why would you call your attorney?"
I stood up.
"Because you brought me paperwork you wanted me to sign."
He shook his head.
"That's unnecessary."
I walked around the table.
"You brought three signature tabs and a gold pen. I decided I wanted someone qualified to explain what I was signing."
Tiffany moved toward the window.
The vehicles were stopping near the front of the property.
She looked outside.
Then she turned toward Garrett.
Her face had lost its color.
I noticed something else.
The smile she had worn that morning was completely gone.
Garrett walked toward the window.
He looked at the silver SUV.
Then he looked at the other vehicles.
"What are all these people doing here?"
I didn't answer immediately.
I walked to the front door.
The gold pen remained on the kitchen table.
The paperwork was still unsigned.
Outside, the engines began shutting down.
My attorney stepped out of her vehicle.
She was carrying a blue folder.
Two other people were getting out of the accompanying vehicles.
Garrett came up behind me.
"Dad, what is this?"
I turned toward him.
"Do you remember what you told me eleven years ago?"
He looked irritated.
"What are you talking about?"
"You told me to find my own place."
He stared at me.
I opened the front door.
"I did."
The words were quiet.
But I wanted him to hear every one.
My attorney walked up the porch steps.
She greeted me.
"Good afternoon, Harrison."
"Thank you for coming."
She glanced briefly toward Garrett and Tiffany.
Then she looked at the papers on the kitchen table.
"Are these the documents you mentioned?"
"Yes."
Garrett stepped forward.
"There's been a misunderstanding."
My attorney didn't argue.
She simply opened her blue folder.
"Then I believe we should clear it up."
She placed several certified records on the table.
I watched Garrett's eyes move over them.
He seemed uncomfortable.
Tiffany stood near the kitchen entrance.
Neither of them spoke.
My attorney turned toward me.
"Would you like me to begin with the property records?"
I nodded.
"Please."
She removed the first document.
Then she placed another beside it.
The papers were official copies.
They contained the information I had spent years making sure was properly recorded.
Garrett reached toward the first page.
My attorney handed it to him.
He looked at the document.
Then he read the heading again.
His eyebrows drew together.
He looked at me.
"Dad, what is this?"
I remained standing.
"Read it."
He lowered his eyes.
For the first time since arriving, he seemed uncertain about what was happening.
Click here to continue reading: PART 14: My Attorney Placed the Certified Property Records Before My Son, and He Finally Realized He Had Never Understood My Estate
My Son Had Not Spoken to Me in Eleven Years, Yet He Arrived at My Mountain Home Acting as Though He Already Owned It
Part 13 of 20
