Chapter 24 Melanie
I wasn’t surprised that Gram had chosen the only female attorney in Lincoln; I was surprised to discover that the office aesthetic was still from the era where law firms were ‘boys clubs’, complete with dark wood furniture, cigars, and whiskey.
Nancy James-Ryker was a short, bulldog-looking woman in her fifties who had the most terrifying smile I’d ever seen.
“Now that everyone is here, I can read Barbara’s last will.
” She folded her hands on top of a file and looked at each of us slowly, “as you know, I’ve been Barbara’s lawyer for over thirty years.
When we met, I was married to the late Mr. Ryker, and he was friends with Mr. Olsen, Barbara’s soon-to-be ex-husband…
She was my first client.” Nancy's eyes warmed slightly, “I’ve made a great number of changes to her will over the years, and the most recent update was done only a month before she passed. Every time she made an update, she included a letter for each of you, and I’ve held on to all of the letters. ”
I felt my eyes well up with tears and held back a sob. It was just like Gram to have MORE to say every time she wanted to make a change.
“The letters are for later in private, but I will pass them out now, Felicity, Leonard, Kyle, Melanie, Benjamin, and Griffin.” She looked up again, and a little frown line appeared between her eyebrows. “Where is Benjamin?”
“We are getting a divorce.” I winced at the venom in my voice, “Sorry…” I mumbled. “Uhm, we are getting a divorce… Is his presence necessary?”
“He doesn’t need to be here physically, but we do need to call him.” Nancy said with an apology in her eyes.
With a defeated sigh, I gave her his phone number and waited while she called him on speaker. Unsurprisingly, he did not answer the call.
“As long as I watch you type in the number, and it matches the one you provided you can call him from your phone.” She finally lamented after the third try.
“I don’t want him to have my new number…” I looked around at Griffin.
“He might answer if the number belongs to me… He knows I was with Melanie, but he shouldn’t be afraid to answer like he would be if it was Kyle.” Griffin shrugged.
Griffin stepped forward until he could show Nancy the number he was typing and then set the phone down on the desk on speaker. Ben answered on the second ring.
“Hello?” he sounded angry.
“Benjamin, this is Griffin.”
“Is Melanie alright?”
“Yes, I’m actually calling because the attorney in charge of Barbs estate said that you need to be on the phone for the reading.” There was a long pause before Ben spoke.
“You are at the reading with the rest of the family?” Nancy motioned to Griffin to remain silent.
“Mr. Landon, this is Nancy James-Ryker. If you have a moment now, I’d like to read Barbara’s last will and testament with you on speaker.
There is also a letter attached but I can have that couriered to you.
” She spoke with an authoritative, no-nonsense tone that had probably irritated Benjamin to no end.
“Fine.” He gritted out through clenched teeth.
“Perfect, please state your full name, birthdate, address, and relationship to Mrs. Olsen.”
“Benjamin Parker Landon, February 19th, and I live 22 Oak Drive in Los Angelos. Barbara was my wife’s grandmother and was like a grandmother to me.” His voice had lost its irritated edge, and he sounded almost sad.
“Excellent. Since everyone is able to hear this at the same time I will commence.”
“Wait! Melanie, can you hear me?” Benjamin said frantically.
“Mr. Landon…” Nancy tried to interrupt.
“I need you to call me later, I’ve been so worried that something happened to you.” He spoke over her.
“Mr. Landon, now is not the time.” Nancy snapped.
“I need to speak to my goddamn wife.” Ben shouted. Nancy quickly turned off the speaker portion and muted our end.
“If I hang up on him, I can’t read the will.” She looked directly at me.
“Unmute him.” I sighed.
“Melanie! You just left! I’m owed a conversation, surely!” he continued to rant, unaware that we hadn’t heard a word.
“Ben,” I said loudly, and he finally shut up.
“Mel…” he breathed out in relief.
“Look, this isn’t the time. I’m physically fine. I just need you to let us get through this reading as quickly as possible.”
“We need to talk.” He insisted.
“Of course, we do… but not right now.” I replied.
“When… tell me when.” His voice cracked.
“Griffin is returning to Seattle tonight, but you can call Kyle’s phone in the morning because he will be here for a few more days.” I hated giving him so much information, but I really needed him to cooperate.
“Uh…” he cleared his throat, “can you call me?”
I smirked and glanced at Kyle, who was also smirking.
Benji is scared to talk to big brother.
“No. Now can Nancy read the will?”
“O-okay.” He stammered, frustration quickly overriding his anxiety.
“Great. I’m going to call you back on the office line so that it’s all recorded since you are not here to sign the paperwork stating you heard the will in its entirety.
” After Nancy ended the call on Griffin’s phone, she quickly explained that because the only thing that was left TO Ben, she could get away with reading the will to him over the phone.
Otherwise, we would’ve had to postpone the reading again.
Once he was back on the correct phone and the paperwork was sorted, Nancy began reading.
If you are hearing these words, it means that I’m gone.
Which shouldn’t be too much of a surprise since I am an old lady.
Gathered in this room should be my darling daughter and son-in-law, my granddaughter Melanie, my grandson Kyle, and the two young men who have seats at my table for every holiday.
In my absence, I hope that you will still sit together for every holiday and maybe save a seat for me, because I’m sure I’ll be watching.
By the time you’re my age, you’ve accrued quite a bit of junk and hopefully some assets. In my case, I had a little help from a smart young woman turning my little bit of assets into quite a bit of assets. A few years ago, Melanie helped me make a few investments that ended up being very lucrative.
I heard Ben gasp and cringed. We had never discussed all of the investments I had made for Gram or my parents.
The most recent estimation of my estate is twenty-five million dollars.
To my daughter, I leave you, your childhood home, and five million dollars. It is fully paid for, and there is a trust set up to pay for the upkeep expenses for the next year. It was a good home, filled with lots of love and joy, and I’m so grateful to have shared it with you.
A sob broke free from my mother, and my father wrapped a comforting arm around her.
To Leonard, I leave my shares of your company and one million dollars.
As an investor, I own five percent of the shares and want them to stay in the family.
I also leave my 1963 Jaguar E-type roadster to you.
I hope it brings you joy and adventures.
Perhaps you will be able to convince my beautiful daughter to take a ride along the ocean in it.
We all chuckled at the scowl that took over my mother’s face and the satisfied smirk that filled my father’s, despite his watery eyes.
To Kyle, I leave you my shares of your company and three million dollars.
I own five percent. I know you don’t need the money, but I did love spoiling you kids.
I also leave you my chessboard, the one where you spent many hours proving to your old Gram just how smart you are; one day, you can share it with your children.
Kyle wiped his hand down and shook his head. “She really was terrible at chess.” He croaked out.
To Melanie, my sweet girl. I leave you ten million dollars.
Not only because you are the main reason I have so much, but because I want you to spread those wings and use the money to fly.
Explore whatever interests delight you, finance a new business, a degree, or a charity…
travel the world. Whatever it is, I’m sure you will be amazing at it.
Just follow your heart and find happiness. It's all I've ever wanted for you.
Kyle grabbed my hand and squeezed as I tried to blink away tears.
To Ben, I have already given you one of my most valuable possessions… my granddaughter. I hope you have cherished her the way I do.
The room was uncomfortably silent, except for the muffled sob that came through the phone.
To Griffin, I do not leave you anything of monetary value… but instead I leave you my kitchen table. You may have been a late addition to our family, but a welcome one, and there was always a spot for you.
Griffin looked shocked and glanced at each of us with tears in his eyes. When his eyes landed on my mother, she gave him a watery smile and nodded. Gram's words were true; he’d been a welcome addition to the family.
My remaining worldly possessions are up for grabs amongst my family and friends; they are then to be donated. My remaining wealth is to be donated to the charities I loved, after any debts, funeral costs, and Nancy’s outrageous fees have been paid.
Nancy rolled her eyes at the last part but finally broke character with a warm smile.
I have more words for each of you in your letters, but for now, remember how much I love each of you, remember how much you love each other, and remember I will be watching.
All my love,
Barbara Olsen.