Chapter 194

LUCAS POV

Revisiting Gregory's office, tucked away in a dusty old building, proved to be a less-than-thrilling experience.

The air within the room hung heavy with the scent of aged paper, and the furniture seemed to have absorbed the weariness of countless previous clients.

Shana's discomfort mirrored mine, evident in the way she sat in the worn chair, arms defensively crossed over her chest, a slight frown etched on her face.

I hated the way it smelled in here.

Gregory, a close family friend and lawyer to my father, maintained the same stoic expression that seemed permanently etched into the lines of his face.

I couldn't help but wonder if the reason he looked so wore out was because of how dreary this room was. It was a thought that crossed my mind as I observed his stern face.

"So, it appears your father did have a will," Gregory announced, his fingers rifling through aged paperwork with practiced ease.

Shana's skepticism lingered, her arms pulling even closer into her chest as she sought reassurance.

"Executor?" she asked, and the weight of the term settled into the room.

"Yes, it means that all of you are responsible for all of your father's debt, if he had any, and whatever wishes he had written in his will be given to you," Gregory explained, his tone carrying the gravity of legal implications.

Shana's anxiety surged at the mention of potential debt, her worries palpable in the tightening of her features.

"Did her father have any debt remaining?" I asked, my concern mirroring Shana's.

The thought of having to deal with another financial burden loomed heavily, especially after we recently just settled one.

"Let me check," Gregory responded, his fingers dancing across the keyboard as he delved into the digital records.

Shana turned to me, a nervous glint in her eyes, both of us silently hoping to be free from any more financial troubles.

Considering Shana's father's history with gambling, it was a huge possibility that we could be in trouble.

"The house appears to be paid off, bought back in the '90s... Car is also paid off, bought in 2006. I don't see any pending medical bills either..." Gregory's words carried reassurance, each piece of information sounding like a relief from the anticipated storm.

Relief washed over me, and I exchanged a glance with Shana. The weight of potential financial burdens had lifted, leaving room for a breath of relief.

"Shana, we will need to go over this will extensively. This could require some time. When are you available?" Gregory inquired, his gaze shifting between the legal documents and Shana's weary expression.

Shana gave Gregory the times she was available. She hadn't been going to school these past few days.

I suggested that Shana take a few days away from school. I was sure that if she let our dean know what was happening, he would accommodate for her situation.

Shana didn't need to be there right now when she had so much on her plate in her personal life. As I suspected, the dean thought the same.

Shana is doing most of her schoolwork at home for the time being, until she can sort out all of her father's business.

"Excellent," Gregory said, his pen scratching against paper as he jotted down Shana's contact information. "I'll be in touch, Shana. Take care."

The exchange concluded with a murmur of gratitude from Shana, and as we exited Gregory's office, the weight of the upcoming legal deliberations lingered in the air.

I offered her a supportive smile as we stepped into the corridor. "No debt. That's good news."

She let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness for that. I don't know what I would've done if he would've had something..."

"Well, if you sell the house and the car, you'll be able to have that money for yourself," I said, trying to point out the bright side. "You could help yourself pay through college, if you decide to go."

"Yeah, that would be nice not to worry about..." She nodded, a slight smile taking over her face. "Do you hate it in there as much as I do?"

I let out a small laugh, shaking my head. "It reeks in there."

"Okay!" Shana said with a similar giggle. "I thought it was just me."

"He needs to invest in some candles to make it smell better in there."

"It smells like... moldy wood."

"That's a good way to describe it." I smiled.

We walked side by side back to my car, somewhat feeling lighter than we had before. Even though we had a moment of laughter between the two of us, I could see that Shana's weariness was still there.

Her eyes still held a sadness to them, and it was only a testament to the emotional toll these meetings took on her.

The drive back to Grandma Jo's, though brief, allowed a moment of quietness for us.

Shana, lost in her thoughts, gazed out of the window, and I respected the silence that enveloped us. She had a lot to think about right now and I didn't want to interrupt her.

Once I parked in Grandma Jo's driveway, I turned to her, a question on my lips. "How are you holding up?"

Her response surprised me, "I didn't tell you this yet, but the mortician called me early this morning. It was a hard conversation."

The mortician called, meaning they were asking Shana to plan her father's final arrangements.

I understood why Shana didn't tell me, but I decided to address the concern that had been growing within me. "Shana, it feels like you're not letting yourself grieve properly. You're keeping busy, but that doesn't mean you have to shoulder everything alone. Why didn't you tell me?"

"We had the meeting with Gregory right after. I didn't want to bring it up and put a damper on the mood..."

"Shana, stop thinking that you're bringing the mood down. This is all sad. It's a horrible thing that happened, but that's life. I want to be here for you, but how can I do that when you don't tell me everything?"

Her eyes reflected gratitude, a silent acknowledgment of the support she needed.

"I'm just trying to be strong."

"You can let go and let yourself feel," I said, hopefully encouraging her. "You need to let yourself let go."

She nodded. "I know... you're right."

"And if you don't want to talk to me, you can always talk to James."

She smiled. "He's been sending me a joke every morning to cheer me up."

James, having heard about recent events, expressed his concern and offered his support to Shana. I was happy that his texts were able to bring some kind of happiness to Shana's day.

"Good. At least he isn't being annoying." I smiled.

"Oh, he's still annoying," Shana teased. However, her face instantly transformed into a more serious expression. "I think I want to cremate him. And then, I want to take his ashes to a place we both used to enjoy. I think he'll finally be at peace there."

"Whatever you decide, Shana, I'm here for you," I confirmed, the promise resonating in the quiet of the car.