Page 65 of Phoenix (Gems of Wolfe Island)
“What on earth are you going to do with nine hundred million dollars?”
“I’ll keep a little of it, so Leif and I can get started out in life. But most of it? It’s going to charity. I’m going to start a foundation. The Brindley McGregor Foundation to help young adults who have grown up in the system and have nowhere to go. The rest of it will go to the Wolfe Retreat Center on the island.”
“The Wolfes don’t need your charity.”
“No, they don’t. But the men and women who go to the retreat center do. I want to help them. I’m lucky I got the help I did. It’s only because of that therapy that I learned I’m a worthy human being, Mother. I certainly never learned that from you.”
Mr. Stein clears his throat. “I’m filing the papers with probate court today,” he says. “As Mr. Smith’s attorney and personal representative, I have the authority to act on behalf of the estate. Kelly, I’m going to need your signature on several of these papers.”
“When does she get the money?” my mother asks.
“What business is that is yours?” Leif says.
“Kelly, I’m going to expedite probate as best I can. It shouldn’t take longer than three months. Six months at the most. Mr. Smith liquidated most of his assets in the last year, so there’s no issue of real property. It’s all cash, Kelly. Liquid cash.”
“I just can’t believe it,” I say. “I’m not even sure he is my father.”
“You can still have that DNA test,” Leif says.
“No.” Then I look to Mr. Stein. “That doesn’t matter, does it?”
“No. You’re the beneficiary, whether you’re related or not.”
“But he does say in the will that he leaves his estate to his daughter, Kelly Taylor.”
“He believes you to be his daughter. That’s good enough for the courts and that’s good enough for me. The DNA test isn’t required.”
“Maybe I’ll require it,” my mother says.
“For God’s sake.” Leif rolls his eyes.
“It’s not really your place to require anything, Ms. Taylor,” Stein says. “You’re not a beneficiary. The will says what it says. DNA is not required to satisfy the terms of the will or to satisfy the probate court.”
“I’d like to know. Kelly, wouldn’t you like to know? Find out if you descended from that psycho?”
“I’m already descended from one psycho,” I say. “I think I’ll stay ignorant of the rest.”
“Here are the papers,” Stein says. “Just sign where I’ve put the tabs.”
“Should I have an attorney look at these?” I ask Leif.
“No. I think if you and I read through them it’s good enough. I mean, like Mr. Stein said, the will says what it says. The money is yours, Kelly. Yours to do with what you want.”
I grab Leif’s hands. “Do you want me to keep all of it? I mean, we’d be set for life, Leif. Any children that we have would be set for life, and their children…”
“Baby, that’s up to you. If you want to start a charity in Brindley’s name and give the rest to the retreat center, I think that’s wonderful.”
“I’ll keep enough so we can build a nice house. Get started on both feet.”
“Whatever you want,” he says. “I’m behind you a hundred percent.”
I scan the documents, ask Mr. Stein to clarify a few things, and then I sign.
“Good enough,” Mr. Stein says. “I’ll be in touch. In the meantime, Ms. Taylor, enjoy your life.”
I smile. “Thank you, Mr. Stein. I will.”
EPILOGUE
LEIF
True to his word, Mr. Stein got everything expedited, and within three months, Kelly was a very rich woman.
True to her word, she kept ten million dollars of the money and then founded The Brindley McGregor Foundation and hired a competent staff to get it off the ground. The remainder went to the Wolfe Retreat Center to help women like herself.
“I wish Brindley had family,” she says. “I’d happily give them some of this money as well.”
“I know, baby. But you’re helping a lot of people like her, and Brindley, wherever she is, is smiling down at you. She’s happy for you, happy for us. So let’s give her something to be happy about.”
“What kind of house do you want?” she asks.
I pause a moment, thinking about Texas. My home. “What do you think about a sprawling ranch house?”
She laughs. “In Manhattan? I think that’s out of the question.”
“How about in Summer Creek, Texas?” I ask.
“Your hometown?”
“Yeah, my hometown. My dad always wanted me to come back, learn the ranching business. What do you say?”
“I don’t really see myself as a ranch wife.”
“All right, if it’s not what you want, we’ll do something else. We can go anywhere, Kelly. Anywhere. You just tell me where.”
“How about…Summer Creek, Texas.” She smiles.
“You changed your mind about being a ranch wife already?”
“No. But we have ten million dollars. I’ll be able to pay someone to do the cooking and cleaning.” She chuckles. “I’m kidding. Well, only half kidding. I know how to cook, and I do love animals. Maybe I’d be good on a ranch.”
