At the Howell's mansion, the day started with mourning as their matriarch was laid to rest. Patricia was the Howell's Matriarch who took the family name from nothing to something. Although not related to the descendants of Howell by blood, she married their father Howell upon their mother's demise and that was how they became family.
Quite unfortunately, Howell died before him and Patricia could have any child. Being that Howell already has five children, Patricia took them in as her own despite the demise of their father.
Patricia lived a relatively comfortable life with the help of her maid Franny. Upon her demise, it would seem like everyone was mourning but deep down, they were all concerned about what they stand to inherit. As they all waited for the lawyer to arrive to read them their inheritance, Franny decided to fix some light meal for the family since they've had nothing to eat all day. While she was busy at the kitchen, the family gossiped about her to her hearing.
"Quit the act Franny, the old hag is no longer here for all this eye service that you are putting up". Sophie Patricia's granddaughter said mockingly causing the rest of the family to unite in a roaring laughter.
Upon hearing this, while the laughter was still at its peak and loudest, Franny stirred the soup on the fire, reduced the heat, cleaned her hands and walked straight to Sophie who seemed ready for a fight.
"Old hag? I won't have you speak about Grandma in such a manner. You'll apologize or I'll throw you out from here". Franny spoke authoritatively while first pointing at Sophie forcefully, then at the main door.
"Apologize to who? You want to throw me out? On whose authority? Sophie scoffed, causing the laughter to increase some more.
Franny looked around hoping to be supported by the older relatives, but it seemed none was on her side. Instead of Sophie being chastised, Franny was mocked and humiliated.
"Seems someone is overstepping her boundaries." Rebecca, Sophie's mother, spoke in her defense.
"Young lady, you seem to have forgotten your place. Answering Howell by adoption, does not make you part of us. In Fact for all we know, you were a help to Patricia. If anyone will get thrown out today, it should be you." Eric spoke in support of Rebecca and Sophie.
Franny was taken aback by the response from Sophie's Mother and Eric, the supposed eldest of all of Howell’s children. Franny always knew that she wasn't liked so it didn't really come as a shock, she was just really surprised how people could pretend. One minute they were weeping profusely at Patricia's funeral, the next minute, there they sat mocking her.
Franny stood there numb and lost in thought for what seemed like a brief second. But in that split second, her soup was already overboiling in the fire and drying out in the pot. She felt so overwhelmed with emotions but most importantly, she felt sorry for Patricia because all she worked for would just go over to people who never valued or loved her.
"Hey stupid, go check the poison you are brewing for us to eat." Sophie snapped her finger severally at Franny's face, then pushed her forehead aggressively with her index finger bringing Franny back to reality. On perceiving the soup, she quickly rushed to the kitchen to salvage what she could from it. Just then, the lawyer arrived, and everyone assembled in the study in anticipation of their inheritance.
"There are eleven of you, which are the five siblings, your partners, the grandchild making it eleven so where is the twelfth person?" the lawyer questioned as he counted again underneath his breath.
"Twelfth person?" Eric questioned back in confusion.
"Yes, twelfth person we can't start reading the will without all twelve of you". as everyone cracked their head on the twelfth person, Franny showed up to inform them that lunch was served.
"And you are?" the lawyer questioned, giving Franny a stern look.
"Franny, my name is Franny...." looking at the rest of the family, she continued, "I am Patricia's maid."
"Oh Yes! the twelfth person that we've all been waiting for. So should we continue or y'all going for lunch?"
"Lunch can wait, let's get on with the will." Eric responded grudgingly as he stared at Franny with contempt, a look that is also visible on the face of the rest of the family. They knew that Patricia was fond of Franny but not to the extent that they just saw play out. As Franny took a seat by the lawyer, all eyes were on her and they couldn't wait to hear what Patricia had in store for her.
The will was read, and everyone got something of value. They were so excited about all that they got that no one paid attention to Franny who just sat there not minding not receiving anything. Seeing that the will was read, and her name wasn't mentioned, Franny stood to take her leave but was quickly blocked by Eric who asked her to leave the house.
"Patricia is dead and clearly there is no one in the family that will be needing your services. Do well to evict the house as I have other plans for the mansion".
"And who told you that the mansion is now yours? Last I checked I didn't read it as part of your inheritance". Clearing his throat, the middle-aged lawyer continued, "this house belongs to all original occupants of the Howells including Franny who is now the custodian and sole owner of everything in Patricia's room. Will there be any question? If not, I should take my leave and let you all have lunch."
"Hold on a second, is it legally binding all you just said? Does that make Franny our Matriarch?" George the second son questioned.
"Don't be silly George, Franny has no inheritance apart from a room probably filled with crap. So how does she become a Matriarch?" Rebecca cuts in rudely.
"Well, you all should know Patricia better than I do, I'm just her lawyer and yes, Franny's occupancy in the mansion is legally binding. It is all contained in the soft copy of the will that I have forward to you all during reading."
"But you don't have our emails." Josh, the fourth son, said mockingly.
"I do and it's all contained in Patricia’s will". The lawyer responded wearing a smirk, then questioned, "am I free to go now? Is there any further question?"
"I think that's all, thank you for your time". Drake, the third son, responded seeing that his rest siblings went numb and oozed anger.
As the lawyer walked out, Franny followed behind, diverting to Patricia's room to just bask in her essence and express her profound gratitude for recognizing her as family.
Exiting the dining room for Lunch, Sophie expressed her concern, "mom, something doesn't feel right with all this."
“What do you mean?"
"I don't know but, what if there is a secret will? like some sort of secret gift from Patricia to Franny? You've always referred to the old hag as smart and cunny."
"Hmmmm you are right, and you have a point, Sophie. I was even surprised we got an estate from the will."
Drifting deep in thought, Rebecca quickly snapped out of her wonderment and then continued, "you know what baby? I doubt there is anything left that will be bigger than what we got as her rightful descendants. So let it go and let's go see what poison is for lunch". Both mother and daughter laughed hysterically as they joined the others in the dinning.
Franny got to Patricia’s room and she couldn't help but reminisce all the time she spent by her sick bed taking care of her. She thought about how Patricia would always pray for her and inform her that her love and care will never go unrewarded. She felt happy and she was grateful that at least she got a roof over her head. Now the new occupant of Patricia's room, Franny sort to do some rearrangement just to create space for her little belongings.
She had no intention of evacuating Patricia items so she just boxed most of them to store neatly at one side of the wardrobe. It was during this process that Franny stumbled upon a fancy moderately sized jewellery box which read open me, with a code attached all in Franny’s native dialect.
Out of curiosity, Franny inputted the code and the box opened revealing some neatly folded documents in a file and a written note. Franny first went through the documents and saw that it was a transfer of ownership of all properties, offshore accounts and company shares in Howell’s name to her own name. Still confused as to what it meant and not wanting to assume, Franny quickly picked up the note as she read through with a teary eye.
“Congratulations my dear Franny, over the years you've proven your worth and loyalty. You've assured me again and again that my legacy will continue and like I did for Howell, you will do for me taking my achievements to greater heights.
You might be wondering why me? But don't you already realise that you are the child I was never fortunate to have? My step children might think of me as a fool, they might feel they won but no. I have always known they never accepted me as their mother but for the love I have for their father, I gave them what I felt was due but not without securing my own interest. They might be the owner of the properties but you my dear Franny have the authority to revoke that ownership if you please. But be careful because with great power comes great responsibilities.
No one knows the power you now possess or your position as the new Matriarch except my Lawyer and Personal assistant Andrew. I trust them with my life and I am sure that they will guide you plus give you all the necessary protection that you need.
I decided to not include you in the general will for your own protection and I know how you love to remain private.
My time is up Franny and one final word of advice? The ball is in your court now, play it wisely.
With Love,
Patricia Howell.
