Chapter 1

"Jamie it's for you. Some lawyer named Waters."

"Who the hell could that be? Hello"

"Mr. Lauderdale? Jameson Edward Lauderdale?"

"Yes, that's me."

"Mr. Lauderdale, I am Horace A. Waters your aunt, Ellie Hutchinson's lawyer. I have the sad task to inform you of her death."

After an inordinately long pause Horace A. Waters said, "Are you still there Mr. Lauderdale?"

"Yes, Mr. Waters. It's just that I never thought that she would ever die. When did it happen?"

"Yes, we all felt that way. The housekeeper found her this morning. She apparently passed during the night. She seems to have gone peacefully. There were no signs that she suffered."

"Thank you, Mr. Waters. When is the funeral?"

"Monday at 9:00 am"

"Isn't that an odd time of day for a funeral?"

"I guess there are no good times but that's what Mrs. Hutchinson provided in her will. You see she didn't want to cut into her friend's afternoon drinking time.

"I see. Yes, that would have been just like Aunt Ellie."

"Mr. Lauderdale you are planning on attending?"

"Yes, Mr. Waters, I'll be there."

"Good the reading of the will is to take place at 11:00am, another paean to her friends, in my office following the funeral. Can I expect you to be there?"

"Yes, certainly Mr. Waters if you think I should be there."

"Yes indeed you need to be there Mr. Lauderdale. Well, it's been nice talking to you. Sorry to have brought you the sad news."

"Thank you for the call Mr. Waters. I'll see you Monday. Goodbye."

"Monday it is. Goodbye Mr. Lauderdale."

"What was that all about?"

"My Aunt Ellie died last night. You've heard me speak of her and my Aunt Samantha from Savanna."

"She's the one you spent several summers with when you were a young boy, wasn't she?"

"Yes, that's the one. I think my first extended stay was when I was twelve. The funeral is Monday."

"Are you going? Of course you are what was I thinking. You know that I can't go with you."

"I know honey. I'm just sorry that I want be able to fly with you to San Francisco. But as soon as I can get away I'll be out there and we can have the working vacation we planned.

"I'd better go cancel my flight and book one to Savanna. I'll change my departure to leave from Savanna with an open date."

"Do you think the kids should meet you there for the funeral?"

"I don't think that's necessary Vickie. They didn't know Aunt Ellie and I'm sure that the folks down there won't consider it disrespectful. Hell, they don't even know that I have children. The ones that remember me that is. There are a few cousins that I have a vague recollection of and some of the neighbors but I'm not sure who is alive after all this time. I'm going to go call about my flights," Jamie said as he left the room and headed for his den where he had the number for the travel agent.