The widowed mother of two adult daughters chooses to share her possessions before she dies and summons them to her house, claiming it is an emergency. Brenda Rafferty was a widow, and as she grew older and her health deteriorated, she began to recall a discussion she and her husband had just before his death. Sam Rafferty’s main concern was the well-being of his wife. He was worried that she would be lonely without him, and that their two girls would not be as supportive as he had planned. “Brenda,” he’d said.

“You give the money to whoever deserves it the most!” Brenda sat in her room, ten years after his death, staring at a photograph of her loving husband. “Oh, Sam!” she sighed. “I miss you so much! I’m so lonely… I know the girls adore me, but…” But Lucy and Eliza each had their own families and resided in different states. Brenda missed them and her grandchildren, but her health didn’t allow her to travel as much as she would have liked.

Lucy always came out for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Brenda’s birthdays, but Eliza preferred to spend time with her husband’s wealthy family, who resided nearby in Wisconsin. Nothing is more precious than the health of our loved ones. “They’re both ours, Sam!” Brenda narrated the story of the portrait. “How do I decide who gets what? I know I promised, but how do I know who truly cares about me and my well-being?” Brenda then came up with a brilliant idea.

She started by doing some internet research, and then she made two phone calls. “Honey!” she said to each of her daughters in turn. “I’m afraid Doctor Vance has awful news for me.” He claims I have a very unusual metabolic problem, and the only thing that will treat me is a new prescription developed only by a European pharmaceutical company, which is difficult to find in the United States.

“He says that unless I start the meds within the next few days, I will di=e. He has contacted the FDA and they say they have no record of the medication being in stock anywhere in the state. “I have scheduled a meeting with a notary here in the house tomorrow morning, and I want you and your sister to be here. In fact, whoever isn’t here will get nothing. This was your father’s wish.”

Both women had reacted with s=hock to their mother’s revelation. Eliza sobbed while Lucy sounded distracted, nervous, and eager to get off the phone. Brenda hung up and tapped her nails on her phone. “Now we will see, Sam!” she said to her husband’s portrait. The next morning, Brenda woke up early and got dressed, ready to greet her two daughters. The notary was scheduled for 10:00 am, but by 9:00, Eliza was knocking on her door.

“Oh, mom,” Eliza said. “I drove all night! I couldn’t think of you being here on your own with such a terrible diagnosis hanging over you!” Brenda welcomed her oldest daughter with open arms and hugged her. “Come in, honey, we’ll have some tea while we wait for your sister and the notary.”At 10:00, the notary was there but Lucy wasn’t. “Maybe she didn’t take it seriously, mom!” said Eliza. “You know Lucy…” Brenda frowned. She DID know Lucy and that was why she immediately called her son-in-law.

“Hello, Jack,” she said. “It’s Brenda. Is Lucy there?” “No!” Jack said. “I arrived home from the late shift at 1:00 am and she wasn’t here… I’ve been calling her phone but she must have forgotten to charge it and none of her friends have heard from her.” Brenda hung up the phone and frowned. “I wonder where Lucy is!” .”Well, she’s obviously not very keen on the inheritance…” Eliza said slyly.

She was already imagining herself the sole beneficiary of her mother’s very respectable estate “Would you mind waiting a little longer?” Brenda asked the notary. “I will, of course, pay for your time!” the man agreed to wait until lunchtime, but still, Lucy didn’t show up. The notary had packed up his briefcase and was on the way to the door when there was a screech of tires in the driveway. “Mom!” cried an anxious voice. “Mom it’s OK! I found a way…”

Brenda opened the front door. Lucy was standing there looking disheveled and exhausted as if she hadn’t slept all night. “Mom, I went to the European pharma’s head office in Alabama and I spoke to their director.”As soon as they receive a prescription from Doctor Vance and the OK from your insurance they will fly in the medication you need within 24 hours. It’s OK mom, you’re not going to d=ie!” And Lucy burst into tears.

“OH!” cried Eliza. “That’s… That’s just wonderful!” But she sounded anything but pleased. It was obvious to Brenda that she had already been thinking about how she would be spending her mother’s money. Brenda smiled at the notary. “Thank you so much,” she said. “But fortunately, I won’t be needing you as soon as I thought!” “But mom,” cried Eliza. “I think it’s important that you follow through with daddy’s wishes — and Lucy wasn’t here…”

Brenda threw Eliza a sharp look. “Yes, you may be right, Eliza!” she said. Brenda turned to the notary and said: “In accordance with my husband’s wishes I hereby bestow my house and my savings account in the amount of $450,000…”Eliza smiled triumphantly and caught her breath greedily. It was so much more than she’d imagined and it would be all hers!

But then Brenda said: “…on my younger daughter Lucy, who has shown that her concern for me is greater than any wish for my wealth!” “What?” screamed Eliza. “You said…” “Your father wanted me to leave the money to whoever was most concerned with ME, not with being here FIRST in order to inherit,” Brenda explained. Eliza jumped up and rushed out of the door.”Mom!” gasped Lucy. “Please don’t do that! Poor Eliza is so hurt…”

Brenda smiled. “Don’t worry, Lucy!” she said. “Eliza will get over it, and maybe it will teach her a valuable lesson about love. And by the way… There was no illness, but I’m grateful for your kindness all the same!”