“I’m sorry sweetheart, Jack’s will isn’t registered with us,” Sharon—the town clerk office assistant—tells me. Her crows feet deepen in concern.

“I-uh what does that mean?” This was not how I was expecting today to go. The office was empty except for me, Sharon, and presumably Tucker Brown, the town manger but his door is closed with the blinds down.

“It means you’ve gotta go to the city to have it valided. It’s a long process,” she cringes apologetically. Sharon is older, but not elderly. She has grandchildren but they are young. Only two and three. Her daughter graduated high school the year before I moved here. There smiling face look up at me from their frame on her desk. She has a cat calendar and a crocheted blanket on the back of her desk chair.

I pull in a slow breath between my lips and blow out through my nose, “I guess I won’t be taking the train back to the actual city tomorrow.” She barks out a laugh in agreement.

I wave my thanks to her and head for the door when the click of a latch sounds behind me. Glancing over my shoulder I see Tucker come out of his office behind Sharon and reach back to shake hands with the burly man of my nightmares, John Rigby.

What the hell is he doing here, I think.

Tucker glances over and his eyes go wide. John’s condescending look of quiet control falls into place like a mask.

“Maria! I thought you’d already headed back to the big city!” Tucker said, too enthusiastically. Like it was a wish instead of a meer thought.

“Lots of paperwork to take care of,” I say, suspicious of the two of them together.

“Well you don’t need to worry about the farm,” John says and even Sharon looks confused now. She swivels her chair to face her. Her eyebrows pushed together.

“What’s the supposed to mean?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. I hope it looks imposing but I’m really just hoping to cover my body from John’s eyes.

“Jack didn’t have a will, so the farm’ll go up for auction and then you’ll get the pay out.” He says slowly, like I wasn’t fully understanding him. “Don’t worry darlin’, I got it taken care of.” He said with a wink. It might’ve looked reassuring to Tucker and Sharon, but I knew it was just condescending.

“He does have a will.” I say, matter of factly. “I have it here. Jack just forgot to get it registered,” I say glancing to Sharon for confirmation and she nods. She eyes John and it makes me want to cheer. She’s on my side. The water cup on her desk bubbles and I clench my hands.

“Yes Mr. Brown, I told her she’ll have to go to Pittsfield to get it taken care of but Dorothy witnessed it, so it should be all set in a few days…” Sharon pauses, “or maybe weeks,” she says to me apologetically. John’s glare cuts into me.

“Who’s Dorothy?” Tucker asks, oblivious to the tension. Leaning against his door frame picking at one of his nails.

“Jack’s maid,” the three of us say at once.

“You can’t witness a will if you’re in.” John explains to us like we are all school children.

“She’s not in the will,” I explain pointedly. It wasn’t his business why she wasn’t in it.

I can see the wheels turning in his head. I try not to let him make me feel small.

“You girls didn’t forge in did you?” John says teasingly. He lets the first seed of doubt fly like a dandelion. I scowl and see Sharon and Tucker share a look. I take a deep breath as Sharon’s water bubbles again.

“That’s not a funny joke, John.”