mother, there are no certainties.
Thank you, Aggie. I know I can thank you in advance, because I know you. You ’ ll handle this beautifully. The children love you, and with your training at college you should be ready for a challenge like this. You ’ ll be graduating soon. I hope you don ’ t have to quit your dream job or anything like that.
We forgot to update this letter after the twins. I pray that you never have to read it. I have written three since you turned eighteen, and each time, I hope I can convey how seriously I want you to take my warnings and how thankful I am that I have a little sister whom I can entrust my children to. I love my mother, Aggie. I love my children. I love you, and I pray that you will find fulfillment in this new step in your life and that you never resent us for putting you in this position. Love, teach and train our children. Enjoy them. Weave their lives into yours; don ’ t just enter theirs.
Waiting on the other side,
Douglas
Aggie sighed as she finished the letter. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she found herself crying as much for Geraldine Stuart as she did for the loss of her family. She recalled the reading of the will with perfect clarity. It appeared that every time a purchase over five hundred dollars was acquired, it was immediately assigned ownership to Aggie, her parents, one of the children or Doug ’ s parents. Aggie would be responsible for passing out these things or holding them in trust for the children.
Aggie was in shock to see how much was entrusted to her. She had no idea that Allie and Doug had such wealth. There were two insurance policies that both listed Aggie as the secondary beneficiary. There were investments that had to be controlled, and all of the bank accounts, including several CDs, had her name on them in order to avoid trouble with the transfer of property.
As she picked up the papers and put them back in the folder, Aggie spied a note on Mr. Moss ’ letterhead that she ’ d overlooked.
Aggie,
At the request of Doug and Allie, I hired a locksmith to change the locks on their home while we had our meeting this morning. They wanted to be certain that Mrs. Stuart could not lock you out of the home. The locksmith will leave the key at the front desk of your hotel as soon as he has finished.
If you have any questions, or if I can assist you in any way, please don ’ t hesitate to call me at home or at the office.
Respectfully,
Robert Moss, Attorney at Law
Aggie called down to the front desk and learned that the key was indeed waiting for her. She phoned the law office and found that Geraldine was still in conference with the lawyers. Reluctantly, she decided that perhaps it would be better to go now, get inside the house, and talk to the children before Mrs. Stuart arrived.
At the house, Aggie found bedlam. The children sobbed nearly uncontrollably, the baby screamed, and Vannie was visibly distraught, trying to keep everyone calm. It took Aggie a while to comfort everyone, and reheat one of the many casseroles in the kitchen for the children ’ s dinner. As she worked, she discovered that Geraldine had not hired a sitter to watch the children and had left them alone during the afternoon meeting with the lawyers. Aggie ’ s face showed her anger, and at first, poor Vannie thought she was in trouble.
“ I ’ m so sorry. I really tried. When no one came back right away, Kenzie flipped. She was sure that you and Grandmother were dead too -- ”
“ Vannie, honey, this is not your fault. You did nothing wrong. I had no idea that you would be left here alone. I don ’ t think your grandmother was thinking clearly. She must be hurting more than she lets on. ” Aggie prayed that she was telling the truth, but Doug ’ s words in the letter she ’ d just read troubled her. “ Can you imagine how much of the burden of the children ’ s care would be left to Vannie and Laird? ” Oh, how was she to know what to do or
Thank you, Aggie. I know I can thank you in advance, because I know you. You ’ ll handle this beautifully. The children love you, and with your training at college you should be ready for a challenge like this. You ’ ll be graduating soon. I hope you don ’ t have to quit your dream job or anything like that.
We forgot to update this letter after the twins. I pray that you never have to read it. I have written three since you turned eighteen, and each time, I hope I can convey how seriously I want you to take my warnings and how thankful I am that I have a little sister whom I can entrust my children to. I love my mother, Aggie. I love my children. I love you, and I pray that you will find fulfillment in this new step in your life and that you never resent us for putting you in this position. Love, teach and train our children. Enjoy them. Weave their lives into yours; don ’ t just enter theirs.
Waiting on the other side,
Douglas
Aggie sighed as she finished the letter. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she found herself crying as much for Geraldine Stuart as she did for the loss of her family. She recalled the reading of the will with perfect clarity. It appeared that every time a purchase over five hundred dollars was acquired, it was immediately assigned ownership to Aggie, her parents, one of the children or Doug ’ s parents. Aggie would be responsible for passing out these things or holding them in trust for the children.
Aggie was in shock to see how much was entrusted to her. She had no idea that Allie and Doug had such wealth. There were two insurance policies that both listed Aggie as the secondary beneficiary. There were investments that had to be controlled, and all of the bank accounts, including several CDs, had her name on them in order to avoid trouble with the transfer of property.
As she picked up the papers and put them back in the folder, Aggie spied a note on Mr. Moss ’ letterhead that she ’ d overlooked.
Aggie,
At the request of Doug and Allie, I hired a locksmith to change the locks on their home while we had our meeting this morning. They wanted to be certain that Mrs. Stuart could not lock you out of the home. The locksmith will leave the key at the front desk of your hotel as soon as he has finished.
If you have any questions, or if I can assist you in any way, please don ’ t hesitate to call me at home or at the office.
Respectfully,
Robert Moss, Attorney at Law
Aggie called down to the front desk and learned that the key was indeed waiting for her. She phoned the law office and found that Geraldine was still in conference with the lawyers. Reluctantly, she decided that perhaps it would be better to go now, get inside the house, and talk to the children before Mrs. Stuart arrived.
At the house, Aggie found bedlam. The children sobbed nearly uncontrollably, the baby screamed, and Vannie was visibly distraught, trying to keep everyone calm. It took Aggie a while to comfort everyone, and reheat one of the many casseroles in the kitchen for the children ’ s dinner. As she worked, she discovered that Geraldine had not hired a sitter to watch the children and had left them alone during the afternoon meeting with the lawyers. Aggie ’ s face showed her anger, and at first, poor Vannie thought she was in trouble.
“ I ’ m so sorry. I really tried. When no one came back right away, Kenzie flipped. She was sure that you and Grandmother were dead too -- ”
“ Vannie, honey, this is not your fault. You did nothing wrong. I had no idea that you would be left here alone. I don ’ t think your grandmother was thinking clearly. She must be hurting more than she lets on. ” Aggie prayed that she was telling the truth, but Doug ’ s words in the letter she ’ d just read troubled her. “ Can you imagine how much of the burden of the children ’ s care would be left to Vannie and Laird? ” Oh, how was she to know what to do or
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