7. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
A week had passed, and Collin’s soul had never been so hollow.
For over two decades, he had avoided his father.
But after returning and finding him a changed man, he discovered feelings he never knew he had.
As a child, he craved a father, not a man who treated him as an heir-in-training.
Collin was a different man under Father’s thumb; he was someone he despised.
But Father had become the man Collin wanted to be—a man of forgiveness and redemption. He had forgiven his father, but now that he was gone, he was empty. Those few days with him made up for the years of neglect. Collin had the father he always wanted, not a business advisor.
Nothing seemed real now that Father was gone.
Were those few days just a dream? Collin sat at his father’s desk with Anna seated in front of him.
She gripped his hand and peered into his tear-clouded eyes.
Anna’s touch was something never to be taken for granted.
She had helped him through the toughest time in his life, and he was confident they would get through the mourning together as one.
The day after Father died, Collin received a call from Reginald Baldwin, his father’s lawyer.
Father briefly mentioned him, but, throughout their time together, Collin never focused on the name.
All he wanted was every minute to reconcile for their lost time.
Father’s will was another thing Collin avoided thinking about.
During the days of grief, Collin made the arrangements for the funeral, not the future of his family.
Mr. Agnes knocked on the door and poked his head in. “Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Baldwin is here to see you.”
Collin cleared his throat and stood. “Yes, thank you, Mr. Agnes. Bring him in.”
Collin anxiously adjusted his collar. Now that he was no longer heir, he wondered how the property and fortunes were divided.
At last, Mr. Baldwin entered. He carried a medium-sized suitcase, just like the lawyers Collin had associated with during his years as a businessman.
Those days were far behind him, and this day seemed as if no time had passed.
Collin could see himself in his early twenties, sitting on the top floor of his father’s business, spending many stressful hours in meetings and sorting out new files.
Collin was very organized with his work, so organized that he’d stay late hours just to rearrange his files after new clients.
Everything had to be just so. It started as Collin’s way to impress his father but became an uncontrollable habit.
His life had gotten so out of hand that nothing seemed organized anymore.
It took a while to create his refugee center, make connections for investors, adjust to being a husband and then later a father, taking part in Anna’s family’s bank after her mother passed, then leaving everything behind to be at his father’s deathbed.
He didn’t believe his father to be a changed man before they left.
He pictured him and his family boarding the next possible train soon after arrival.
But it had been over a week, and it seemed that Richmond was becoming a part of their lives, a place it seemed they’d never leave.
“Mr. Baldwin, it is nice to meet you,” Collin said, offering his hand.
Mr. Baldwin smiled and shook it. “Likewise.”
“Meet my wife, Anna.” Collin pushed Anna forward ever so slightly, his hand at the small of her back.
Smiling, Mr. Baldwin shook Anna’s hand. “A pleasure, Mrs. Nicholson.”
“Thank you for meeting with us. We are grateful for your time,” Anna said.
“Using my time here is no inconvenience,” Mr. Baldwin mused. “I have a great admiration for this family, and I will put anything aside to be of service to you.”
Mr. Baldwin reminded Collin of his father long ago.
He had the same smile when greeting clients and investors—a look of serious professionalism.
Mr. Baldwin seemed to have the qualities of strict business and integrity.
The door opened and closed behind them, as Collin’s mother entered, dressed in black.
“Forgive me, Mr. Baldwin,” Mother said, coming to Mr. Baldwin’s side. “I apologize I could not greet you when you arrived, but it’s so delightful to see you again.”
“It’s nice to see you, too, Mrs. Nicholson. I just wish it were under better circumstances.”
Mother placed a hand over her heart. “Oh, Mr. Baldwin, it has been so difficult. I never thought I’d see the days without my dear, sweet Lucas, but I know he’s in a better place.”
Mr. Baldwin took Mother’s hand and kissed it. “My condolences, Mrs. Nicholson. If you should ever need anything, anything at all, you know where to find me.”
“Thank you, sir. You are indeed a saint.”
Saint? His mother didn’t know the meaning of the word. Collin cleared his throat and sat behind his desk. “Shall we begin?”
“Why certainly,” Mr. Baldwin agreed as he sat in between Anna and Collin’s mother.
Mr. Baldwin placed his case on the table and unlatched the locks.
As Collin’s heart pounded, Anna shot him a sweet smile, sending him peaceful energy.
If only time could stand still and not move forward with sorrowful arrangements.
Collin wanted to leave the place where he grew up.
He wanted to return to his home and have his family away from the world he loathed.
Mr. Baldwin pulled paperwork from the case.
He folded his hands over the stack and then looked Collin in the eyes.
“Like I always tell my clients during this matter, I wish times weren’t so difficult, but we must move forward with Mr. Nicholson’s wishes.
I know you all are eager to know his requests, so we will begin. ”
Collin’s heart thundered in his chest as Mr. Baldwin put on his spectacles and started to read. Collin didn’t want to know the future. He didn’t want to accept that his father was gone, but as Mr. Baldwin said, they’d have to move on and carry out his father’s wishes.
“Mrs. Ramona Nicholson, your husband has given you a trust of two hundred thousand dollars. The property, estate, business, and assets will go to the heir.”
Anna’s eyes shot into Collin’s then back at Mr. Baldwin. “What heir? Mr. Nicholson disowned Collin years ago.”
Mother’s face lost all color; her eyes were wide, and her mouth hung open.
She seemed to be in as much shock as they were.
What man would leave his widow a small sum of his assets and leave the rest to someone not in the family?
Collin didn’t have many trustworthy relatives, at least he knew of. Who could this heir be?
“Miss Margaret Phillipa Nicholson,” Mr. Baldwin answered.
A silence fell over the room. Margaret?
“What?” Mother’s eyes narrowed, appearing as if they would shoot darts of fire. “My granddaughter?”
“Mr. Nicholson wanted to reconcile for the years he neglected his granddaughters. He thought giving Margaret his assets would make amends.”
Collin was speechless, and so was Anna. They locked eyes but never said a word.
They didn’t have to. Margaret was too young to be an heiress, especially since she had no experience with estate management or navigating the responsibilities of high society.
Collin’s jaw tightened, and his fist curled.
This couldn’t be true. After all the years of trying to protect her, he couldn’t anymore.
Wealth itself wasn't the problem, but Collin had personally witnessed it tear families apart.
“Mr. Nicholson asked me to keep this quiet until after his passing,” Mr. Baldwin explained.
“Lucky girl, lucky girl,” Mother muttered.
“But there is one obstacle,” Mr. Baldwin stated. “This fund is a trust and cannot be opened unless Margaret is married.”
Collin’s eyes widened and his pulse quickened. Margaret was just shy of twenty-one, only so much older than Anna was when they married. He couldn’t picture her married quite yet. The very thought of losing her made his heart break.
Anna reached out and squeezed Collin’s hand. “Whenever Margaret is ready, this will be waiting for her.”
Mr. Baldwin’s face reddened. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “I’m afraid it must be much sooner than you think.”
“What do you mean?” Collin asked sharply.
“Margaret must marry a suitable gentleman that fits the standards Mr. Nicholson provided in his will before her twenty-first birthday.”
Before Collin could restrain himself, he stood from the table and clenched his fist. “What did you just say?”
“Surely this has to be a joke,” Anna said, standing.
Mr. Baldwin stood slowly, his palms held up at chest length. “I know this is quite unexpected but—”
“Margaret will be twenty-one in four weeks!” Collin exclaimed. “This is a mistake!”
Mother chuckled. “Mr. Baldwin, you are funny. Could you imagine my granddaughter competing for a suitable match? The girl can hardly curtsy.”
“I’m not mistaken,” Mr. Baldwin confessed. “Margaret is the heir, but she must complete these means. She must marry a man with a fortune and prosperous property.”
“No,” Collin protested, his temples throbbing. “She will not.”
“Well, then the estate will fall into the hands of the state, and your sweet mother will be left destitute. Is that what you want?”
“Let me see that.” Mother snatched the will. “My husband no doubt was going mad. This cannot be valid.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Mr. Baldwin explained. “It was his dying wish.”
Collin’s world turned upside down once again.
He had been fooled once more. He was an idiot to trust his father.
What rekindling? What forgiveness? It was a trick, a cruel trick to establish control.
Father had forced Collin and Anna to marry, and now he was forcing his daughter to do the very same.
It didn’t matter if it wasn’t an arranged marriage.
He was pushing Collin’s baby girl to settle for money, and he’d never allow it.
He took Anna’s hand and pulled her away from the desk. “Come on, Anna. We’re leaving this place.”