Shawney immediately reject his demand. She knew they shouldn't be aware of he truth. Without hesitation, Shawney decided to finalise all her business once and for all in front of the family so Uncle Thomas wouldn't be questioned or blamed unnecessarily. Especially how the others were glaring at her.
"Uncle Thomas, I am so glad you are concerned and seek my interest. Please be my trustee, and if there's any more expansion in the property. Whatever profit is made in that expansion, all profits go into my account. And another thing, Uncle Thomas, I once heard Dad say the parcel of land is fifty acres?"
Thomas had no idea she was knowledgeable about the property. His intentions were to discuss it privately with her, especially the way the others were receptive to the shares. "Yes, that is correct, Shawney."
With her head still bent reading the document, she said, "Uncle Thomas, I would like it if it is not too much trouble for you to survey the property and cut it into two blocks. A twenty-acre block from the back and thirty acres this side of the business. From the twenty-acre block, cut out four three-acre blocks and four two-acre blocks."
THE PROPOSITION
Lifting her head she looks at the family, not missing anyone's expression, "Now I have a small proposition for the family. If you all are willing to accept, then I will settle the business matter as soon as possible.
This will be entirely up to you all if you agree, no pressure, but it will come with a condition. Now listen carefully so don't go jumping to the wrong conclusion. I will give you all five years to settle yourselves down if you all decide to take up my offer. During that time you all will continue to have your twelve-and-a-half percent shares running. If it's accepted then after five years all your shares become mine.
"Here I go," Shawney said, "I give Uncle Ken's family three acres of land for him and his family, if he were to accept this offer then within five years they have to vacate from this building and the business.
Also, to my brothers and sisters, I give two acres each, with the same proposition, it's their choice. Now if they agree they have five years to do what they wish with their portion."
When Sid stood up in such rage looking at Shawney as though she was executing them. Without any courtesy, he said, "Uncle Thomas this is ridiculous, these shares belong to us."
"I agree with you Sid, but as you heard, your Dad didn't leave any property in his will for you all, this is your sister's decision, you could either accept or reject, your choice."
Curtis thought to himself, 'What Uncle Ken said is true and this is a good opportunity to protect my family.'
Hearing Uncle Thomas saying, 'No one is forcing you, the choice is all yours. You can either accept the property and after five years you all return your shares. Or you could keep your shares as the will states and reject Shawney's proposal. Shawney has taken this decision of her own free will no one forced her."
Curtis stood up, "Uncle Thomas, I accept Sis's offer. And if she doesn't mind I would like to say where I would like my piece to cut out. After the surveying of the twenty acres."
Seeing the nod from Shawney. "Okay Curtis, you get to make your choice first. So I will start the ball rolling from this week."
Meg said, "Uncle Thomas, I will also accept Shawney's offer and get to do as Curtis asks."
"Excellent! Then by Friday, I should have things in place when I return to visit Shawney."
"Uncle Thomas another thing, I need you to pull a fence around the thirty acres. If after five years I don't return. I would like for you to get a manager to handle my portion of the business. By then I should be owning fifty percent in shares."
Resting down the coffee cup, Thomas said, "Shawney this is the best coffee I have tasted in years."
When the eldest brother stood up, "Uncle Thomas, I would also like to accept Shawney's offer as well."
"Me to Uncle Thomas." Linsey replies."
When Ken said, "Then, that leaves my family alone with shares. So I will do like the others and agree to Shawney's proposition, in this way when Shawney has her own family, there won't be any conflict."
Thomas sneaked a peek at the faces around the table, some were gloomy while few were happy.
Having no choice seeing that his work was cut out for the upcoming week, he said, "Well seeing you all have agreed to accept the land. I have to begin the process immediately, as you all can see my work is cut out for the week ahead. Now I must say thank you very much for a delicious and wonderful breakfast. Now I will excuse myself and leave first." With a smile on his face, Thomas stood up and left the dining area.
Train observed all faces, wondering, 'What they must be all thinking? Also, what the lawyer must be thinking, knowing the will had a spin from what was originally written.'
Seeing now that the family had made their decision to accept the property. She will now be holding the entire business within five years.'
With frowned faces leaving the dining area, Train did the same and walked towards the front. He observed Ken walking with the lawyer towards his car, he was very calm.
Thinking, 'The only one who was a bit upset was the eldest brother. I was hoping to get the chance to speak with her, but what I want to know is. 'Whose ideas was it to share the property and redeem the shares? In all my years, my instinct was not wrong. And it can't be that I misconceived her decision to distribute the property.'
Recalling when both of them enter the dining area. She was not dressed to go visiting, but as her Uncle said, anything she wears looks stunning, even in track pants, so where did I misjudge her? She was wearing tracks and sneakers as though she went jogging and the way her clothes were wet indicated she was jogging indeed, so where did she meet the Lawyer?'
Getting into his van, Train thought, 'I might as well see what this village has to offer.'
Then the thought crosses his mind. 'Why didn't any monitory questions arise? I am sure her father had money. Did her father settle that matter before his death?'
From overhearing them converse, the only person who seems to care about her is the Uncle. She may not care about the business, but she sure has a business head. Could it be she is a genius and finished schooling at an early age and the others were unaware of it?
'Five years from now she will own the entire business and the house. It will have more rooms for rent, which is not a bad business transaction whatsoever.
'What her Uncle says is true, when she has her own family. These here will already fix their own business causing no conflict to arise in the future.'
In all my years doing business I never come across anything as mindblowing as her suggestion. I should take a leaf out of her book and encourage Torren to do the same for his siblings. By her doing this deed of kindness and hearing her Uncle's report I know she will be the perfect wife for My Torren and a wonderful mom for my two grandchildren.'
TRUST IS EARNED
The week progressed slowly, and Train realized from observing Shawney's actions, 'Shawney doesn't seem to want any involvement in the business, she just wants to spend some time with her family, I hadn't seen her make any attempt or become interested in getting a job. I really thought we could meet and discuss my proposal, but there never seems to be an opportune time, and time is running out on me.'
Train rose early Friday morning, knowing the Lawyer would be coming today and then she would push off to God knows where.
Becoming perplexed, Train decided to get that opportunity to speak with her before the day was over. 'Since she came, she has been rising early to prepare breakfast.'
Hurrying to the kitchen Train had no choice but to stop, not wanting to be seen when overhearing a heated argument between Shawney and her Aunt.
Hearing her Aunt saying, "Listen, to me young lady, you own twenty-five per cent of the business. So you better stay if you know what is good for you. My only concern right now is after all the sacrifices I made for the family. Your father only leaves us twenty-five per cent of the business. I already told my friends I own half of the business. What a fool I have been and what would my friends say now? When they hear we only own twenty-five per cent."
Train, could hear from the cutting she was busy making preparations for breakfast, her voice was calm, "Aunty, no one needs to know how many shares you have, unless you want them to know. What I really want to know is whose decision was it to destroy Mom's flower garden?"
Hearing the rage when her Aunt responds to Shawney, Train knew she was never good for this business. "Who cares about a stupid flower garden, I am making money now, so the family could benefit. And what were you thinking when you hired those men to handle the landscaping on the property."
Shawney was furious with her bossy behaviour,'Though matter what some people will not change.'
"Aunty, you seem to forget this property belongs to me. I don't have to answer or report to you or anyone else. I can make or break whatever I want so remember that."
Joan gritted her teeth, and her eyes bulged out as big as a saucer. Shawney could see the way she was rolling her eyes with rage, when she snapped, "So, you feel you can just stop by and disrupt our lives? Making rules and regulations because the lawyer says you own the property? You neglected the family and your father who loved you so much. Just living up your life, don't feel I haven't heard what you have been doing these last three years?"
Hearing Shawney laugh without any fear, saying, "Then what can I say Aunty, I can't stop the breeze from blowing. Now I was thinking if you were up to date on my whereabouts, then why wasn't I informed of dad health condition? I am sure you were aware that I was on my way home. Is that why you rush to do dad funeral? And another thing, I now realise what a huge blunder I have made. I should have just bought all the shares and let everyone stand on their own two feet."
Pointing her finger at Shawney, Joan said angrily, "You are not the same person, who left here three years ago. Shawney, you have become very selfish and uncaring. I must truly confess that I am very disappointed in your behaviour."
Shawney couldn't help but laugh, "You are right Aunty, I was a timid and very obedient child, and everyone could push around as they pleased in the past, but Aunty, I have seen the world and the things children do to their parents because of greed. They destroy one another by using each other. Manipulating and deceiving each other, and believing it's the right thing to do. I, on the other hand, have decided not to do that. Now if anyone thinks they will fight me down for what is legally mind, they are dead wrong. I will just buy out their shares and they will fend for themselves. I did my duty and I owe no one an explanation or a pinhead."
Joan could not conceal rage, yet she laughed, "Shawney, what has become of you and where would you get the money to buy all of the shares?"
Anger boils from within as Shawney responds to her Aunt, "Aunty, sometimes we are called to make tough decisions. You all can still change your mind, I haven't signed any documents as yet."
Unable to control her vexation Joan shouts, "Your Uncle has worked so hard to keep this property and the family together, so what is all the fuss? Anyone to blame is you, you neglected the family."
Shawney smiles when she hears her Aunt's evil words and her laughing, she thinks to herself, 'She sounds so shrewd,' as she says, "Aunty, I believe it's time for Uncle to retire, but I am not a fool as some may think. I have seen the world and have grown wiser. From where I stand you are the one behind the business. So I will ask Uncle Thomas to take pictures of my house. And have an insurance plan drawn up for all my belongings. Also when it's time comes to move, there won't be any confusion, or misunderstanding as to who owns what. So all my belongings will be here. And if anything is broken or lost. A certain percentage will be deducted from yours twenty-five per cent."
Joan groaned feeling she could just knock this girl down, "You, don't trust us."
Seeing how calm Shawney were as she spoke, "It is not that I don't trust you all, it is you all trusting yourself. Trust is something you earn, and the truth is you and Uncle have been good to Dad and the others. But if at any time I hear of anyone swindling each other I will forfeit all deals and return to the original will."