Beckett
“Carson don’t make me call security in here. We are all friends. Let’s remember that.” Marcus says when Carson stands. Lacey grabs his forearm, forcing him back in his seat.
“Marcus, what the fuck is he doing here?” Carson snarls.
I look at Marcus with the same question.
I take the seat closest to Marcus, nodding at Lacey, her eyes pleading with her brother to behave.
“Okay, Mrs. Taylor had specific directions for the way she wanted her will to be done,” Marcus starts.
“I am sorry for your loss. She was an amazing woman. So smart. When she came to me with these decisions, I questioned her at first, but she assured me she wanted this.” He puts his glasses on and reads off a paper, “And I quote, ‘I want all my kids taken care of.’”
My chest tightens. Did she mean me, too? Or just Carson and Lacey? But I am here; she wanted me here for this. My anxiety is coursing through my veins at record speed right now. I don’t do well in closed-off rooms. I don’t do well with the unknown.
Marcus pulls out three sealed envelopes; he passes one to me, one to Lacey, and one to Carson.
“I do not know what is in these. She handed them to me already sealed. She advised me to give them to you with this note,” he goes on to quote her from a paper in the folder, “Give these to the kids before you discuss the will but tell them not to read what is inside until they are alone and after they leave your office. It will explain why I did what I did.”
I hold the envelope in my hand, my name written with her handwriting on the front.
Damn it, the only mother figure I had that ever loved me the way a child was supposed to be loved by a parent. Unshed tears are making the conference table before me blurry. I fight them back. I can’t cry. Not here.
“What does the will say?” Lacey’s voice is hoarse.
Marcus clears his throat, “Please remember these are your mother’s wishes.” He opens another folder, “I, Jane Taylor, am here by of sound mind and ability. This is my last will and testament.”
Flipping the page, he reads, “Scars Creek Ranch will belong to all my children: Carson Taylor, Lacey Taylor, and Beckett King. Carson and Beckett will have a say over the ranchers that work on our farm while Lacey will have a say over the animals, their sales, and the entire business activities. I leave Beckett the cottage on the back forty. He will have full ownership of its appearance, upkeep, and any rental services with the understanding he cannot sell the cottage without Carson and Lacey agreeing. He can rent them out for money in his pocket but must share the proceeds with his siblings equally. All three will have equal shared ownership of Scars Creek and will not be able to sell, refinance, or split off pieces of the land without all three agreeing in writing. No decisions can be made without the entirety of their agreement.”
Marcus clears his throat again and keeps going, “Carson, Lacey, and Beckett each own equal rights to the property and its value. They must share the income together. If they decide to sell, the profit will be split between the three of them.”
“No fucking way,” Carson yells as he stands. “I am not sharing a piece of any of my home with this selfish asshole.”
Lacey is pulling her brother’s arm, trying to get him to sit back down, but he ignores her. “Is that all?” Carson asks Marcus and Marcus nods.
The door slams behind Carson as he leaves the room.
“So, what you are saying is my mother left her and my father’s legacy to all three of us?” Lacey asks in almost a whisper.
“Yes, ma’am. Please read the envelope I gave you prior to her will. It should explain more,” he tells her.
He passes a key to me, “This is your master key to the house, barn, and cottage. She had them put back for you. I will need to get the deed and the legal papers prepared for you all to sign. It should take me about a week. Since this has all been handled beforehand, you will not have to sit before a judge or pay court fees. All of it can be handled here in my office.”
I nod, “Can I have a moment alone with Lacey?”
Marcus eyes me curiously for a moment, glancing at Lacey, but eventually nods, “Sure. I’ll be right outside.”
When the door closes behind him, I take a deep breath and stand and take the seat beside her.