Excerpt
Connie finished her housework around noon, and was settling down for a short nap when the phone rang again. She reached over and lifted it from the receiver. "Hello."
"May I speak to Constance Sinclair?"
"Speaking."
"Mrs. Sinclair, my name is Walter Monroe, and I was your grandmother's attorney. I hope I'm not calling at a bad time, but I figured you might want to get all the details wrapped up as soon as possible. Is this okay with you?"
"I guess so," returned Connie in a slow, perplexed tone.
“When she died last Thursday, I..."
"Whoa. Wait a second, here," she interrupted. You must be mistaken. My grandparents have been dead for over two years."
"According to Mary Williams, you are her granddaughter."
"Mary Williams? I don't know any Mary Williams. You must have the wrong number."
"No, I'm sure you are the right person." He paused for a moment. "Look. Maybe she wasn't your grandmother. Maybe she was an old woman you helped. Anyway, you are listed in her will as her granddaughter and sole beneficiary. I'm calling to set up an appointment for the reading of the will. When would be a good time for you to come to my office in Stamford, Connecticut?"
"Ah...give me a moment to let this sink in. This Mary Williams, who claims to be my grandmother, died last week, leaving everything to me, even though we've never met."
"Whether or not you knew her is irrelevant. She did name you in her will. She even included your address and phone number. You must be the right person."
"I suppose you're right, but I'll have to talk to my husband, first. May I have your number, Mr..."
"Monroe, Walter Monroe." He gave her his number and it was agreed that she would call him the following Monday to set up the appointment.
Connie frowned; an expression her face was not accustomed to. A grandmother. She always believed she had no natural family. Confused, she sat down to sort out her feelings, finally deciding to call her mother.
"Hello?"
"Mom, do you know anyone named Mary Williams?"
"Connie, is that you?"
"Yes, Mom, it is. Do you know a Mary Williams?" she reiterated.
"Mary Williams? No, can't say that I do. You sound upset. Is anything wrong?"
"I just got a call from a lawyer saying that a lady named Mary Williams died last Thursday, naming me as her only heir."
"Well, Baby, I wouldn't let it upset you. It's probably a lady that had no family, and you helped her once."
"That's just it! She said in her will that I was her granddaughter."
Silence.
"Mom, are you still there?"
"Sorry, Connie, this caught me by surprise. Your father and I were told you had no surviving natural family when we adopted you."
"Is it possible?"
"I suppose it is. I would say it is unlikely, but I could be wrong. I mean, why didn't she claim you after the accident?"
"So many unanswered questions. I could go on all day trying to figure this out. What should I do?"
Meet the lawyer, of course. Whether she was related or not, she named you in her will. She obviously had a reason for doing so. Ask your questions when you get there."
"I guess you're right," said Connie and left it at that.