Tuesday Tales: From the Word SMART

The Autumnal Equinox, otherwise known as the first day of fall, isn’t until September 23 this year, but fall is definitely in the air as the plants change and nights and mornings grow colder. Pumpkin spice takes over as the go-to flavor for everything, and the stores are full of Halloween decorations.

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales and another snippet from Listen to the Stones. Our word prompt this week is SMART. Marina has just told her aunt and uncle that she’ll be leaving for the Isle of Lewis to claim her inheritance. To say he isn’t happy would be an understatement. Enjoy!

Uncle Marvin harrumphed. “That crafty old bastard. It figures. Even in death, he seems determined to make life miserable for you, almost as if he’s punishing you for existing. Eileen mentioned him when she came home. When your father died, everything he had went to his father, Iain Fraser. The man had been some kind of Scottish lord, but by then they were all impoverished, I’m sure. When he died unexpectedly, everything reverted to his brother, Angus. He gave her ten thousand pounds, what must’ve been most of the family fortune to leave Scotland and never come back. I’m surprised he’s even giving you a chance to have any of it but watch yourself. This could be some kind of scam on the part of the family to stick you with death taxes or something. You’ve always been a smart girl, Marina. If you sense that anything is off, anything at all, you get yourself back home as fast as you can. How much is it costing you to get there to collect this so-called inheritance?”

“Nothing. The death taxes as you call them have been paid. The solicitor sent me a credit card to cover the cost, and before you ask, he also sent me information so that I can access fifteen thousand pounds from the Bank of Scotland account in my name there.”

“Someone’s going to get the bill for that credit card. Be careful it isn’t you. For all you know, everything he claims you inherited could be nothing but a pack of lies. The place could be mortgaged to the hilt and nothing but a money pit. I don’t like it, not one damn bit, but I can tell from your voice that you’re determined to do this.”

“It could also be exactly what it seems to be, a wonderful gift from a man who regretted what he did thirty years ago,” Aunt Flo added. “Marvin still blames your mother’s death on that place, and finding out that the family had money that could’ve made her life easier is hard to swallow.  When do you leave?” “On September 21. I’m flying to London and staying there for a couple of days and then on to Edinburgh for a couple of nights before going to Inverness. I’ll arrive in Stornoway on the twenty-ninth. The lawyer, Mr. MacDonald will meet me at the airport and take me to Fraser Hall.

That’s it. Stay safe, and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.