Miriam's Secret (9 page)

Mr. Rosenberg didn't hesitate. “Yes, I did. The farm, everything on it, and two million dollars.”

Miriam still couldn't breathe right. Two million dollars! She didn't even know anyone who had so much money. Right now she couldn't even remember how many thousands that was. A lot! That much she knew. Suddenly she turned to Rose. “But what about you? You're his closest relative. Shouldn't Amos have given everything to you?”

“Dear, Amos was a
very
wealthy man. I'm already well provided for, but Amos was very thoughtful. Although he left you a great deal of money, the estate was split three ways. I was given a third, you were given a third, and the other third is to be divided among several ministries he supported.”

Miriam didn't know how to respond. Finally she managed to speak. “B-b-b-ut what am I to do with a farm and all this money?”

“Do you have an attorney?” Mr. Rosenberg asked.

“Of course not!” Miriam almost choked.

“If I may make a suggestion?” Rose asked.

Miriam nodded.

“I recommend you ask Mr. Rosenberg to represent you,” Rose said. “You can't do better than having him look after your interests in this matter. He's very reputable, and, after all, Amos trusted him completely.”

Miriam's head was still spinning. “I don't know what to do,” she said. “If I need a lawyer, then
yah
, I'd like it to be you.”

“I'll be happy to assist you,” Mr. Rosenberg said.

“May I please go home now?” Miriam stood. “I really don't feel well.”

“I'll have the papers ready for you to sign tomorrow,” Mr. Rosenberg said, also rising. “There will be the property deed, bank account, tax forms, inheritance forms, and more paperwork. Can you come to my office?”

Miriam rubbed her forehead. “
Yah
…I think. I don't want to meet at my home. I need to think about this. I'm not sure I want my
mamm
and
daett
to know about this just yet.”

“I'm not sure I understand, but that's your prerogative.” Mr. Rosenberg appeared puzzled.

“I can barely grasp this news,” Miriam said. “This news will be quite a shock and change a lot of things.”

Mr. Rosenberg wiped his brow again. “Whatever you deem best.” He handed her his business card. “Please call me as soon as possible to set up an appointment.” He looked at Rose. “I'll take care of the check, of course.”

Rose also stood and took Miriam's arm. “Thank you, Mr. Rosenberg. We'll be in touch.”

“Yes, of course,” Mr. Rosenberg said.

As Miriam turned to leave with Rose, she glanced back at Mr. Rosenberg. He was still standing by the table. He was uncomprehending as to what this would do to her life. What this all meant for the future was so unknown. Right now, she couldn't feel anything. Would she travel through the rest of her life feeling this numb? Slowly, though, she felt a new sensation—one of deep apprehension. With this much money her life would never be the same. She knew what awful things money did to people. Wasn't that what
Daett
always warned about? Would she grow proud now? Full of herself? Trusting in great riches and forgetting all about depending on the Lord for His provision and grace?

Miriam climbed into Rose's car, fastened her seat belt, and then clutched the armrest. Rose gave her a sympathetic look as they pulled away. “I'm sorry, dear, that this is such a shock. But I think my brother knew what he was doing. He always was a good judge of character. Look at the saint of a wife he picked out. The Lord knows she did him good all the days of her life.” Rose paused for a quick glance toward the sky. “Now they're together again, and he's left his farm and his money in good hands.”

“Maybe I should just give it all away.” Miriam's words came out in a croak. “Maybe I should go somewhere else so people won't gossip about this situation.”

“That is, of course, your choice.” Rose didn't appear pleased. “I wouldn't, if you ask my opinion. My brother gave you that money and farm for a reason.”

“But I know nothing about managing money and very little about running a large farm!” she shrieked. The sound pierced the air in the closed car.

Rose didn't appear shocked. “I'll help you, and so will Mr. Rosenberg. He's one of the best attorneys in the area. My brother picked him carefully, I can assure you of that. Mr. Rosenberg won't steal your money.”

“Steal?” Miriam clutched her hands together. Such a thought hadn't crossed her mind. She'd never owned anything that anyone might want to steal. But now…Miriam pinched herself, and pain ran all the way up her arm.
Nee
, this was not a dream.

“I know this must be hard,” Rose said. “And, yes, some people will misunderstand. Your godly character will win out, Miriam. Just keep a low profile, and someday you'll find the reasons for what happened today. You're a rich woman now. You shouldn't try to avoid your destiny, Miriam. God will help you, I'm sure.”

Miriam took deep breaths. Then the words came out. “Do I own Mr. Bland's farm? Really? And all that money?”

“Yes.” Rose took her eyes off the road for a brief glance at Miriam. “Do you want to wait a while yet before you have to face your parents?”

“No.” Miriam studied the landscape outside the car window. “But I don't want them to know quite yet..”

“I don't think that's realistic, dear.” Rose's voice was kind. “Shall I come in and help you explain it to them?”

Miriam's head spun. Maybe that would help. It might make better sense to
Mamm
and
Daett
if Rose explained. And they had to be told. Rose was right. She couldn't hide or delay this news.

Miriam turned toward Rose. “Yes, I'd like that. But let's only tell them about the farm for now.
Daett
will know what needs to be done with that. Don't tell them about the money beyond the fact that some operating expense funds are included. I'll say something later…someday about the total amount.” Miriam tried to think straight. “Maybe by then I'll know
why
this has happened and what to do.”

“Whatever you say, dear.” Rose reached over to touch her arm. “I know all of this is so sudden. Give yourself some time to adjust. Think things through, and you'll be okay. And I'll help smooth things over with your parents.”

That's much easier to say than do
, Miriam almost said, but that would be rude. Rose had been more than kind to her. The elderly woman believed in her and would help her. She gathered herself together as the car pulled into the Yoder driveway. The clock on the dash read a little after two. They weren't too late, so
Mamm
shouldn't be worried. At least they wouldn't start off this conversation on the wrong foot.

“Thanks for coming in with me,” Miriam whispered on the walk toward the house.

She felt guilty about her decision regarding the money. How could she deceive her parents like this? Each step felt like she was
walking in quicksand.
Daett
had been correct. Money was not a blessing. For now, she would simply wait and see why all this had fallen to her. She must encourage herself. Rose was right. Mr. Bland must have had his reasons for what he did.

Mamm
opened the front door for them with a surprised look on her face. “Is something wrong, Miriam?”

Miriam couldn't find her voice, but Rose answered for her. “We need to speak with you and Mr. Yoder, if you have time.”

“Sure.”
Mamm
looked puzzled even as she attempted to smile. “Please be seated on the couch.”
Mamm
hurried into the kitchen, and seconds later the washroom door slammed. Miriam glimpsed Shirley hurrying toward the barn, probably to fetch
Daett.

Mamm
reappeared and seated herself in her rocker. “
Daett
will be with us in a minute, I'm sure. May I get you something to drink, Rose?”

“No, thank you,” Rose said with a smile. “This won't take too long once Mr. Yoder arrives.”

“He'll be right in,”
Mamm
repeated, clearly nervous.

“
Mamm
, this is good news…I think,” Miriam said.

Silence settled over the living room. Several minutes later Miriam saw her
daett
hurrying as fast as he could up the front steps. His awkward gait was more pronounced than usual. As he entered the room,
Daett
glanced from one face to the other.

Rose stood and nodded to him. “I'm sorry to intrude on your afternoon, Mr. Yoder. My name is Rose, and I'm Amos Bland's sister. Miriam and I thought it would best if we explained the current situation together.”

Daett
turned pale. “Situation? Has something bad happened? Is that why you're late?” he asked Miriam.

“Everything is okay,
Daett
,” Miriam assured him.

“Yes, everything is okay.” Rose looked frustrated. “I'm sorry
for the confusion. I would have called ahead if you had phone service. I made arrangements to conduct some business after the funeral, and then Miriam and I came here right after that.”

“Business?”
Daett
was puzzled now. “After the…?”

“There was something we needed to do,” Rose said. “Because Miriam was mentioned in my brother's will, we met with his attorney, a Mr. Rosenberg. He wanted to meet Miriam before we talked about the specifics of my brother's will. I apologize again if this has caused worry for you.”

“Miriam was mentioned in Mr. Bland's will?” This came from
Mamm
.

“That's correct. My brother left Miriam his farm…and some other things, including everything needed to run the place. It's the farm we'd like to tell you about.”

Miriam tried to breathe evenly. Rose was handling the deception so well. It was almost as if the two million dollars didn't exist.

“And why did your brother do this?”
Daett
's eyes blazed.

“Well, he was a very kindhearted and wealthy man,” Rose said. “And he thought very highly of Miriam. I suppose he wanted to show his gratitude for the kindness Miriam showed him the last three years of his life. Without Miriam's help, Amos would probably have had to go to a retirement home instead of staying on his beloved farm. Miriam gave him excellent care.”

Daett
swallowed hard, as if overcome by what he heard.

“This was surely a wonderful gesture on your brother's part,”
Mamm
said. “But surely Miriam can't accept such a gift.”

Rose glanced at Miriam and then said firmly, “Mrs. Yoder, my brother gave Miriam this gift. That was what he wanted. That is the arrangement he made. I believe we should honor his last wishes.”

For a moment no one spoke. Then
Daett
bowed his head.
He finally looked up. “Then we thank you, Rose, since we cannot thank your brother in person. We would not wish to disrespect his kindness.”

Rose smiled. “I hoped you'd feel that way. Now, I need to go. You have a good afternoon, Mr. Yoder. Miriam, there are papers you need to sign. Consider your schedule and then call me. I'm more than happy to take you to the lawyer's office and help you in any way I can. Okay?”

Rose was gone before Miriam could catch her breath. Even
Mamm
was too stunned to get up and see Rose to the front door.
Daett
stood frozen in the middle of the living room.

Miriam struggled to find her voice. “I hope you know that I had nothing to do with this.”

“
Yah
, we know,”
Mamm
assured her.

Still chills ran up and down Miriam's back.

Chapter Nine

S
aturday morning dawned with rain clouds and light squalls moving across Possum Valley at steady intervals like the waving of quilts drying on a wash line on a windy day. The weather fit Miriam's mood exactly. Sorrowful, heavy thoughts swept through her heart.
Mamm
and
Daett
hadn't stopped bemoaning the idea that Mr. Bland had left her his farm. “I still can't believe this,”
Daett
had said when Miriam had come home yesterday after her first day at the Berlin Gospel Bookstore. Soon the people of Possum Valley would look at her strangely and wonder what she'd done to deserve such a gift from an
Englisha
man. All things considered, though,
Daett
was taking the news better than
Mamm.
Their reactions made Miriam all the more glad she'd said nothing about also inheriting two million dollars.