Cashier Learns She Owns a $3.8M Business after Finding Will in Her Name — Story of the Day

An unusual letter provides the catalyst for one woman to uncover a secret kept from her for years, and receive unexpected wealth.

Gregory locked the door to the small corner shop where he’d worked as a cashier for the last twenty years. His coat was too old and thin to keep the chill from his bones as he walked home, but he smiled nonetheless. It had been another great day at work.

Gregory’s wife had never understood how he found satisfaction in what she called a low-level job. She’d left him because she felt he lacked ambition, but he still had his daughter.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Linda was standing in the foyer of the apartment block where she and Gregory lived when he entered the building. She had also recently started working as a cashier and still wore her uniform. In one hand, she held a letter.

“What have you got there, Linda?” Gregory asked as he approached her.

Linda looked up, startled. “You tell me, Dad. I’m too scared to open it.”

Gregory frowned and took the letter from his daughter. The name of a legal practice was printed on the envelope.

“Why would a lawyer be contacting me?”

Gregory shrugged. He tore the envelope open and studied the papers inside. His jaw dropped, and his fingers began shaking as he read.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

“It’s bad, isn’t it?”

“It’s… strange. According to this letter, somebody has left you a business comprising three restaurants, and it’s worth nearly four million dollars.”

“What!” Linda snatched the letter from Gregory’s hands. “It’s got to be a scam.”

“I did this to find out whether you’re a good person.”

“There’s an easy way to find out.” Gregory leaned over to indicate the lawyer’s phone number on the letterhead.

Linda called the lawyer and arranged a meeting for the next day. Gregory accompanied her.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

“This has got to be a mistake,” Linda told the lawyer when they entered his office.

“I don’t know anyone who would leave me a business.”

The lawyer shook his head. “There’s no mistake, Miss. My client, Matthew Markham, was very particular in his instructions.”

Gregory felt as though he’d been electrocuted. “Please, say that name again.”

“Matthew Markham.”

Gregory understood everything then. He hung his head and burst into tears.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

A few months earlier…

Matthew shivered with anxiety as he approached the cashier. He set down the packet of gum and stared at the man who rang it up. The nametag on his chest said ‘Gregory.’ He was the right man.

“Sir? Are you okay?”

“Fine.” Matthew realized he’d zoned out and handed the cashier a five-dollar bill. “But I do need to talk to you. It’s about Linda.”

The man looked up sharply at the customer who had just uttered his little daughter’s name. “Is she in some kind of trouble?”

Matthew shook his head. “Do you have a few minutes, please?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

Matthew and Gregory arranged to meet at a diner nearby during Gregory’s lunch break. While Matthew waited, he thought over the revelations that had brought him to this point.

A few days earlier, he’d been discussing his terminal illness with a close friend, Jeremy, and lamenting that he had no heirs to whom he could leave his restaurant business.

Then Jeremy dropped a bombshell on him: Matthew had a daughter he didn’t know about. His ex-girlfriend had died in childbirth, and the baby was placed up for adoption.

Matthew immediately hired a detective to track her down. Days later, he was finally sitting down with Gregory, the man who’d adopted his daughter.

Matthew explained to Gregory that he was Linda’s biological father and then asked the question that was foremost in his mind:

“Does Linda know she was adopted?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

“No, and you can’t tell her, sir.” Gregory looked at him pleadingly. “My wife left me a couple of months back, and I can’t lose Linda too. Please, don’t take her from me.”

Matthew was torn. He wanted to know his daughter but didn’t want to cause problems for the man who’d raised her. He also didn’t want to upset his daughter’s life by introducing himself when he only had a few months more to live.

“What is she like?” Matthew asked. “Is she a good person?”

Gregory smiled. “She’s an amazing person. She’s kind and treats everyone equally.”

Matthew nodded. He was starting to get an idea.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

The next day, Matthew disguised himself as a poor man and went to the store where Linda worked as a cashier. He took a few essential food items to her checkout and waited while she rang them up.

“I’m sorry, Miss,” he said once she told him the cost.

“I can’t afford all of that. I’ve only got ten dollars.”

“Don’t worry about it, sir.” Linda smiled at him. “I’ll cover the rest.”

Matthew left the store and returned a week later. This time, he wore his finest suit. He chose several of the most expensive items in the store and again went to Linda’s checkout.

“Get out of the way,” Matthew shouted as he pushed his way to the front of the queue. “I’m in a hurry and need to be served fast.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

He set his purchases down in front of Linda and waved his hands at her. “Hurry up, girl, I’ve got an important meeting to attend.”

“Then you’ll have to tell them you’re going to be delayed.” Linda pushed his purchases aside and gestured to the woman behind him. “You’re next, ma’am.”

“I need to be served first!” Matthew exclaimed.

“That’s too bad, sir. I don’t allow anyone to push to the front of the queue, no matter how important you think you are.”

Matthew grinned from ear to ear. “I’m glad you said that.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

He reached for a bouquet of yellow lilies and placed the cash to pay for them on the counter. “These are for you, Linda. My name is Matthew, and I did this to find out whether you’re a good person.”

“Do me one favor, please, and remember my name when you see these lilies.”

Present day…

“Matthew is the name of your biological father, Linda,” Gregory said. “You’re adopted.”

“Why did you never tell me?”

“I’m so sorry. I never wanted you to feel bad about it. Then your mother left, and I was afraid you’d leave me too if you knew I wasn’t your real father.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Linda hugged him. “I’d never do that, dad.”

The lawyer cleared his throat. “As I was saying, my client bequeathed his three restaurants to you, his sole heir, when he passed away a month ago. These restaurants are each worth over a million dollars.”

“Mr. Markham also had a special request. He wanted me to give you something.”

The lawyer left the room and soon returned with a bouquet of yellow lilies, which he presented to Linda.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

Linda cradled the flowers in her arms. “I understand now.” She turned to Gregory. “He came into my shop once and asked that I remember his name when I see yellow lilies.”

Gregory placed a hand on Linda’s shoulder. “I’m sure he was very proud of you, Linda, and will continue to be proud of you from heaven.”

What can we learn from this story?

Treat people equally, and you will be rewarded. Matthew was encouraged to leave his business to Linda when he saw that she was a good person.

One can find happiness in a simple life. Gregory and Linda were both happy to work as cashiers and earn an honest living.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who discovers the house she’s been cleaning for the past ten years belongs to her.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.

A Nostalgic Reminder of Culinary Elegance

Have you ever found vintage pastry tongs at a flea market or in your grandmother’s kitchen? Known by other names as pastry servers or sugar tongs, these quaint old-fashioned cooking implements have a rich heritage and a function that speaks to a bygone period. Let’s delve into their fascinating tale for a while.

An Amazing Combination of Design and Usability

Pastry tongs’ style pays homage to the grace and practicality that characterized bygone eras. These utensils, with their elaborate patterns and handles, were works of art rather than merely common serving utensils.

During tea time or dessert events, its delicate build made it possible to serve delicate pastries, cookies, and other sweet delights with precision and grace.

It was an art in and of itself, using pastry tongs. Their thin, pointed ends let one to delicately pick up the pastry they wanted and guarantee a smooth, elegant serving.

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With these tongs, every encounter is a joyful experience since the handles were expertly created to strike the ideal mix between functionality and aesthetic appeal.

An Icon of Edwardian and Victorian Elegance

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The Victorian and Edwardian eras, when elaborate tea parties were common social gatherings, saw the height of pastry tongs’ appeal.

The way pastries and candies were presented evolved into a beautiful art form, and these tongs were a necessary piece of equipment to maintain the upscale dining experience.

But eating habits changed throughout time, and contemporary convenience became more important. Pastry tongs were eventually replaced by other serving tools as their use decreased. Nevertheless, collectors and aficionados of vintage pastry tongs maintain a particular place in their hearts even in spite of their limited usefulness in modern kitchens.

An Emotional Bond with the Past

Vintage pastry tongs are treasured artifacts for people who value artistry and historical relevance. These tongs arouse strong feelings of nostalgia and take us back to a time when serving pastries was a kind of art in and of itself, whether they are arranged as decorative pieces or on shelves.

They encourage us to reflect on and value the beauty of the past by providing a concrete link to a time of culinary refinement in the past.

Therefore, the next time you come across a pair of pastry tongs, stop and consider their artistry and the histories they represent.

These understated yet sophisticated utensils are a tribute to historical artistry and a kind reminder of the refined cuisine that formerly graced our tables.

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