Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
I could see the grief on his face. “I’m sorry for your loss, as well. You briefly mentioned going to school with Evelyn and Denny.”
His smile grew a bit warmer as he sat down across from us. “We did. Denny and I met first, and then he introduced me to Evelyn. We all got jobs in Boston after law school. Evelyn and Denny at Hammer and Hammer, and I worked for my father’s law firm. We branched out to Lake Placid, and I was so happy when Evelyn and Denny said they were moving to Moose Village and would work remotely, half the time there and the other half in Boston. We always said we’d get together more often and…” His voice trailed off momentarily before he cleared it and went on. “We just never made the time for anything other than business.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
Mr. Hoffman waved it off, but I could tell he was just as torn up about losing his friends as Gavin and I were.
“I know this isn’t typical, but I wanted to meet with you in person because of the circumstances of the situation. Evelyn and Denny updated their will when they found out you were pregnant, Brystol. I thought it was a good idea…I just never dreamed it would be needed.”
Gavin handed me a tissue when the tears started. “Thank you,” I managed to get out. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hoffman.”
“Please, call me Thomas.”
With a nod, Gavin replied for both of us. “Thomas, it is.”
“This is going to be pretty straightforward. As I’m sure you know, neither Evelyn nor Denny had any close relatives. Their will didn’t change, save to add who’d become the baby’s legal guardian if anything should ever happen to them both.”
He looked between us, and I squeezed Gavin’s hand and realized I was holding my breath. I slowly let it out as I waited for Thomas to go on.
“This probably won’t shock either of you, but you’re both named as the child’s legal guardians. It was their wish that you would legally adopt the baby once you were married.”
Gavin and I exchanged surprised looks.
“May I ask exactly when they updated their will?” Gavin asked.
Thomas looked at the will. “October fourteenth.”
I let out a half sob, half laugh, as Gavin smiled and shook his head. “Even then, they could see what took us forever to figure out.”
I sniffled and nodded.
Thomas smiled. “I assume you’re both in agreement with the guardianship of the baby?”
“Yes,” I said quickly, as my hand went to my stomach.
“Yes, of course,” Gavin replied.
With a nod of approval, Thomas went on. “Evelyn and Denny left everything to the baby in a trust, except for the house in Moose Village. Any other property will be sold by me and put into that trust. I’ll continue to manage it, unless you’d like to—”
Gavin held up a hand. “They trusted you, and so do we.”
“Thank you for that, Gavin.” Clearing his throat and shifting in his seat, Thomas let out a breath and moved on. “Regarding the house in Moose Village, they left that to you, Brystol.”
My mouth fell open. “What?”
He handed an envelope to me and then gave one to Gavin. “They wrote you each a letter. It was their desire that you have the option of moving into the house…in the event they both…” Thomas looked away to regain his composure. When he recovered, he gave me a sad smile. “In the event that they passed together, they wanted you to have the option of living in the house where the baby would have grown up. Since she…or he…isn’t yet born, you can do what you want with the house. Move in, sell it…it will be yours to do with as you please.”
Looking to Gavin, Thomas smiled. “Denny would like for you to have his golf clubs, even though, and I quote, ‘You suck at golf.’”
Gavin laughed.
“In all seriousness, he also left you the deed to his mother’s home in Moose Village, for you to do as you see fit.”
“Don’t they rent that out?” I asked.
“They do.”
Gavin squeezed my hand, then said, “If you wouldn’t mind finding someone to manage the property and putting rental proceeds into the baby’s trust as well.”
Thomas looked taken aback for a moment. Then a smile grew across his face. “I see why they both loved you guys so much. Yes, I’ll take care of that for you. There’s a separate account set up, as well, from Denny’s mother’s estate, which pays for the upkeep of the house.”
Gavin nodded as I sat there, listening to everything but feeling like I was a million miles away.
“I’ll put this in probate and it should all clear through quickly, since it’s pretty cut and dry. For now, though…” He slid a set of keys across the table to me. “The keys to the house.”