Page 74 of Miss Humbug
“Yeah?”
“I have a good feeling about the girl, too. Keep your head up and don’t do anything stupid.”
Chapter 26
Marlowe
One week remained until Christmas. My goal? Stay as busy as possible. Busy kept my mind off of Ethan. And I had a lot to do.
Rafe managed to schedule a video call with an estate attorney. All of us gathered at his house—away from Grans’ curious ears—to learn the role of trustees and our options for managing the house.
Brianne and her killer networking landed us another meeting about charitable foundations. If we sold off portions of the land, the money could be used to start a foundation offering community grants, managed by our family. Even more exciting possibilities.
Beyond that, my to do list included gift shopping and assisting Grans with sorting through the attic and the spare bedrooms. Any furniture she wouldn’t have room for at her new place, she planned to offer first to the family. Then, she’d work with antiques dealers and resale shops, and eventually donate the rest.
Every day I wanted to see Ethan. I wanted to run to him and tell him we’d figure this out. But I needed to sort my own life before I even considered adding him in. I needed my own plans. My own agenda.
Over Christmas Double Eve dinner (that would be two days before Christmas), we told Grans about our plan for the family trust. We were too excited and far along in our plans to wait any longer. Grans merely smiled as we laid out our ideas.
After eating and sending off the kids to play games, we brought out the land deed and map and the now infamous formerly sticky note. Ashe took the lead. “Did you know about this?”
Grans examined the note and shook her head. “He never was much of a land baron, my Alan. Well, that’s a kink in your plans. What are you going to do about it?” She looked at us.
Shrugs and silence all around. I pressed my tongue against a sharp tooth, willing myself not to jump in. Ethan’s words floated back.You let your family steamroll over you.I couldn’t stand having my suggestion squashed, but we all agreed not to discuss selling land until the trust was fully established.
Then again, steamrolling—ouch, right? Speaking up when it mattered could be the way to get them to take me seriously. I never had trouble speaking up in school or at work when I had an opinion to offer. Only with my family.
Because I was the baby and they never listened. Well, this baby was all grown up.
Cara poked Ashe in the arm. “Well?”
Ashe let out his breath in a huff. “It’s not up to me. We’ll all be trustees, so we’ll put it to a vote?”
Grans delicately folded her hands in front of her. “You’ll need a vote to determine the right thing to do?”
Trick question! Panicked looks streaked across the table. For once, Shawn kept his mouth shut. Rafe and Brianne exchanged glances while Ashe and Cara elbowed each other. Riley shot a look to her parents, but Uncle Joe and Aunt Sunny existed in their own world, having created a healthy distance over the inheritance.
Here was my chance. “We should meet with the Sawyers and discuss what they’d like to do. We shouldn’t assume anything. At the very least, we should formalize the land deal Gramps made. Perhaps it’s not currently legal, but we could ensure we aren’t harming the Sawyer business. Like we discussed, we can do better. We can think less about how this house benefits us and instead how we can use what we have to benefit others. That’s honoring our family legacy just as much as one of us holding onto the property. Maybe even more so.”
Shawn opened his mouth and I held up my finger. A thrill of satisfaction hit when Shawn let me continue without interruption. “And before anyone comments about my relationship with Ethan, this is coming from me, not him. As a Holly, we honor our commitments. Gramps committed the land to the Sawyers and I believe he had the best intent. This would be to honor Gramps as much as the Sawyers.”
The silence grew less awkward. Did I sense an air of respect?
“That’s entirely reasonable,” Ashe said.
Yes.Ashe was tough to impress, and I still appreciated approval from my oldest brother. Old habits held strong.
“We’ll need to officially vote once the trust is established,” Rafe pointed out. “But I’m open to a sit-down with the Sawyers to clear any misunderstandings.”
Brianne sighed loudly. “Oh, let’s give them the land and call it a day.” She directed her attention to me. “Forlove.”
This time laughter filled the silence. My cheeks lit with heat. “Stop talking about my love life!”
Ashe laughed. “No way, it’s cheap entertainment.”
“Are we sure this Sawyer kid isn’t using you, Marlowe?” Shawn cracked his knuckles. “I meant it when I said I’d protect my baby sister.” He held up a hand. “I’d like to correct myself. My full, adult sister.”
I gaped at him.
