Gemotions

A chill snaked up Leo's spine as he watched the solicitor place the heavy, leather-bound book on the mahogany table. His sister, Clara, practically vibrated with anticipation beside him, but Leo felt a different kind of buzz – a tight knot forming in his stomach. The lawyer’s practiced smile seemed a little too wide, the script of the will read a little too smoothly. He swallowed hard as the man began detailing Clara's inheritance – the sprawling vineyard in Tuscany. Leo was next. A smaller plot, the solicitor said, in the rural south – a "charming cottage." Leo’s brow furrowed. He pictured the land, imagining the reality of the small cottage compared to the luxury of the vineyard. The lawyer’s words echoed in his ears – “peculiar circumstances…”

The drive home was tense. Clara chattered excitedly, describing her plans. Leo simply grunted in response, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery. He kept replaying the words, the way the solicitor’s gaze had flickered, and the way Clara seemed oblivious. He'd never liked that lawyer, always felt he was hiding something. The cottage, Leo thought. He knew something wasn't right.