Priceless Inheritance: Book One

By T.L. Tabor

Sitting at the reading of Grandpa’s will, thirteen-year-old Jarod Dailey never knew that any of this had belonged to his family. Not only were a mansion and title suddenly a possibility, but he also had a one-in-seven chance of inheriting an item worth five hundred million dollars. As the clock ticked down for him to make his selection from the will’s items, he used his heart instead of his head. Taking an old brown pair of shoes and fuzzy socks as his inherited item, the others walk away not only smiling at their new treasures, but laughing at his.
It is the summer after eighth grade and suddenly Jarod’s life has changed drastically. Jarod is plunged into the excitement of this new world of wealth the inherited items have brought his family. Him and his best friend Tommy try to figure out why the shoes could be so valuable to Grandpa, then he finds a secret message inscribed on them (To walk a mile in a man’s shoes is to know the secrets of his heart) and learns that when used with the socks, he can connect with anyone, dead or alive!
His first visit...is from Grandpa.

• Language: English
• Publisher: T.L. Tabor
• Release date: Oct 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310114694

T.L. Tabor

I have been writing fiction stories since I was very little, because I always wanted a new and exciting world to escape into for a while. As an adult, I decided to write a kids book about things I wished could be true, or how the world could change if our wishes could come true. Magic and the impossible was something I never wanted to give up believing in and I hope kids who read my books never stop believing either.I had so much fun writing Death, Diamonds and Dirty Socks, and laughed through it every time I read it, I just had to continue the series. So for you fans out there wanting more of Jarod and Tommy's adventures, stay tuned; Book Four: Solomon's Ring is available February 2016, Book Five: The Protected, March 2016, and Book Six: Vessel Of Safety, April 2016.

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Copyright 2014 T.L. Tabor

Published by T.L.Tabor

This book is available in print at most online retailers.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Family Secrets

Chapter 2 - Burns and Bradwick’s Fine Stores

Chapter 3 - Big Shoes To Fill

Chapter 4 - Lord Kentwood II

Chapter 5 - The Vault

Chapter 6 - The Title

Chapter 7 - Lord Kentwood III

Book Two: Mischief Before Mastery (Sample)

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Chapter 1 - Family Secrets

Thirteen years. Jarod Dailey had waited thirteen years to finally be thirteen and now Grandpa was dead. It had only been a week and the funeral was over, but the house was not back to normal yet. They all still had to go to the reading of the will. No one knew why lawyers had been brought in when Grandpa barely had anything to begin with. But many years back Grandpa had promised to show Jarod the family secret, the secret to his success, when he turned thirteen. How great of a secret could it have been anyway? Looking at how Grandpa had lived in that little house all alone for so many years, Jarod wondered if there ever really was a secret. It had always been something just between him and Grandpa, and now just him. All Jarod knew for sure right now was he had to dress up for this occasion…and wear the same horrible dress clothes for the third time that week.

Jarod looked down at his navy blue pants and groaned as he walked down the stairs. They were two inches too short and miles out of style. The shoes that went with them were more than too tight, so that left him wearing his white running shoes with red stripes. Topped off with a white button down, long sleeve dress shirt, the red, white, and blue combination made him feel as if he should be marching in a Fourth of July parade. Four fingers at a time he spiked his short cut, light brown hair and made it look cool...well, cooler. Hopefully, no one from school would see him today. Sandy brown hair, brown eyes, and a skinny build were nothing to brag about even on a good day. He had finally started to fit in at the new school, and even had a best friend after a year in eighth grade. With summer just starting, he had tons of plans with Tommy already, as soon as Jarod was finished with all this Grandpa stuff.

Mom, can I borrow your blue sapphire earrings? the voice echoed from halfway down the stairs from the person Jarod referred to as the Mirror Monster. His oldest sister, Meg, was sixteen, blonde, beautiful and stuck-up. She blended right in with all her new LA friends, but drove everyone in the house crazy with her primping, especially Mom. They hadn’t gotten along since Meg started fitting Mom’s stuff. Luckily for Meg, Mom was slim and in great shape for her age, even more so since Dad had left them.

For the fifth and last time, NO! Mom’s answer was expected, even to Meg. Her heavy stomping up the stairs let the whole house know how miserably abused she was living with this middle class family when she was so sure she was a princess.

Why does she get to wear normal clothes? Jarod protested.

Mom walked by him with a look, the phone pinched between her shoulder and ear as she put on her other pearl earring. "Because your normal clothes aren’t normal."

Jarod flopped down on the farthest edge of the couch and pulled his PSP game out from between the blue floral cushions and decided to stay far away from his mother. He could hear her in the kitchen, still on the phone with Harold, her new boyfriend of four months.

I don’t understand why the children have to all be there, she said in a shrill voice that mirrored her mood. Do you think he’d give them everything and leave me out?

Jarod couldn’t hear the other half of the conversation but he was sure Harold the lawyer was feeding her fears. He wasn’t good for her at all. Mom seemed to let him do more and more of her decision-making, as if she wanted him to take over her problems and make them go away. Only Dad could do that as far as Jarod was concerned, if she’d just give him a second chance.

Jarod looked at the round, wooden clock sitting on the white fireplace mantle. It was 12:15pm. They were supposed to be across town at the reading of Grandpa’s will by 12:30pm. As usual, they weren’t going to make it. He got up, his head still down in his game, and squeezed by his mother in the small kitchen to get to the refrigerator.

Close that up right now, we don’t have time, his mom snapped as she kicked the refrigerator door closed with her foot while she continued to listen to Harold’s advice.

Oww! screamed Lindy. Jarod’s six-year-old sister was still attached to the ponytail of blonde hair her mother was trying to brush as she moved around the house on her cell phone.

Here, I’ll do it, Jarod said, taking the familiar pink Barbie brush and finishing up Lindy’s hair as he did every day before school.

Well, I’ll call just as soon as I figure this all out, his mom carried on. If anything seems fishy, I’ll leave right off and let you know. There was a pause, then his mother smiled softly as she slipped on her taupe pumps that matched her normal suit perfectly. Jarod saw her hold out her hand and admire her newest gift from Harold, a diamond ring. Umm, you too, Sweetie. Can’t wait until then. Bye.

Jarod ground his back teeth together and tried to forget what he had heard. A ring, a wedding proposal, even without her answer it was still going too fast for Jarod. He was thirteen years old, and he wanted what every other thirteen-year-old wanted in the world; his PSP with unlimited time to play it, a Smartphone with unlimited texting, and a mom and dad under one roof with unlimited love just for him.

But that wasn’t going to happen today.

Meg, Jarod, Lindy, let’s go! Mom yelled as she grabbed her jacket off the brass coat hook and swung the door open. She pushed the end button on her phone, grabbed Jarod’s PSP out of his hand and threw it on the couch.

Oh, Mom! Jarod started. He had planned to use that as his escape through this whole thing today.

Not today, Jarod. I have no time, no patience and no help. I need you to pay attention in there with these lawyers. As he walked by her toward the car she gave him that look he could never refuse. How could he fight that? How could he let Dad down when ‘you’re the man of the house now’ was the last thing Dad had said to Jarod when he walked out with his suitcases two years ago?

Jarod fell into his fatherly role as usual. Come on, Lindy, get in. He opened the door of the burgundy minivan for his little sister and waited patiently.

Please hold Mrs. Peterson for me while I buckle up. She hates to lie down except at bedtime. Lindy shoved the tattered pink monkey into Jarod’s hands as she strapped herself into her booster seat. Thank you, she said politely as he got in the back seat with her.

Come on, Meg. You’re going to make us all late. Mom got in and started the car. Meg jumped in the front seat just as Mom put the car into reverse and started down the driveway. Really, Meg, I don’t think that top is appropriate.

Meg looked down at her lacey white blouse that was see-through in areas. Maybe it will get me one of those rich lawyers like your fiancée, Meg said with a devious yet serious smile.

Meg! Harold is more than just money to me. He’s kind and…well we’re not getting married yet… Mom’s scolding was cut short when the car’s engine clunked loudly three times then died mid-driveway.

I can’t believe this! his mother shouted as she put her forehead down on the steering wheel in disgust. We need this money more than anyone and we’re probably the only ones that won’t make it there to claim it.

Jarod couldn’t believe his mother had said that. Boiling her father’s death down to only what she could get out of it? He knew she hadn’t been on good terms with Grandpa for over a year. But a father had to be more than just a money supply. He knew his father was to him.

Put it in park and try again, Jarod instructed, leaning toward the front seat. Give it a little gas when it starts. It just needs to warm up a bit Dad says.

Well, he would know, his mom sneered as she started the car again and laid on the gas. He left us this bucket of junk when he drove off to his new life without the hassles of a family.

Nobody said a thing after that. All the kids knew there was nothing that would ever mend that fence in Mom’s eyes. The car rolled out into the street and there was quiet for the rest of the drive until they arrived at the meeting place.

***

Well, this is the lawyer’s place by the address on the letter, his mom said as they pulled up to a gated entrance of what looked like a modern-day castle. They had only driven thirty minutes to get there but it seemed as if they were in another world, one very different from the twenty-year-old tract homes they had just come from.

Jarod gazed with wonder through the gates and across the expansive lawn that still separated them from the mansion inside. How much money must lawyers make to be able to live like this, he thought? He knew that had to be a big reason why Mom was so attracted to Harold, even if she wouldn’t admit it. It definitely wasn’t his good looks, height, or full head of hair.

A loud buzz rang out from the polished, brass call box they had parked next to. Please state your name, came a very civilized and polite man’s request from the box.

I’m Ms. Katlynn... Kentwood.

Jarod’s eyebrows went up. He had never heard his mom use her maiden name before. It turned something deep in his stomach, another step away from Dad.

Welcome.

The black wrought iron gates with their elaborate scrollwork, slowly swung open like the curtains at an opera. Mom started through, but not more than ten feet in and the minivan stalled for the second time. Oh, isn’t this nice! Still not warmed up? Mom yelled at the car as she cranked on the ignition.

There was a honk of a horn from behind them and not a polite little toot either. Mom looked in her rearview mirror and groaned. The topping on my cake, she said with dripping sarcasm. Jarod turned around to see who it was. A shiny, midnight blue Mercedes, still with its brand new dealer plates on it. It was Uncle Max. I don’t think I could be more embarrassed, she said as she tried to casually drive forward with her right foot on the gas pedal to keep the engine going and her other one on the brake to hold them back a bit.

What is this place anyway? Jarod asked as they rounded the long curved drive and stopped under an arched brick entranceway covered over with lush, dark green ivy.

I’m not sure, she said. My father had many friends and some were lawyers. I’m sure this is just a favor to him, reading the will and distributing his meager possessions.

Jarod knew his grandfather was not rich. He had visited