The Inheritances Game (Jameson Hawthorne)

I could tell he was hurting more than he would like to admit. He tried to hide it but I knew him too well. That's why I was out here with him instead of meeting Avery Grambs. "Jameson come on you need to put on a shirt."

He turned smiling at me, "I'm fine Cal, just like yesterday and the day before and before."

"Jae come on, your anything but fine." I said sitting next to him on the rail.

"Handsome, charming, intelligent, cunning." He listed.

"You know that's not what I meant." I gestured to the drink in his hand.

"Can't I just enjoy a drink?" 

"No." I answered bluntly, "You only drink when you're upset. So want to prove your fine put on a shirt and get in that room." I got off the rail. 

He looked at me for a second before grabbing the shirt and placing it over his head. "Lead the way."

I walked inside with Jameson close behind. I sat down next to Grayson. Soon Mr. Ortega walked to the front of the room.

"You are here" he started "to hear the last will and testament of Tobias Tattersall Hawthorne. Per Mr. Hawthorne's instructions, my colleagues will now distribute letters he has left for each of you" I looked down at the letter that was handed to me it had my full name written in calligraphy. "You may open these letters when the reading is concluded" I set my letter down on my lap before diverting my attention to Mr. Ortega again.

"Mr. Hawthorne stipulated that all of the following individuals must be physically present for the reading of this will: Skye Hawthorne, Zara Hawthorne-Calligaris, Nash Hawthorne, Grayson Hawthorne, Jameson Hawthorne, Alexander Hawthorne, Catalina Powell, and Ms. Avery Kylie Grambs of New Castle, Connecticut" I glanced back to see a girl with dark brown hair looking around awkwardly. So that was Avery.

"Since you are all here" he continued "we may begin" I felt Grayson tense up next to me and Jameson shift a little.

"I, Tobias Tattersall Hawthorne," he began to read "being of sound body and mind, decree that my worldly possessions, including all monetary and physical assets, be disposed of as follows, to Andrew and Lottie Laughlin, for years of loyal service, I bequeath a sum of one hundred thousand dollars apiece with life-long, rent free tenancy granted in Wayback Cottage, located on the western border of my Texas estate." Mr. and Mrs. Laughlin smiled and leaned into each other. I smiled too they were always nice they deserved the money and cottage.

"To John Oren, head of my security detail, who has saved my life more times and, in more ways, than I can count, I leave the contents of my toolbox as well as three hundred thousand dollars" A toolbox was an odd thing to leave someone but knowing the old man it probably had a deeper meaning or connection to something.

"To my mother-in-law Peal O'Day, I leave an annuity of one hundred thousand dollars a year, plus a trust for medical expenses as set forth in the appendix. All jewelry belonging to my late wife Alice O'Day Hawthorn shall pass to her mother upon my death to be distributed as she sees fit" Nan harrumphed before turning to everyone.

"Don't you go get any ideas I'm going to outlive all of you" we all chuckled a bit.

"To my daughters, Zara Hawthorne-Calligaris and Skye Hawthorne, I leave the funds necessary to pay off all debt accrued as of the date and time of my death" Mr. Ortega once again paused and wouldn't look at anyone in the room. "Additionally, I leave Skye my compass, may she always know true north, and to Zara, I leave my wedding ring may she love as wholly and steadfastly as I loved her mother" 

The room was painfully silent before Constantine Calligaris broke it. "Go on," he said impatiently, I rolled my eyes I never liked him.

"To each of my daughters beyond that already stated, I leave a one-time inheritance of fifty thousand dollars" I froze, he pretty much cut his daughters out of his will. So, either he left pretty much everything to the Hawthorne brothers or. . .

"You did this" Zara turned towards Skye looking furious.

"Me?" Skye said looking shocked but also mad.

"Daddy was never the same after Toby died," Great another Hawthorne family argument.

"Disappeared" Skye corrected.

"God listen to you!" Zara yelled out "You got in his head, didn't you, Skye? Batted your eyelashes and convinced him to bypass us and leave everything to your—"

"Sons," Skye said her voice crisp "The word you're looking for is sons."

"The word she's looking for is bastards," Nash said leaning back in his chair and smiling like he was enjoying the argument, which he probably was. "Not like we haven't heard it before."

"If I'd had a son..."  Zara's voice caught, she and her husband never succeeded in having kids themselves but Zara pretty much raised Nash.

"But you didn't," Skye said angrily "Did you, Zara."

"Enough" Constance stepped in "We will sort this out."

"I'm afraid there's nothing to be sorted," Mr. Ortega said nervously.

"You will find that the will is ironclad, with significant disincentives to any who might be tempted to challenge it," Mr. Ortega said shutting everyone up. "Now if I may continue...." He looked down at the will in his hand.

"To my grandsons, Nash Hawthorne, Grayson Hawthorne, Jameson Hawthorne, and Alexander Hawthorne, along with Catalina Powell, I leave...."

"Everything," Zara said bitterly.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars apiece on their twenty-fifth birthdays, until such time to be managed by Alisa Ortega, trustee" I looked at Jameson whose face went from shocked to smiling.

"You are way too happy for someone who got disinherited," I said trying to shake the shock away from my mind.

"The old man left a puzzle after death." He said his eyes glinting, he had that look he gets whenever he figured something out. Great.

"What makes you think that?" I said ignoring everyone else arguing.

"What makes you not think that?" He said raising his eyebrow.

"True," I said shrugging.

"Please everyone allow me to finish," Mr. Ortega said frantically.

I took a sharp intake of breath, I knew what he would say but it still didn't prepare me for hearing it. "The remainder of my estate, including all properties, monetary assets, and worldly possessions not otherwise specified, I leave to Avery Kylie Grambs"