Chapter 19 The Will
The Will
Ava followed Noah to the car, sliding into the passenger seat with their food instead of offering to drive. She smiled, thinking of the whoopie pie waiting for her.
“Do you know what's going on at the Agatha building?” Noah asked.
She looked out the window at the construction happening. Her chest tightened each time she considered how someone else bought the building. “No clue. I asked Owen, but he didn't seem to know either. Just said someone bought it.”
“Weren't you interested in turning it into a bed-and-breakfast years ago?”
Ava swallowed past the lump that formed in her throat. Of course, Noah would remember her dream about the bed-and-breakfast with Owen. “I was. It's why I got into hospitality.” Ava stared out the window, not daring to look at Noah.
“Are you still liking it? You’ve got this big opportunity you’re being considered for, right?”
The brick buildings and brightly colored awnings that dotted the small downtown road gave way to the woods as they drove toward the cabin, and Ava considered the question.
She loved working in hospitality, and she’d worked hard to get as high up as she was.
And despite that, a jolt of surprise went through her when she realized she hadn’t worked on her presentation for the board position in a week.
Morgan had even put together a presentation template that adhered to the hotel’s branding.
“I love what I do. It keeps me busy, and no two days are the same. But even in my position, I have little say in how the hotel operates. I mostly make what the Board of Directors want into reality, and it’s not always keeping up with hospitality trends.
That’s why I want this appointment on the board.
I could change things, you know? And it might be the closest I’ll get to running my own place. ”
Ava continued staring out the window, marking their progress to the cabin. It had always been easy to talk to Noah. He listened without judgement, unlike Lucas, who constantly had an opinion and wasn’t nice about sharing it.
“I get that. I like what I do. Taking different contracts for sustainability projects. Each one’s a new challenge to solve.
But most of the time I’m providing short-term fixes for systemic problems. Companies don’t want to put the full time and money toward these problems that they actually require. ” Noah paused.
They turned onto the winding path that turned into the gravel driveway of the cabin. “Dad loved his work,” he added, pulling to a stop.
She shifted to look at Noah. His hands still gripped the steering wheel, his shoulders hunched.
“Yeah, he did. I haven’t been able to go into his office yet. Reminds me too much of him.” She gave him a sad smile.
He returned with a small smile of his own, his shoulders dropping a fraction at her admission.
“Did you know Dad was also teaching at the high school?” she asked him. The question had weighed on her mind since her visit to the Baptist church thrift store.
Noah's brows furrowed. “No, this is the first I'm hearing of it.” He shrugged, releasing his grip on the steering wheel. “We should get inside and see what Lucas found.”
They got out of the car, and Ava trailed behind Noah, bringing their uneaten lunch inside and putting it in the refrigerator. She pushed away the shiver that came over her when she recalled how Owen had caged her in the same spot the evening before.
“In here,” Lucas called from the direction of the office.
Ava steeled herself to enter the one room she'd avoided for weeks.
The door was open, revealing her dad's old oak desk littered with papers and books.
Lucas sat in the wingback chair behind it, a pair of reading glasses perched atop his head.
Noah circled the desk and leaned a hip against the side.
Ava stopped in the doorway. A heavy weight settled in her chest, preventing her from going inside.
She leaned a shoulder against the doorframe and crossed her arms, watching them from the entrance.
“What'd you find?” Noah broke the silence in the room.
Lucas exhaled a heavy sigh, seeming older than his thirty-two years.
He rapped his knuckles on a folder in front of him.
“I've got good and bad news. I went through dad's files and managed to log into his laptop to confirm what I found in his accounts. Bad news: dad had debt. A lot of high interest debt.”
“Shit,” Noah said.
“How much debt are we talking about?” Ava asked. Her dad had never mentioned having financial issues.
“Enough that he took out a second mortgage to pay it down. But didn't have enough equity to cover the full amount. Dad died with two mortgages and a high-interest loan he was paying off.”
Noah gave a low whistle. “And what's the good news?”
Lucas opened the folder and pulled out a sheet of paper on top. “Despite his poor financial choices, he did one thing right and had life insurance.”
“Okay,” Ava dragged out the word, thinking through what it all meant. “How much is the life insurance amount? Can we use it to cover the debt and maybe keep the cabin?”
Her brothers turned to look at her. Noah's expression softened, his lips tipping up in a small smile. Lucas scowled.
“Since when do you want to keep the cabin? We all agreed to sell it even before we knew about dad's shit finances. You haven't visited in ten years, and now you’re suddenly interested.” Lucas leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms, glaring at her across the room.
Ava's mind raced. Her suggestion to keep the cabin surprised her as much as it did Lucas. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized a part of her wanted to keep it.
She’d already lost the Agatha Building, not that it was hers to begin with, and now panic lanced her when faced with the reality of selling the cabin to settle her dad's debts.
There would be nothing left of dad.
Her heart ached.
“I thought we had time. To clear it out, clean it up. But you're making it sound like we need to sell sooner rather than later.”
“We would. Or more accurately, Noah would,” Lucas said, his scowl still in place.
“What does that mean?” Ava asked.
“Dad left you as the sole beneficiary of his life insurance policy. But he left the cabin to Noah. And according to the most recent will I found, he named me the Executor. Congratulations, Ava, you get the money, and we’re responsible for all the debt.
” The sarcasm in Lucas's voice left a bitter taste in her mouth.
“What the hell?” Noah said, glancing between Lucas and Ava.
Ava lost the ability to breathe as anxiety stabbed its way through her chest. “What are you talking about?” she asked.
Lucas turned a piece of paper around and slid it across the desk in her direction.
The mental block that prevented Ava from entering the office lifted as her feet moved before her brain caught up.
She picked up the signed will, showing exactly what Lucas said.
She placed the will down, and Lucas shoved another paper toward her.
Maine Trust Financial Group
Insurance information: Death benefit $250,000
Beneficiary: Ava Hanson 100% allocation
“This can't be real. Why wouldn't he allocate all of us evenly?” Ava looked at her brothers in shock.
Noah had a deep frown on his face, so unlike his usual carefree countenance. He said nothing. The anxiety in Ava's chest traveled to her stomach, a sinking sensation overcoming her.
“It’s ironic, really, considering you caused most of Dad's debt,” Lucas announced.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? I didn't even know about Dad's debt,” Ava's voice rose in indignation.
Lucas uncrossed his arms and shoved up to his feet. He pulled out more documents from the folder in front of him. “Dad's high interest debt came from paying your college tuition out of pocket. Your ivy-league tuition so you could attend Columbia University.” He slid more documents to Ava.
“I don't understand.” Ava flipped through page after page of loan documents dating back the past twelve years.
“I talked to him about student loans for college.
He said he had it covered. Had been saving for years.
He didn't want me to start my career saddled with debt. Did he pay for you guys, too?”
Lucas and Noah exchanged looks. Noah shook his head.
“I had a full-ride scholarship for my degree. Mom just made sure I had money for living expenses and books. Dad and I never even talked about paying for college. I assumed him and Mom had worked all this out ahead of time.” Noah rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at the desk.
“Dad didn't pay shit for me,” Lucas declared. “I had to pay my tuition. Take out loans. I wasn't a STEM genius, like Noah, or Dad's favorite, like you.” Lucas tossed his reading glasses on the desk and ran his hands through his hair, tugging at the ends in frustration.
“I wasn't the favorite,” Ava protested.
“Kind of looks like you were,” Noah said.
“We used to joke about it, me and Lucas, but the documents say it all.
He went into debt to pay for your ivy-league college so you wouldn't have to take out loans. He made you the beneficiary for his life insurance. He left us the financial mess to clean up.” Noah backed away from them, shaking his head. “Doesn't feel like a joke anymore.”
Noah chuckled humorlessly.
Tears stung the backs of her eyes at the betrayal on Noah's face. Her sweet younger brother had turned into a bitter version of himself she didn't recognize. “I–” she cut herself off. She didn't know what to say, what she could say to make either of them feel better.
“That's probably why he also worked at the high school. Dad was probably trying to make any extra money he could. He was over his head in debt,” Noah continued.
“What’s this about the high school?” Lucas asked.
Ava swallowed hard, past the lump in her throat. She hated fighting. “I donated some stuff a couple of weeks ago to the Baptist church. One volunteer was a high school kid. Said Dad was their favorite substitute teacher. It’s been bothering me ever since, wondering how he had the time,” Ava said.
Lucas shook his head in frustration, raking his hands through his hair. “I told him that second mortgage was a stupid idea,” he muttered.
“You knew about the second mortgage?” Ava demanded.
Lucas scoffed, his signature asshole personality coming out to play.
“Of course I knew. Dad called me for advice on his financial situation a couple of years ago. I told him not to take out equity against the cabin, but he didn’t listen.
And then he died, buried in a mountain of debt.
That’s why we fell out years ago. That’s why I wasn’t even talking to him when he died.
Because he was full of pride, and I was too angry he put me in this position in the first place.
Keeping secrets from the two of you.” Lucas looked at Ava.
“About you.” The lines around Lucas’ eyes grew more prominent as he gave Ava an impassive stare.
“You could’ve talked to us,” Noah said, breaking the oppressive silence in the room after Lucas’ confession.
“Yeah, because the three of us have such heartfelt conversations.” The sarcasm in Lucas’ tone caused Noah to flinch.
Ava stepped closer to Noah, but he backed away from her. She tried to hide the hurt that stung her at his retreat.
Lucas gave a bitter laugh. “And that right there is why I didn’t tell you guys.
You two have always had each other’s backs.
You two are always the favorites. Mom’s favorite is Noah.
Dad’s favorite was Ava. And you two always liked each other more than me.
I’ve never been anyone’s favorite in this family. ”
He put his hands on his hips and stared down at the desk, like his admission took all his energy.
Ava’s heart cracked. She hated her brother had felt that way all these years. Sure, he was an asshole, but that’s what she liked about him. She didn’t know his prickly exterior hid vulnerability underneath. She questioned how well she knew anyone in her family. How well she even knew herself.
“Lucas, that’s not–” Ava’s excuse was cut short.
“It’s true. And I’m…” he stopped mid-sentence and took a deep breath before looking at Ava and Noah. “I’m done.”
Lucas stomped from the room and down the hall. Ava and Noah stood in silence as they heard the jingle of keys and the door open. The telltale alarm cut short as a clatter sounded from the front door.
Ava rushed from the office, but Lucas was gone.
The door slammed behind him. On the hardwood floor in front of the door lay the broken pieces of the wooden loon alarm.
Her throat burned as tears sprang to her.
The soft tread of Noah’s footprints pulled her attention away.
She turned to look at him, but his face was closed off.
“Noah,” she said, holding off the tears that wanted to fall. She couldn’t handle both of her brothers being upset with her.
He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the broken loon alarm on the floor. “It’s not your fault, not really, what Dad did. But it’s a lot to process,” he said quietly. “I’ll be back, but I need some air.”
He stepped around the loon pieces and left the house, letting the door close gently behind him. Even when upset, her brothers reacted differently. Lucas was a tornado of intense emotions, while Noah left behind a quiet sadness.
Ava dropped to her knees and gathered up the pieces of the alarm, wiping away the few tears that escaped.
She placed them on the dining table, debating what to do.
She couldn’t bear the thought of throwing it away, but she wasn’t sure she could look up a YouTube video for how to reassemble a homemade wooden loon alarm.
I bet Owen would know how to fix this.
A knock sounded at the door. It couldn’t be her brothers; they would walk inside. Her mind jumped to Owen, as if he appeared at her very thought of him. She rubbed her eyes and smoothed down her hair before rushing to open the door.
“Hey O–,” she stopped short at the person on the other side. “Alec?”