Danielle #2
“Everything we have goes to Harper, under the oversight of Erick Jacobsen and Danielle Spencer.” Erick says, voice growing stronger with every word.
“When she is of legal age, and is able to make further decisions, she will take complete ownership and control of our house, assets, and business, should she choose to do so.
“The house,” Erick continues, glancing at Danielle as if they can both feel the tension and anger in the room rising.
“Will be given to Erick Jacobsen for use, until Harper is of legal age and can decide what she wants. There is enough in our banking accounts to cover the rest of the mortgage. So, for goodness sake, Erick, get out of your apartment.”
Danielle lets out half a laugh at that, and glances around the room at everyone else.
Danielle thinks she can see smoke coming out of Emerson’s mother’s ears. She’s never made it a secret how badly she’s wanted that house since they’d built it three years ago.
Who could blame her? It’s a brand new, Colonial Revival house with a view of the mountains that’s simply to die for .
“The business,” Erick says, “will be handed over to our CFO, Willard Douglas, who has been an excellent mentor and friend, until Harper is of legal age and able to make any further decisions.”
“This seems to be a little risky,” Emerson’s father says, “leaving everything to a friend instead of family.”
“Have you not heard anything I just said?” Erick asks. “None of it transfers to Harper until she’s eighteen, and it makes perfect sense to leave the business to someone capable. And handing everything to her at eighteen is logical. She’s their daughter. Who else would this stuff go to, if not her?”
“We’re going to take her to Berlin with us,” Emerson’s mother says, “it’s not like she’ll be able do anything from there.”
“Who said you’re taking her anywhere?” Jack’s mother Sarah asks, eyes snapping to Emerson’s mother. “She’s going to stay in America, not go overseas.”
“And what makes you so sure of that?”
“Because we’re taking her with us, back to Montana.”
“Oh, yes, of course. Back to beat up trucks and cowboys!” Emerson’s dad says. “How’s Hicktown, USA, these days? ”
“Montana is no more a hicktown than Lake Placid is, if you really want to go there, Jeremy,” Jack’s father, Adam, replies. “It’s a millionaire’s playground, if you must know. And we have four hundred acres at our disposal.”
“Four hundred acres of bears and other dangerous wildlife!” Emerson’s mom, Amelia, says, folding her arms over her chest like a petulant child. “I won’t have my granddaughter mauled by a bear or trampled by a buffalo –”
“The chances of that happening are slim to none! Only idiots who decide to take pictures with the wildlife get mauled!” Jack’s father says, face growing increasingly redder as he speaks.
“Like those pictures you posted on Facebook, Sarah?”
“I wasn’t anywhere near the bears! They were half a mile away, at least!”
“Bears can run thirty-five miles an hour!” Emerson’s mother exclaims, throwing her hands in the air .
“You’re just upset because our son took after us and made something of himself,” Jack’s father says, voice low, “and gave your daughter the life that you couldn’t.”
“Adam—” Sarah says, even she knows that’s a low blow and Danielle feels a sting on Emerson’s behalf.
“No, Sarah,” Jack’s dad says, “They can’t stand when people accomplish goals and they didn’t. Jack and Emerson started their company alone, and had a life that we could only dream of. And they’re trying to take that out on us.” “Well, I never— We were your friends, Adam
“Funny way of showing it!”
Danielle exchanges a glance with Erick and rolls her eyes before clearing her throat and standing up. Time for shit to really explode.
Actually,” she sets the envelope she had been holding on the table, “she’s coming to live with me.”
Emerson’s mother snatches the envelope from her grip before it’s even fully on the table, and she pulls the paperwork from inside. Her eyes scanning back and forth.
“This can’t be legitimate,” she says, eyes going wide, “there’s no possible way that they would leave her to you.”
All four grandparents erupt into senseless protestations and arguments, throwing words back and forth between the four of them like children. Danielle watches, and their lawyer folds his arms over his chest like a disappointed father.
If they hadn’t just come from the cemetery, the whole thing would have been funny.
“There are a lot of perfectly good reasons they would,” Danielle says, her voice coming out more tired that she would have liked. “Starting with the fact that neither set of grandparents have actually, physically, met Harper.”
The room falls silent.
“She was born after you all left, and then we had a pandemic. In the four years since, not once have you made the effort to visit,” Danielle says.
“Not only have you not met her, you don’t even live near her.
She doesn’t know who any of you are. People sending her checks twice a year aren’t fit to be someone who keeps her alive every day.
Fight it in court, if you want, but I’m sure a judge will honor their decision. ”
“With this,” Erick says, “and everything else.”
“And what happens when you can’t handle a child and a business, yourself?” Emerson’s dad asks.
“I don’t know,” Danielle says, “to be honest, I’ll probably make a lot of mistakes, but you all made them yourselves. All I can do is take one day at a time, and do my best to honor Emerson and Jack in how I parent Harper.”
“Oh, that’s just perfect,” Emerson’s mom says with a huff. “One day at a time and trying your best.”
“Isn’t trying our best what we all do every day?” Danielle asks. “I wasn’t expecting to lose my best friend and become a mom, and yet here I am. All I can do is what I can do, and it’s providing a home for Harper where she is seen, known, loved and safe.”
“She’s not going to be alone,” Erick says, “she has me, and a community here, and it’s better for Harper. You can’t pull her away from everything that she’s ever known when it’s clearly what Jack and Em had decided that her staying here is what’s best for her.”
“If you slip up,” Jack’s mother says, “we’ll take you to court.”
“If I make a mistake bad enough for you to take me to court, I’ll surrender her myself. ”
“Are we done, here?” Erick says. “I think the whole neighborhood is going to be at my house for lunch, and we should probably join them.”
With various levels of resignation, Emerson and Jack’s parents leave the meeting room, not saying anything as they pass Danielle or Erick.
Em’s parents will probably be on the first flight back to Berlin now that they haven’t gotten anything from her, and Jack’s parents will probably finish visiting some family on this side of the country before they leave.
Danielle won’t be sad to see any of them go.
“That went… well?” Erick asks, helping the lawyer clear up some paperwork on the table. “I was expecting more fighting than that.”
“I think they were intimidated because we did it here, with an actual lawyer,” Danielle says. “If we’d done this at your house, it probably would have been a nightmare.”
Erick’s hand settles between her shoulders and she steps out of reach, grabbing for the letter naming her Harper’s guardian .
“It’s always good to have a lawyer on your side,” their lawyer says, half smiling. “It’s also the shock and grief that they haven’t come to terms with. If anyone tries to contest anything down the road, all you have to do is call.”
A fresh wave of gratitude washes over Danielle and she lets out a breath, feeling her whole body relax for the first time in a week.