Sitting in the lawyer's office, I felt like this was a recurring nightmare. A year ago, we had twenty-five members of our family. Now, a year later, we are down to ten. Looking around, we all looked nervous. My Uncle Mitchel sat there looking smug. My Aunt Katherine looked sad. Half of my cousins looked bored, and the other half nodded at me with encouragement.
Before the lawyer came in, Aunt Katherine said, "I cannot believe Mom is gone. Our family is cursed."
Uncle Mitchel gave her a look of annoyance and said, "Katie, do not start that shit again."
She looked upset and said, "Poor Milly lost her parents and her brother, Mom was diagnosed with cancer and passed two weeks later, My Stan and Ben lost in a car accident. Great Uncle Mark passed in a hunting accident. A week later, Sarah and Beth's car is hit by a drunk driver. Great Aunt Loretta has a heart attack. Aunt Louise gets thrown from her horse. The fire in their winter cabin takes your son Matt, Cami, and the twins. All within a year."
Uncle Mitchel rolls his eyes and says, "Well, it is unfortunate, but we are not cursed. Let us get the estate divied up and get this over with."
My cousin Susie said, "Seriously, Dad, is that all you care about? You are such a jerk."
I took her hand and squeezed it to calm her down. She squeezed back, and I said, "Grandma always said she had a plan, and it's been in her will forever."
Uncle Mitchel said, "Well, if we don't like it, then we can fight it."
The door opened, and the lawyer, Mr. Briggs, came in. He looked at Uncle Mitchel and said, "Not this time, Mitchel. Your mother's will cannot be contested, and anyone who contests forfeits what they are left. Your mother knew how you would think and made that clause decades ago to stop that. Since we are all here, shall we begin?"
Everyone nodded, and he said, "Lily, Sam, Mark, Kyle, Shane, and Maggie. Your Grandma left you each $50,000. You will also each retain the homes she purchased for you when you turned twenty-one. In your packets are the deeds and tax records. Taxes have been paid for the next two years, and you have full ownership."
They each took their packets, and Mr. Briggs' secretary led them out of the room. He continued, "Now, both Mitchel and Katherine, your mother left you the homes she purchased for you, and each of you will receive $250,000."
Uncle Mitchel was shocked as he said, "What about the compound?"
"That is coming," He said.
"Susie," He said. "You have been living in the summer house on the compound and have built the accompanying greenhouse into a wonderful business. Your Grandma has left those buildings, as well as the acreage they sit on, to you. She is also giving you the three acres next to the home with all the fruit trees on it. She wishes for you to include them in your business and has left you an additional $100,000 as an investment in your thriving business. She left a message for you, I will not pretend to understand what you do with the dried herbs, fruits, and vegetables you grow. But seeing you run your business and be happy with what you do means the world to me. You have made me proud."
Susie had tears streaming down her face as she said, "The last two years she would come and sit with me in the greenhouse as I dried the herbs, fruits, and vegetables. She would sun herself when I harvested from the trees. I showed her my books, website, and how people placed orders. She always said that was too advanced for her, but she was there weekly to watch."
Mr. Briggs chuckled and said, "Caroline knew more than she let on. She was very proud of you for starting your own business to make your own money. Also, there was one more thing. She had purchased twelve beehives for you, and they will be delivered next week. The gentleman will help you set them up. The addition to the greenhouse that she said was for extra room in the winter has windows that open wide or can be secured during the winter and opened into your greenhouse for year-round honey and beeswax. Also, there is an additional check for $25000 in your packet for your business as well. She believes in you and the business."
I squeezed her hand and said, "Susie, she listened to it all, and you can expand once the bees start producing."
Mr. Briggs said, "That leaves you, Milly. Caroline watched you repair the compound for years. You listened and learned the ins and outs. She said you both talked about it becoming an event venue or a specialty resort. She leaves you everything to do just that. So please let me get a sip of water to tell you everything."
He took a sip and started listing, "The main home, fourteen cabins, the ballroom building, four working barns, the outdoor kitchen and dining room, the boathouse, seven over the river cabins, the mill, the miller's home, the workers cabins, which have twelve apartments. The hunting cabin with six bedrooms, the ladies' retreat building with six bedrooms, and the brewery, which has four bedrooms. Then twenty acres of fields for the brewery. The four additional greenhouses each have two bedrooms attached to each. Twenty tiny houses, one in each acre of fields. The south orchard, which is ten acres. Each acre again has a tiny home. The tree house which has three suites. The gardens which are ten acres are surrounded by ten iny homes. Then the pool and pool house which have four apartments."
I sat shocked, and Aunt Katherine was beaming as she said, "Milly, love you alright?"
"We only joked about the plans," I said.
Mr. Briggs continued, "She paid me to be your lawyer and has provided a rather large stipend for when you open everything up. Along with all this you will receive all investment accounts, a prsonal check for $500000, and a business account for the property in the amount of $20,000,000. Also Milly there is anothr account for $10,000,000 set aside for the staff on the property for payroll. It earns interest so I will meet with you and show you how to handle that in the future. The overseer sends us the hours for now until you're ready to take over."
Uncle Mitchel said, "I will fight this."
Mr. Briggs said, "You will forfeit your home and the funds then. Her will is iron-clad and cannot be contested."
He looked at me and said, "You and my daughter will fail and I will own the compound when you give up."
Standing up he left and Aunt Katherine said, "Milly, you are the perfect person to own the compound. As I live near the city I hope you will allow me to come home and visit."
Taking her hand, I said, "Who else would I trust to come make sure I am doing everything right. I figured you would be coming home for the summer anyway. So much better than being in the city."
She smiled and said, "I will take my old room, and I am sure you will want to change Mom's room a bit. I can help you with any changes you want to make when I get there."
She stood up, accepting her packet, and said, "Mr. Briggs, thank you. I am sure we will see you at the compound. Girls, I will call to let you know when I will be there."
Mr. Briggs said, "Milly everything you need is in the packets and when you get a moment to let this sink in call me, and I will come out to go over the accounts and go over what kind of contracts you will need for rentals. I suggest you keep the main house for you."
Susie and I accepted our packets and went out to my jeep we came in. When we were in we both started laughing and I said, "Grandma whereever you are thank you and we will make you proud."
Susie said, "She is here with us. But tonight I think we need to order a pizza and have a good ole fashion sleepover with movies."
"That sounds like a plan," I said. We headed back to the compound and on the way home we ordered way to much food from Grandmas favorite pizza place to pick up.
The following morning I woke up and there was a note from Suzie,
Milly, I had a meeting with a boutique store. I will swing by later to see you and see what your plan is. Remember the home is yours now make it your own.
Going to the kitchen, I made some coffee and saw the list of everything that needs to be done. Opening my laptop I sent a company wide email to update the workers that I will be having a meeting in the dining room of the main house at ten in the morning for all the workers who can attend.
Calling Aunt Katherine she picked up right away and said, "Milly, love is everything alright?"
"Yes," I said. "I had a question for you though. How would you feel if I got rid of the furniture I do not want?"
"I have no problem with it," She said. "However, I do have a suggestion. You are going to clean out the rooms. Why don't you start with the item and furniture storage in the basement rooms and store the furniture there until you decide you will not need it for the remodels. Obviously, if it needs to be tossed, get rid of it. But I know you and you could possibly use them."
Nodding to myself I said, "That is a really good idea. Same with the item storage until I get everything done. Then I can move family memorabilia to the attic. Thank you Aunt Katherine."
We spoke for a few minutes and there was aknock at the kitchen door and looking up I saw Mr. Miller the propeprties over seer. I opened the door and he pulled me into a hug. He kissed my forehead and said, "Milly my love. Whats the plan?"
I laughed and said, "Well, Fred how do you feel about us becoming a resort. Well except for susies property."
We sat at the table and drank coffee as I explained the plans. He gave me a huge smile and said, "So the rooms available are rentals until we remodel everything and get it up. So buisness as usual until you get area for area."
"Yes," I said. "Everything is business as usual. I am starting with the main house and have a friend that does rentals who I am going to have come up and give us some info on what we need to do. Can you have someone go to the open areas to get me a list of what is available?"
"I sure can," He said. "I will get the maids in there and do a good cleaning in all the rooms. What are you doing with the main house?"
"It will remain the family home," I said. "But it will offer tours to the public a few days a week."
He nodded and asked, "Will you be changing a lot?"
"Somethings here and there," I said. "I will keep the grandeur. I am going to keep the old school feel. What I do need from you is have a set of guys check in with me a few times today. I am going to start with the attic to Sort, toss and separate. Then the furniture and item storage. I will be freshening up the paint and getting these rooms ready to hold items. I have an order ready for airtight storage totes."
"That sounds like a plan," He said. "Keep your phone on you, we will check in with you to see if you need things moved the next few days. Also I have someone who can paint for you. His name is Charles, he is a friend of my sisters son. I have him tinkering in the garage to have a job, but he was severely injured in an accident and he has to do easier tasks while he heals."
"Oh my," I said. "What kind of accident?"
"He did road work and was hit by a truck going seventy," he said. "He is lucky to be alive. He almost lost his leg. He knows all the ins and outs of construction."
"Well," I said. "Bring him by when I get back. He can look over the main attic room and tell me if anything needs to be repaired, needs to be sanded, or if we can stain the wood immediately. He will be working with me closely."
Fred smiled and said, "Your a good woman Milly, Just like your Grandma."
"If I could be half the woman she was," I said.
We stood up and I placed our mugs in the dishwasher. Grabbing my bag I went out to my truck and fred said, "He will be working closely with you so you need to know he has a lot of physical and mental healing to do. Alot of bruises and cuts still healing. The solo work will be good for him."
I took his hand and said, "He is a part of the family now, we will get him through."
I picked up the twenty airtight totes, and when I got home, I grabbed labels for the totes and went up to the attic after I got all the totes up to the attic landing. I opened all the curtains and windows. I heard Fred a few minutes later. He came in with a man I assumed was Charles. He said, "Milly love this is the young man I told you about. Also here is a list of what is available."
Charles put his hand out and said, "Nice to meet you."
"Well, Charles, welcome to the estate family," I said. "I hope this will help you heal. Basically, you will hear this in the meeting tomorrow, but we are going to turn the estate into a resort. The main house is going to stay the family home, but we will offer family tours. This is our first of many areas that are going to be done."
Charles walked around the attic and stopped to look out a window. He said, "How old is the roof?"
Fred said, "This side of twenty years, why?"
"This roof needs to be replaced or your going to have leaks," He said. "Good news in this room all you need is some sanding on certain spots and staining. With these big windows, I would suggest a light stain to seal the wood. Also, I would toss the curtains because they are falling apart."
Fred groaned and said, "Well, Milly, I will call around and have some companies get the estimates for roofs. We should do that ASAP."
"I agree," I said. "Well Charles go with Fred and get the things you will need to sand. I like the idea of a light stain. Fred can you take charles to get enough stain for the room and any supplies we do not have to do it?"
"Sure thing, Milly," He said. "We will use the kitchen door, and I assume you will be up here?"
"Yes sir," I said. "I am gonna call Dan to start setting up short-term rentals. Two weeks tops. I need that list by tomorrow. I know we do not need the income, but I want to reinvest it in the rental stays."
Fred turned to Charles and said, "Don't worry Charles, What Milly has planned will not impact staying here."
I assumed Charles was staying with Fred and I said, "God no. If anything we will move staff to rooms that have been redone. I will say some staff will be sharing multiple-room apartments, but that is a far down the road."
They left and I called my friend dan who did realestate and vacation rentals. I told him what I was planning. He whistled and said, "Damn and you want me to handle it I am honored. So the main house is family and workers. Fred will have the rentals list ready for me soon?"
"That about sums it up," I said. "He gave me the list and i will send it to you. Make sure you put in the contracts that there are no guests but who is listed on the rental, no meals or amenities are provided. Rentals are two weeks only. They can change locations on the property, but for two days they have to leave and be off property."
"Smart girl," He said. "I will start getting the basics written up and designing the webpage. When can I get up there to take pictures?"
"Fred has the maids cleaning the rentals today," I said. "Eventually, everything will be remodeled. But I am going to start tours here a few days a week. I aslo put what I would like the prices to be. Also no hunting on the property. Catch and release for fishing for the cabins over the river, but only for the people staying in those cabins. What is your cut?"
"Normally ten percent of the stay," He said. "But since this will be a lot what do you suggest."
"Add twenty-five a night flat fee to the cost for your percentage," I said. "I also want all major holidays blacked out along with two days before and after. From Dec 22 till january third we are blacked out as well."
"Understood," He said. "I will come out tomorrow to get pictures of the rooms, and by the end of next week, I will have the webpage ready for your approval. I will work state tax and entertainment tax so it does not effect what you want for each room. The prices are fair so you will get a lot of people interested fast."
Hanging up I looked at the attic and said, "What did I get into."
There was chuckling behind me. Turning Charles was standing there with a crate and he said, "You are starting a business and you're overwhelmed. You got this and you have fred and I am always willing to listen. Now are you going to be in here while I work."
"Will that bother you?" I asked.
"Not at all," He said. "I will move things from the walls and sand everything first. I would suggest that while I do that, you should sort the boxes in the hall. Fred will check to see what needs to be brought downstairs. I would suggest staining the floor as well, those I will sand to get rough patches and high traffic areas. That way everything is ready for the items to be brought in."
We both got to work.
Main- Milly Next day meeting 10am, roof repair
Charles- Second main
Uncle mitchel, susie
Aunt Katherine, Lily, Sam, Mark
Cousins- Kyle, shane, Maggie,
Mr fred miller- overseer
$19999754- The main home,
$10000000- pay account
Base- bathroom 1, bathroom 2, srorage, furniture stoage, worker room 1,wc1, worker room 2, wc2, worker room 3. wc3, worker room4, wc4, worker room 5, wc5, workers sitting room. wsrc, workers kitchen, mudroom to stairs leading outside
1st-Kitchen, pantry, butler's pantry, h1, h2, h4, h4, breakfast room, dining room, formal polar, tv room, bathroom, laundry room, stairs to 1, stairs landing 1, Sun room, ball room, sun garden, mud room
2nd- master suite, master bath, mens closet, womans closet, sitting room. h1, h2, h3, stairs 3, stairs landing to 3, bathroom, bedroom 1, b1c, bedroom 2, b2c sitting room, sewing room,office
3rd- AKSuite, AK suite bathroom, AK suite closet, AK suite sitting room, stairs to attic, stairs to attic landing, sitting room, h1, h2, h3, bedroom 1, b1c, bedroom 2, b2c, mens lounge, mens louge sunroom, hunting room, bathroom 2
Attic floor- hallway, attic sitting area, attic storage, main attic, bathroom, small bedroom 1, small bedroom 2, small bedroom 3
Garage, tool storage, bathroom, garage storage
fourteen cabins, the ballroom building, four working barns, the outdoor kitchen and dining room, the boathouse, seven over the river cabins, the mill, the miller's home, the workers cabins, which have twelve apartments. The hunting cabin with six bedrooms, the ladies' retreat building with six bedrooms, and the brewery, which has four bedrooms. Then twenty acres of fields for the brewery. The four additional greenhouses each have two bedrooms attached to each. Twenty tiny houses, one in each acre of fields. The south orchard, which is ten acres. Each acre again has a tiny home. The tree house which has three suites. The gardens which are ten acres are surrounded by ten iny homes. Then the pool and pool house which have four apartments, overseers house with five bedrooms
- cabins 1-14 $200 a night
- over the river cabins 1-7 $250 a night
- hunters cabin Rooms 1-6 shared $125 a night
- ladies cabin rooms 1-6 shared $125 a night
- brewerly rooms 1-4 $200 a night
- greehouse apartment 1-8 $175 a night
- feilds tiny homes 1-20 $150 a night
- south orchard fields tiny homes 1-10 $150 a night
- treehouse suites 1-3 $400 a night
- garden tiny homes 1-10 $175 a night
- pool house apartments 1-4 $200 a night
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