The Way It Has to Be

By Michael E. Hammond

When Benjamin Saunders receives a mysterious letter discussing his recent acquisition of the old Everette Estate, he can hardly believe it to be true. Compelled by his need to revisit the property, he is forced to take a long hard look at the past.

As he wanders the house and the surrounding property he learns that sometimes it takes a walk through the past in order to confront the present…

It may not be the way he wanted it, but it’s the way it has to be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9781312770775

Book preview

I

THE LETTER AND A NEW FRIEND

THE SOUND OF THE CLOCK ticking was almost maddening. The pendulum swung back and forth with that monotonous metronome-like sound measuring out the passing of every second as I sat in the dim quiet of my study. Don’t get me wrong, I was never really an impatient person, but this was a rather unusual situation. Sprawled out on the old oak desk were a slew of unorganized papers, but only one letter held my attention. Unlike all the typed pages resembling bills or formal requests for my services, only one had been written on plain notebook paper. As I looked it over for at least the hundredth time I could practically recite it aloud, though I still wasn’t sure what it meant.

The shaky penmanship was rather beautiful and clearly the work of a woman. The writing was somewhat bold, as if the pen had been pressed too hard onto the paper. If the letter had been signed, it would most likely have been a forged signature. Something about the way it was written appeared to be the work of one who was rushing to get the words out, or someone who was trying to hide their own handwriting. Yet, despite all this, there was something vaguely familiar about it.

I am saddened by your recent loss. Surely this must be weighing heavily upon you. 

Be home between Noon and 3:30 pm on February 17th and the property will be discussed.

Talk to you then.

It had to be some kind of mistake. Though the outside of the envelope was clearly addressed to me, I could think of no recent loss, and I surely had no idea what property needed to be discussed. A million and one thoughts ran through my head as to who could have died. I had no real ties with any immediate family, all of them had been long gone years ago. That narrowed it down to only two likely possibilities, either it was a scam, or I owed someone money. Each of these was as likely as the next.

I drummed my fingers on the table impatiently as I gazed out the picture window. It was already nearing 2:30 and there had been no sign of any visitors. When was this woman going to show up?

Just as the thought had crossed my mind, the phone rang.

Annoyed by the timing, I debated whether or not to let it ring, but by the 5th bell, I eventually decided to pick up the receiver.

Benjamin Saunders speaking, I said. If you don’t mind, I am expecting company at the moment. Is there any way you could call me back at another time?

You are expecting company? said the woman on the other end, her voice raspy with age, and there was no attempt to hide her annoyance. Did you not get my message Mr. Saunders? We had set this time aside to discuss important matters.

Oh, I said, a little surprised. This is in regards to the letter you sent. I had assumed that you would be stopping by the house to discuss the matter.

Forgive me, She said. I should have been more specific in the letter. My name is Melinda McCarny, an agent with the Property Bureau. I am extremely busy in the office and cannot possibly make house calls for such matters. I just wanted to let you know that the estate has been settled, the property has been resurveyed and as far as we are concerned, you may take possession as soon as this afternoon.

Possession? I heard myself say, more surprised than I had been all day. Property Bureau? I am afraid I don’t know what you are talking about.

There was a pause as if this woman wasn’t sure how to answer.

Are you telling me you were not informed?’ The woman said, a twinge of annoyance still thick in her voice. I guess that’s what happens when lawyers are named executors. She took a deep breath and quickly changed her tone to something resembling concern, though I could tell that it was put on for the sake of showmanship. I am sorry to inform you Mr. Saunders, but Mr. And Mrs. Everett have recently passed away. They have named you beneficiary of the Everett estate."

My jaw nearly hit the floor, I didn’t know what to say.

Do you mean Debra and Jacob Everett? I asked, once again assured that this had to be some kind of joke.

The very same, I’m afraid, The woman said. This news must be rather tragic and unexpected for you. You must have been pretty close for them to leave you their home and surrounding property.

Perhaps at one time, I said distantly. The mere mention of the name Everett flooded my mind with memories I had long since stowed away. But that was a very long time ago. Let’s just say that we didn’t part on the best of terms. Are you sure this is accurate?

According to their most recent documents, the Everetts left their estate to you. Perhaps they had a change of heart, time has a way of changing petty squabbles, she said rather cheerfully. Think of it as a gift, what you do with it now is up to you Mr. Saunders.

If the property is mine, I said, still a bit skeptical. Do you want me to come down to the property bureau to pick up the keys to the house? I’m not busy, I can come now.

That will not be necessary Mr. Saunders, Miss McCarny said. I know it’s a bit unorthodox, but we sent an agent out this morning to deliver the keys to the estate. They will be in a box on the front porch awaiting your arrival, along with the necessary paperwork.  All you need to do is sign and mail them back to us and everything will be good to go.

Okay, I said, about ready to hang up the phone.

Oh and one last thing, Miss McCarny said. As I stated before, the land has been resurveyed, some of the original property has been sectioned off, new fences should be in place, so everything that is not fenced off is yours. I know this news is sudden, and I am sure this loss is painful to you, no matter what happened in the past. It may be difficult to understand now, but it is the way it has to be.

With that, there was a click, preceded by the dead silence that follows at the end of a call.

I hung up the phone and sat for a moment, quite overwhelmed by the mere thought that after all these years, I would be returning to the Everett house. There was a time when I thought of the place as a home, but life has a funny way of changing things. I felt an empty smile tug at the corner of my mouth. After all these years, after everything that had happened, the Everett house was mine. I was the only one left who knew the story, and soon I would have to face that past once again.

⛦

IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME before I found myself in the car, driving down roads I thought I would never even see again, on my way to the old Everett house. It had been about twenty years since I had last been there, and to think that it was now mine was just too much to process. At that moment, I didn’t know what I was going to do with the old house. To be honest, I didn’t really know what I was doing at all. The only thing I truly knew is that I just wanted to see it again. I just wanted to see everything again. Maybe then, everything else would just fall into place.

As I drove, my mind was full of so many thoughts that it was a wonder I even knew where I was going. I wondered what the house would look like. Twenty years was a long time after all. It was possible that it would look exactly the same as it had all those years ago, and it was possible the place might now be falling apart. Mr. and Mrs. Everett were now dead and I didn’t even think to ask how they had died. Had they continued to live in that house until the end, or had they spent the last years of their life somewhere that might not be full of so many painful memories.

It was strange because I couldn’t really remember that much about the past. I mean, yes, I remembered the big things, the trauma and tragedy of it all. I could even remember bits and pieces of the better times, warm and full of color. But to be honest, it was like trying to remember the exact details of a summer day when you are caught in the midst