Chapter 34

They had a pleasant day exchanging gifts and family gossip, and Brody was feeling almost normal. At least until the shit hit the fan at the dinner table. The subject of his grandfather’s will came up, and Brody’s cousin Ryan wanted to know who got what.

“Your Uncle Malcolm and I get the house in town,” Ryan’s mother said. It’s rented to a good tenant on a long-term lease, and we’re going to leave it that way. We will also share the cash and investments. As you know, a trust fund was created for each of the grandchildren as they were born. Those accounts have already been distributed to you.”

“What about the lake house?” Brody’s brother James said.

“Your grandfather gave the lake house to Brody a little over three years ago,” his father said.

“What!” James said. “Why did he do that? That’s not fair. Not fair at all.”

“For one thing, the house was your grandfather’s to do with as he pleased, and fair doesn’t enter into the equation,” Brody’s father said.