“Let’s proceed with the reading, shall we?” Bette was anxious, but she tried not to show it. Another thing her father had taught her was to put her feelings aside when doing business. And this certainly wasn’t a ride in the park.

After two gentlemen made their entrance as witnesses, introductions were made and Ms. Thorndike proceeded with the reading of the will.

“I, Jane Francine Porter, 21 Temple Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60623, being of sound mind and body, hereby declare this to be my Last Will and Testament…” Bette casually ran her palms over her pants. She took a deep breath as she kept looking intently at Rita Thorndike.

"I hereby affix my signature to this, my Last Will and Testament, on this the 12th day of June, 2013, at Chicago, in the presence of …”

“I, Jane Porter, in the full extent of my abilities and capacities…”

“… so hereby, it is my last wish, that sole custody of my only daughter, Angelica Porter, be granted to my cousin Elizabeth Janice Porter, daughter of Melvin and Janice Porter…”

“…I declare her legal guardian of my daughter Angelica Porter…”

“…If Elizabeth Janice Porter weren’t able to take sole custody of my child…”

Bette was listening carefully but she tuned out when she heard sole custody of my only daughter. Sole custody of my only daughter. What was she going to do? There was no way she could raise a child. She was a career woman, being a mom –or legal guardian- was the last thing she wanted to be. She had a show to put on. Hell, her career was just getting good at this point in her life! Babies weren’t just in her plan for another 10 years, if ever. Was she supposed to drop everything? Become a stay-at-home mom? No, no, no, this wasn’t happening. But try as she might to wake herself up from this bizarre dream, she knew that this was happening.

So she just sat there not really listening to the rest of the will reading, her mind racing. All the while the same phrases going over and over in her head

Sole custody… last wish… I declare her legal guardian of my child… legal guardian… Angelica Porter… Angelica Porter… Angelica Porter…