Aunt Carol looks at me. “As part of the divorce settlement, the trust will be handled by the bank going forward. Your uncle won’t be able to spend a dime without my and their approval from now on.”
I want to cheer. Now my uncle can see what it feels like to be treated the way he did my mother. “But why is he going along so peacefully?” I ask my aunt as if my uncle isn’t standing next to me.
Aunt Carol smiles. “Because my fancy new lawyer found out Frank lied to the judge about our assets. Frank could be heavily fined or held in contempt of court and actually go to jail. I agreed to forgo any charges if he complied with my wishes for the trust and divided the other assets per our original agreement. It’s been amazing how the threat of stiff penalties and jail has softened his temperament.”
My uncle grunts and turns three shades of red as he signs the small stack of papers, then thrusts them forward for my signature. “Here.”
I pick up a pen from the counter and ask Gage, “Have you looked at these?”
“Yep. All good.” Gage smiles. “But wait.”
He holds out a beautiful gold pen. “Renee and I thought you might want a souvenir from this historic moment.”
“Thank you!” I sign my name with my new pen that glides across the pages with ease. What my aunt has done for me goes way beyond simply kindness.
“Aunt Carol, you’ll eat for free at my new place for the rest of your life.” I sign the rest of the papers and then give her a hard hug.
“I’ll take you up on those delicious meals, but there’s more.” Carol points to the next stack of papers. “Frank is now going to sign over the house to you. Since you moved out a few days ago, we asked Charlie for an estimate to finish the restoration as soon as possible. The trust will be footing all those bills too, as your grandparents intended. When it’s finished, you can move back in or sell it. It’s up to you.”
“Really?” I can’t believe my good fortune, but there’s still one thing I think my grandparents would’ve wanted. “If it’s okay with Meg, because technically, it’s half hers, I’d like to sell the house to pay for Brittany’s college.” All restored, it’ll be worth millions. Plenty to cover any Ivy League school Brittany and my sister’s kids want to attend. Maybe with enough left over for mine and Dylan’s future kids too.
Meg nods her approval, so I hold a hand toward the papers. “Sign away, Frankie.”
My uncle scowls as he signs the papers one by one. When he’s done, he says to my aunt, “You think you won, but you’ll pay in the end. Just wait and see.”
My aunt smiles sweetly. “Just so you know, Frank, if anything happens to me, everything is going to Sawyer. I can trust she’ll take care of our kids and do the right thing with the trust. You, on the other hand, will get nothing. Now go enjoy your little golf course. I hope it starts turning a profit soon so you won’t have to go bankrupt.”
My uncle’s eyes bulge. “My ‘little golf course’ community will be worth more than everything you got in the settlement when it’s done. You wait and see.”
My aunt crosses her arms. “If you can get bank loans. Without the trust behind you, things will be a whole lot harder from now on.”
When my uncle’s hands fist, Dylan moves to my aunt’s side. “Time to go, Frank. Now.”
“I’d watch it if I were you.” My uncle pokes Dylan in the chest. “I’m still the mayor and your boss, pal.”
Madge calls out, “Not for long. Guess who’s running against you in the next election?”
My uncle whips his head around. “Who?”
“Me, you big bully.” Madge puffs her knit-covered chest out. “And you’re going down!” She glances my way. “You can thank Sawyer for putting that idea into my head.”
I say, “You’re welcome,” then point toward the door. “Now get off my property.”
Frank storms toward the door, mumbling something about what a bunch of losers we all are. After he’s gone, I say, “Ding dong, the witch is dead! This will be the best Thanksgiving ever!”
After hugs all around, I find my Aunt Carol. “I can’t thank you enough for this.”
“It belonged to you and Meg in the first place, honey. I’m just making things right.” She gathers up the papers and stuffs them in a leather case. “I’m going into the city to spend time with the kids, but when I get back, let’s have lunch. My treat. That lawyer you set me up with kicked Frank’s butt so hard, I’ll always be in your debt.”
“Nope. We’re even. But I’ll look forward to hearing all the gory details.”
“It’ll be my pleasure to recount each one.” My aunt waves to everyone on her way out. “Bye, everyone. Happy Thanksgiving.”
Dylan slips by my side and whispers, “Ready for your next surprise?”
In all the confusion, I almost forgot about seeing his new house. “Yes! Let’s go.”
Dylan blindfolded me so I can take in the house all at once, but the car’s bouncing is making me a little sick to my stomach. “Are we almost there?” We’ve been driving for about ten minutes. That’s about as far as the town’s city limits extend either direction.
“Yep.” The car stops, and then Dylan comes around to my side to help me out. “Hold on until we get inside. There’s lots of debris around yet.”
“Wait. Don’t I get to see the outside first?” I’m not so sure I like this plan. Maybe I really am a control freak after all.
“It’ll be better this way. Come on.” He tugs on my arm and guides me to the house and up a few stairs. The aroma of freshly sawn wood, the ocean, and drywall fill the air. Finally, we stop,
