Grey white and blue,
Wind making the room
Brighten and dim on cue.
—John J Geddes
Heart of Autumn
I'm gazing out the window of Mill House, my family home, or more precisely, my father's home. He's now deceased, so by inheritance, my home, although I don't identify with it in the least and find it rather embarrassing to possess.
So much for his and grandfather's plans to start a dynasty with a son estranged from the family patrimony. But I should be clear before I continue—it's my birthright, not my heritage.
I disown the Walker family but grudgingly admit to being a descendant. Beyond this, however, I want no part of their sins, though that may be a vagrant wish—I'm tainted by their genes and no doubt, a carrier of the illness.
It's the old saw—the evil men do lives after them, the good interred with their bones—so be it with Blake, my father and Amos Walker, the original progenitor. But perhaps I should call him as he was, the original perpetrator.
Behind every great fortune is a great evil, and the Walker wealth is no exception.
But my refusal to accept the mantle resulted in my banishment. I presumed I was totally disowned, but was wrong. I can only guess at why my father refused to disinherit me, I suppose because he had no other offspring and decided to have the last laugh by saddling me with this encumbrance.
So many locals depend on the family business he knew I wouldn't shirk the responsibility.
Oh yes, I could divest myself of everything but that would be ruinous to investors and devastate the community.
So, here I am, ironically assuming the oversight of Walker Enterprises and staring out the window at acres of winter wheat.
"ErrolThompson finally faxed that conveyance and I'm now officially your legal advisor although he's not happy with losing you as a client."
Amy Winters was still as beautiful as I remembered, dressed in a plum coloured business suit that accentuated her blonde hair. She still managed to be the impeccable professional while reminding me of the girl I teased mercilessly every day in high school.
"Well, old Errol was my father's barrister and I wanted to put some distance between us, if you get my meaning."
"I do, but you could have retained Errol in some capacity, Cain--it's not good to make enemies."
"Listen, half the town distrusts me and the other half hates me. One more enemy won't make me lose sleep."
Amy went silent...as I recall, that was never a good sign, but she wasn't president of the student council now--she was working for me. At least that was the lie I told myself.
No, Amy Winters was just like me and couldn't be bought. I knew she didn't agree, but I was alright with that. She liked what she liked and I liked her a lot, but she was married now... and that was that.
Moving right along...I didn't come back to Willow Grove to find myself or settle down. I came back to make amends for everything my family did wrong...
But maybe I also came back because I was tired and had been running for too long. Whatever it was, I was here and determined to figure it out.