Julia searched her father’s office and found his will, which bequeathed their house to John. Her mother and she were astonished. After calling their lawyer, who introduced them to John, they learned Julia’s father’s astounding secret.
Julia rearranged her dad’s office desk papers a few days after the funeral. She and her mother had to pack and clean his belongings. Julia needed to find her father’s office documents so her mom wouldn’t have to worry later.
But as she passed papers and envelopes, she noticed something peculiar. One envelope came from a Fort Lauderdale law practice. But they resided in Miami. Though barely one hour away, Julia frowned. Her instinct led her to open it and look.
She ripped the seal to find her father’s will. Shocked, she. They thought he hadn’t had time to make one. Though healthy, his heart attack was sudden. Julia skimmed the legal language until she reached a section that shocked her.
Mom! Mom!
Julia, why are you yelling? Her mother entered the office through the doorway.
“Look!” Julie shouted and raised the papers.
“Wait, let me put my glasses,” her mother, Katherine, replied, grabbing the papers with her reading spectacles. “Oh my.”
Do you know this, mom?
“No, honey. I was clueless. It says what? Katherine questioned her daughter.
It says John gets the house and everything else. Who’s that? Julia exclaimed, worried. She was shocked her father left his wife nothing.
“I dunno, Julia. Very strange. Is it real? Katherine said, concernedly looking up at her daughter.
“I don’t know either. But let’s call the law firm,” Julia remarked, attempting to seem cool.
She found the law firm’s number online. After asking around, they found Abrams, her father’s lawyer. They connected her to his private line, and he offered to meet the next day.
Julia and Katherine drove to Fort Lauderdale the next morning, still confused about why their father and husband did this. Julia contemplated numerous things on the way to the lawyer. Fort Lauderdale—why? Who was John? Why was Mom unaware of him? What did her father hide?
Good thing they arrived early and entered the law firm. They were taken to Mr. Abrams’ office and ordered to wait. Finally, the lawyer arrived with another man. Julia quickly identified John.
He was either her age or a few years older. Her intuition told her John was vital. Her father had a reason but couldn’t tell them.
Katherine and Julia, I assume? Nice to meet you. The lawyer introduced himself as Isaac and shook their hand. “You might have guessed this is John. His name is on will.”
“Who are you? Why are you in the will? Julia demanded. Her intuition was irrelevant. She was furious that this man would put her mother on the streets.
“Who am I? Who are you? John replied, frowning and nearly heated.
Please, everyone, relax. Take a seat. This is complicated. I was planning to call you a few days later to give you time to mourn after the funeral, but you phoned me first, so here we are,” Mr. Abrams said. “Your father kept a secret from you.”
“Your dad?” John whispered and stared at Julia. Her brows dropped as she looked at him.
“Yes, he’s my father,” Julia said.
“Your father was also John’s father, Julia,” Mr. Abrams said.
Julia gaped. Her mother glanced at John and Julia, unsure what to say. John seemed bewildered, so the lawyer spoke again.
Your father asked me to explain because he couldn’t. He reconnected with John on social media a few years ago, right? Mr. Abrams asked John, who nodded. “John, want to continue the story?”
“Well I mean… Not much to say. We met several times a month and whatnot. He never told me about you. I assumed he had no more children. I suppose he didn’t tell you about me either? A bashful John said.
“No, he didn’t,” Julia muttered. She suspected John was kin, but she couldn’t understand why her father had kept it a secret.
“Your father told me he was ashamed of his past. He broke up with John’s mother after learning of her pregnancy. After meeting Katherine, he had a family. He gave John everything when he reconnected with him to make up for all the years he wasn’t a father, Mr. Abrams said.
Despite their shock, Julia and her mother nodded. “I guess we should move out of the house as soon as possible,” Katherine resigned.
“No, Mom. Julia said, “Your house”.
“Not according to those documents. Your father owned it before we married. It’s unclear if I have any rights, the older woman said.
Finally, John spoke. “I don’t want to evict you. You can keep it. Not needed. Neither do I want to move to Miami. My work is here.”
Julia sighed in relief, “Thank you”. She worried about her mother and where she would live, but John’s approach eased her.
After conversing, Mr. Abrams promised to assist them organize. John proposed splitting the money among them. “I didn’t ask him for money. I’m fine. I just wanted to know him, he said.
After the encounter, John handed Julia his number. He said, “In case you ever need it,” and left.
Julia felt she could forget about this whole affair after all the paperwork was organized a few days later. She called John unexpectedly and talked. He was married with two kids; Julia had two pets.
They called weekly and Julia encouraged him to meet the extended family. She lavished his children after he became one of her most significant individuals.
She was upset at their father for missing years of knowing each other, but he was probably afraid of what they would think. He made mistakes, as humans do.
What can this story teach us?
All humans make mistakes. We all make mistakes. Learning from it and improving is key. Mr. Moss gave John a good introduction to his family even though he missed the chance.
Strangers can change your life. Despite their initial mistrust, Julia and John considered each other siblings.
