Untitled...as of now

**SIDE NOTE- this is my first attempt at writing something other than a personal essay.. I've never really thought i could do it. Does this seem more as a prologue or a chapter..if it seems like a chapter..i think i should add more to it. oh well.. tell me what you think. Its a very rough draft.. and i'm throwing it to you pack of wolves to destroy it!

Prologue

It was just as beautiful as I had remembered. I had not been back in over

fifteen years but it seemed as nothing had changed. I could smell the mix

of jasmine and lavender, a sweet reminder of the beauty showcased here. I

began to pull my suitcases out of the back and noticed a familiar figure

walking towards me. His walk was slower, almost at a sluggish pace but like

the house, he had remained the same. I dropped my bags and ran to his

side.

“Uncle Ned! You haven’t changed a bit!” My arms engulfed the man in a

giant hug.

“Oh Miss Lacey! It feels like it's been a decade since I’ve seen you. You

have grown into quite the young woman I hear.”

I took a step back and observed the man I called my uncle Ned. He wasn’t

of course my uncle; he was my grandmother’s faithful butler, companion

and friend. His face had acquired quite a few more wrinkles than the last

time I saw him, but his chocolaty skin was just as distinctive.

His voice was also velvety smooth, just as it had been when I was a child.

“Let me just grab these bags now miss lacey, your grandmothers been

anxious waiting for your arrival”

“Oh Ned, don’t worry about these, I can get them. Why don’t you go tell

grandmother I’ll be in the house in a minute?”

He gave me one of his toothy grins and began to walk back inside. I

couldn’t believe I was actually back. I took a long breath and decided it was

time to face my grandmother.

Chapter 1

For the record, I never had any intention of returning to Wade, Mississippi.

Ever. That is, until I received a call from Uncle Ned. It had been like every

morning I’d had in the past two years. Meetings here, luncheons there,

client conference calls in between. I couldn’t really complain though, I had

single handedly built The LJ Talent Agency from scratch into a wildly

successful business. I was waiting for my next client at the corner Starbucks

when I felt the vibration of my cell phone going off. It was a number I didn’t

recognize but I decided to answer it any way.

“Lacey Albright speaking.”

“Miss Lacey? This is Ned Robbins. You remember me right? Uncle Ned?”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, I was speechless. I hadn’t

heard from my mother’s side of the family in years, and I liked it that way. I

must have forgotten he was still on the line, because his voice interrupted

my thoughts.

“Miss Lacey? You still there?”

“Yes, yes, I’m here. I’m sorry Ned; it was just a surprise to hear from you.

It’s wonderful to hear your voice. What can I do for you?” As much as I was

surprised to hear his voice, I was also on a time crunch. My client was

supposed to be meeting me in ten minutes.

“Well, see it’s about your grandmother. She has fallen very ill and has

requested that I call you. There’s a man here about her will Lacey. I’m not

sure how much longer she has. He needs to speak with you.” I could hear

the shuffling of hands as Ned handed the phone to his amicable neighbor.

“Hello Miss Steen,” I cringed at the sound of his voice. I had changed my

name long ago from Lacey Steen-Albright to just Lacey Albright. My mother

had always thought a wife’s last name was just as important as her

husbands. I however, did not agree.

“This is Patrick Wilkerson and I’m your grandmother’s lawyer. I’m not sure if

you’re aware that after your grandmother passes you will be the only Steen

heir and after careful consideration your grandmother has decided to leave

her entire estate to you.”

The words didn’t register at first and before I had time to open my mouth

he began again.

“There is one thing though Miss Steen-in order to receive your inheritance

you must come to Wade and stay with your grandmother until she passes.

That is the only request she’s made. I understand this is going to come as

a surprise to you, so when you have a decision, feel free to call me back.”

Again, the sound of shuffling hands was apparent and then there was a

slam of a door.

“What an odd fellow, I never did understand why Lila chose him as her

lawyer.” Ned’s voice floated through the speakers. “Well Miss Lacey, I

suppose you have some thinking to do. I’ll see you soon.” And then I heard

the empty dial tone screeching in my ear.