A Daughter's Legacy Read online

  “Hi, I’m Angela. I just want to tell you how sorry we all are.”

  Kelli shook her hand. “Thank you.”

  “If there’s anything we can do,” the girl’s gesture included the others in the room, “don’t hesitate to ask.”

  What that would be, Kelli couldn’t imagine, but she nodded. “I appreciate that.”

  The back office was barely big enough for the three of them. A cluttered desk dominated the room, with two hard plastic chairs in front of it. On one corner an engraved nameplate read Lillian Mitchell, Director. The walls were cluttered with unframed pictures of animals held in place with thumbtacks, alongside crayon drawings with notations like, “Thank you for shoing me the munkes,” and beneath a gray drawing that vaguely resembled an elephant, “Elsie is my favrit.” Kelli noticed that someone had brought her luggage in here and piled it in the corner.

  Jason set the box containing Lillian’s ashes on top of a crowded bookcase. He started to round the desk toward the padded desk chair, then hesitated. With a gesture for Kelli to take that place, he waited for her to be seated before settling his large frame on a plastic chair.

  Why was he being included in this conversation? Had Lillian named him in her will? Probably, because he said she’d been like a mother to him. Kelli kept a smile fixed on her lips in spite of the bitter taste on the back of her tongue. She felt entirely out of her element here, like she didn’t belong.

  Which, of course, I don’t.

  Mr. Lewis set his briefcase on top of a pile of papers on the surface of the desk and clicked open the latches. “As you probably know, your mother made plans to settle her estate six months ago, shortly after she was diagnosed with cancer.”

  Kelli swallowed, her throat dry. The truth was, she didn’t know Lillian was ill until three days ago, when the hospital called to inform her that her mother had died. Six months? She’d found out she had cancer last January, then.

  Why didn’t she tell me?

  “No, I wasn’t aware of that.”

  Jason’s head jerked up, his eyes narrowing into a speculative stare. Heat flared into Kelli’s face. What reason did he have to look at her with that judgmental expression? Who was this guy, anyway? Whoever he was, she didn’t like him. No matter how handsome he was, he had no right to look at her like she had done something wrong. It wasn’t her fault Lillian had chosen to keep her illness from her daughter. Kelli refused to return his gaze, but looked pointedly at Mr. Lewis.

  The attorney cleared his throat and extracted a document from the case. “I’ve known Lil for more than ten years, since I was first invited to serve on the zoo’s board of directors. I’d never handled any personal business for her until she asked me to set up her trust, in which—”

  “A trust?” Kelli couldn’t filter the surprise out of her voice.

  “Yes. Are you familiar with the purposes of a trust?”

  She nodded. “I’m an accountant, so I’m quite familiar with them. A person transfers all assets into the trust to avoid probate when he or she dies. But it’s usually only necessary if the assets exceed $500,000, or if there are minor children to be cared for.” Surely Lillian’s estate didn’t come close to that amount. And at twenty-six years old, Kelli could hardly be considered a minor.

  “Usually. In this case, Lillian chose a testamentary trust so she could specify certain—” he appeared to search for a word “—conditions related to the disbursement of her estate.”

  She couldn’t stop herself from glancing at Jason. The guy watched her with an intensely speculative gaze that unnerved her. She looked quickly away.

  Lillian, what have you done?

  With iron control, Kelli managed to keep her tone even. “Go on, please.”

  Mr. Lewis handed her the thick stack of papers, held together with a large paper clip. “With the exception of a few minor bequeaths, your mother named you and Cougar Bay Zoological Park as equal beneficiaries in the trust. The zoo’s half is to be paid out immediately after her affairs have been settled, and the liquid assets will go into the fund for the new African Lion Habitat. Yours will be distributed after six months, provided the conditions of the trust are met.”

  A lion habitat. Terrific. Of all the things Lillian could have done with her money, that was the one sure to cause the most agony for her only daughter. No wonder she chose not to mention it to Kelli.

  She sat taller in the chair, her spine rigid. She would not react to this, not in front of strangers. Especially not in front of Jason, who sat there purposefully trying to unnerve her with his silence and his narrow-eyed stare. “And what are the conditions of the trust?”

  “That you accept employment as a keeper at Cougar Bay Zoological Park for a period of six months. At the end of that time your work will be evaluated by your supervisor, the new zoo director, and if all is satisfactory, you’ll receive your half of the assets in the trust.”

  A blast of laughter escaped Kelli’s mouth before she could stop it. “Me, work in a zoo? That’s ridiculous.” She leaned forward across the desk. “I don’t like animals. My mother knew that.”

  Mr. Lewis had the grace to look embarrassed. He handed her a sealed envelope. “Perhaps she explained her reasons here. I was instructed to give this to you after she passed.”

  Kelli took the envelope and noted her name scrawled across the front in Lillian’s handwriting. She tossed it and the trust document on the desk. There was no explanation that could possibly explain this—this outrageous condition.

  “I won’t do it,” she said.

  Mr. Lewis cleared his throat again. “Before you say that, you might want to know the value of Lil’s estate.”

  Kelli’s head shot up. “I don’t care how much it is. There isn’t possibly enough money in that trust to make me work in a zoo.” Besides, surely Kelli would have known if Lillian was wealthy, regardless of their distant relationship.

  Curiosity flickered briefly across the attorney’s face, but in the next instant he was all business. “She maintained a large life insurance policy, and she carried mortgage insurance on her home, which has risen rather dramatically in value in the fifteen years since she bought it. Plus she owned twenty-five acres adjoining the zoo on the south side.” Mr. Lewis’s voice became soft, almost apologetic. “Between those and her IRAs, the value of the trust is just over $1.4 million.”

  The silence in the office grew heavy. The only sound was cool air blowing through a vent in the ceiling with an audible whisper. Kelli leaned slowly against the chair back. Half of $1.4 million was—she gulped—$700,000. Of course she would never wish to profit from her mother’s death, but with that kind of money, she could open her own accounting firm, like she’d always wanted. And she could hire someone to help care for Nana, who was growing frighteningly frail as her eighty-second birthday approached. They wouldn’t have to face the looming specter of a nursing home.

  But could Kelli handle working in a zoo for six months, even for Nana?

  She stole a glance at Jason. He sat unnaturally still, his muscular shoulders rigid, tense. Those green-brown eyes watched her closely. A horrible suspicion stole over her.

  Her gaze slid back to Mr. Lewis. “You said the zoo director would evaluate my performance at the end of six months. Has the zoo named a replacement for my mother?”

  “Not yet, but the board will confirm the appointment within a few days. That was a condition of the zoo receiving its half of the estate.” Mr. Lewis glanced at the younger man seated beside him. “The new zoo director will be Jason Andover.”

  Chapter Three

  Beneath the cover of the desk, Kelli’s nails dug into the fleshy part of her palms. The sharp pain helped her maintain a composed expression. At least, she hoped so. She could not force herself to look at Jason.

  How had he managed to convince Lillian to agree to this ridiculous condition? No doubt he’d charmed her with his good looks and that oh-so-subtle southern accent. In her job at the accounting firm, Kelli had seen several o
lder women fall victim to an attractive younger man with dishonorable intentions. She’d never thought of Lillian being susceptible in that way, though. Which proved once again how little Kelli had known her own mother.

  I should have been here for her. Then she wouldn’t have gone looking for a replacement for her affections.

  Both men were waiting for her to say something, but her whirling thoughts made an intelligent reply impossible. She needed to get away to think, to pray.

  Mr. Lewis rescued them from the awkward silence.

  “I expect you’ll want to read through the trust document before you make your decision. Lil did include a provision for you in case you decided not to accept her conditions.” He extracted another envelope from his briefcase and handed it to Jason. “She also asked me to deliver this.”

  Jason hesitated, then took the letter almost reluctantly. He folded the envelope and shoved it into his breast pocket. She narrowed her eyes. What had been her mother’s parting words to this—this gold-digger?

  On second thought, she didn’t want to know.

  She pushed the chair back from the desk and addressed Mr. Lewis. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to see the house now. Do I need to call a taxi, or can you run me over?”

  “You don’t need a taxi.” He closed the case and snapped the clasps shut. “Lil’s house is here, at the back of the zoo.”

  Kelli’s jaw went slack. “She lived at the zoo?”

  Jason answered. “Not at the zoo. Her house is just beyond the rear wall. I’ll take you.”

  Terrific. She’d rather not spend any more time in his company than necessary, but Mr. Lewis wasn’t jumping in with an offer.

  “Thank you.” At least her voice sounded cordial, even though she still couldn’t bring herself to look at the man.

  He rose and came around the desk to slide open the center drawer. Kelli rolled the chair as far back as the limited space allowed, but she was still close enough that his thigh brushed her arm. She jerked away, her skin tingling, and tried to ignore the masculine scent that clung to him. No hint of cologne, just the clean smell of soap, or maybe shampoo.

  From the drawer he retrieved a set of keys, which he handed to her. “House and car. She told me there’s an extra set of each in her home office.”

  She took them without a word and gathered the trust document and letter Mr. Lewis had given her.

  The attorney stood when she did, and extended a business card. “If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call.”

  Several pressed on her mind and she hadn’t even read the documents yet. But he probably couldn’t tell her why her mother did this bizarre thing. Hopefully, the letter would give a satisfactory answer. She slipped the card beneath the paperclip, then retrieved her laptop case from the corner and put the papers inside. When she started to pick up her suitcase, Jason leaned forward to grab it, along with the polished box containing her mother’s remains.

  “Let me get that for you. It’s a bit of a hike to the back.”

  The case had wheels, but rather than argue she inclined her head. “Thank you.” He was polite, she’d give him that.

  Shouldering her laptop case, she preceded the men through the door. Everyone but Angela had left the office, and the blonde sat behind her desk, a phone pressed to her ear. She smiled and gave Kelli a silent wave.

  The Florida heat slapped at her the moment she stepped outside, the humid air heavy in her lungs. Mr. Lewis shook her hand and mumbled, “I’m sorry for your loss,” before disappearing in the direction of the front gate. She watched him go through the turnstile exit as a pair of young mothers, each with a stroller and a toddler clutched by the hand, entered.

  Reluctantly, she turned toward her guide.

  “Lil’s house is this way.” Jason nodded down the path they’d taken earlier from the amphitheater.

  Kelli fell in beside him. At least he didn’t try to talk with her as they walked. Nor did he roll her suitcase, but carried it easily by the handle, although she knew how heavy it was. The muscles in his arm looked firm, not at all strained by the effort. Lillian’s ashes were tucked snugly in the crook of his other arm. She couldn’t help glancing at his profile. Under close inspection, it was hard to picture him as one of those ruthless men who preyed on lonely women. He was definitely handsome enough, but she’d always figured men like that were smooth, polished. Maybe even a little greasy. Jason’s wholesome good looks didn’t fall into that category.

  You can’t judge a book by its cover, Nana always said. Cliché, but true, and worth keeping in mind.

  Thursday seemed to be a popular day at the zoo for moms with preschoolers. Small children flocked around every animal exhibit they passed, their watchful mothers hovering nearby. That was something she’d never enjoyed, though Nana had more than made up for her mother’s lack of attention. Kelli dodged a pair of giggling girls who raced down the path toward a colorful peacock strutting around a grassy alcove. She caught an indulgent smile on Jason’s face as the bird leaped gracefully to the top of a thick hedge, neatly avoiding his would-be admirers.

  He led her around a concrete building with a sign proclaiming it to be the Small Animal House, then beside an open fenced area containing a pair of kangaroos. As they passed, one of the creatures hopped across a strip of dusty ground toward a second kangaroo snoozing on a shady patch of grass.

  Their path ended at a tall wooden fence with narrow, painted slats displaying the sign, Employees Only. Jason unlocked a padlock, then gestured for her to go through. Kelli stepped into a sort of alley that ran the entire length of the zoo. On the zoo side, the fence was wooden with barbed wire at the top. Six feet inside that stood a chain-link barrier, also topped with an intimidating mass of barbed wire. A single-lane paved road ran between it and a normal-looking privacy fence, this one apparently marking the outside boundary of the zoo’s property. The surface was unbroken but for a single gate.

  It was to this gate Jason led her. On the other side, she stepped into a small, enclosed yard with a steep slant. A neglected-looking orange tree in one corner provided the only shade. Dry, patchy grass was strewn with weeds and needed trimming. The house, perched at the top of the hill that comprised the yard, appeared to be in decent shape, at least from the outside. She followed Jason up the slope and into a screened-in patio with a white plastic table and a single chair that both looked as though they could use a good cleaning. Using his own keys he unlocked the back door and swung it open for her.

  Kelli couldn’t maintain her silence any longer. “You have a key to my mother’s house?” Her voice rang with disapproval.

  His eyelids narrowed, and he met her gaze without flinching. “I’ve been feeding her cat since she went to the hospital.”

  “Oh.” Kelli dropped her head and slipped past him into the house. Lillian had a cat? She’d never mentioned it. Another thing her only daughter should have known.

  The room in which she found herself was sparsely furnished, and immaculately clean. A squarish sofa rested against the back wall to the right of the front door and beneath a wide picture window with thick tan curtains. Beside it, a wing chair sat at a ninety-degree angle facing a small television set on top of a spindly cart that looked like it should hold a microwave oven instead. A curved laminate countertop separated the living room from a compact but fully appointed kitchen, and that was where Jason set the box.

  He strode past her and placed her suitcase beside a doorway to the right. “This is the bedroom, and over there—” he pointed to a short hallway at the other end of the great room “—is her office. I’ve only glanced in, but I’m afraid you might have a mess to deal with. It looks about like her zoo office.”

  Kelli’s gaze took in the room in which they stood. “This room is so clean.”

  “I don’t think she spent much time in here.” An indulgent grin twisted his lips. “She was kind of a workaholic.”

  He didn’t think. Did that mean he didn’t know, because he didn’t spend any
time here either? The hint of a dimple in his chin became more noticeable when his smile cocked sideways. Looking at it, Kelli found herself hoping she was wrong about him. Maybe he was nothing more than what he appeared, a nice guy who shared Lillian’s love of zoo animals.

  But what about that trust? How did he manage to get Lillian to name him as her successor at the zoo, and my boss?

  A large yellow cat appeared from the bedroom behind him. It arched its back as it rubbed against Jason’s leg, meowing loudly. The sound cut off abruptly when the animal noticed Kelli. In an instant, it shot back into the bedroom.

  Jason’s smile became apologetic. “Leo’s a little shy around strangers, but he’ll get used to you.” He paused and looked away. “That is, if you’re here long enough.”

  He’s hoping I’ll leave. Kelli tightened her lips at the realization. If I walk out, what happens to my share of the trust? Does he get it, maybe?

  The question that had hovered in her mind since Mr. Lewis told her the condition of the trust shot out of her mouth before she could reconsider asking. “Tell me something. Exactly what was your relationship with my mother?”

  “My rela—” Confusion slowly drained from his face as he picked up the meaning behind her question. A flush colored the already-tanned cheeks. “She was my boss. And I like to think she counted me as a friend, too. She didn’t have many friends.” His eyes narrowed. “Or family, either, apparently.”

  A jab at her. Okay, she probably deserved that. And it was certainly true. She hadn’t been a model daughter. She closed her eyes and rubbed them with a thumb and forefinger. It galled her to realize Jason knew more about her mother than she did. But that didn’t mean she had to be rude.

  “I’m sorry. I’m not thinking very clearly right now.” She opened her eyes and forced a quick smile. “Today has been a shock, to say the least.”

  His expression remained guarded as he stared at her. Then he nodded slowly. “I’m sure it has. I’ll leave you alone.” He pulled the key ring out of his pocket. When he had twisted off a key, he placed it on the empty countertop. “Now you have all the house keys.”