Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“If we’re meant to know, we’ll find out. But the point is that Wendy Madigan is dead, and I’m going to see that her money does some good.”
“It’s very generous of you, Ava,” I say, “but we need to make sure the money is clean.”
Ava bites on her lip, fiddles with her lip ring. I try not to get turned on.
“That’s a good point, Mr. Wolfram. How do I know this money is clean? My grandmother was involved in some criminal activities. A lot of criminal activities.”
“We can look into that for you, trace the origins of the money.”
“Yes, I’d like you to do that.”
“However, if it’s been laundered, we won’t find the origins, and if we begin the investigation, it will stay in probate, which means it could be years before you get the money.”
“Fine,” she says. “Then I want to take the same amount of money out of my trust fund and give it to the town. Make up for the havoc my grandmother has caused.”
“Ava…” I begin. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am, Brendan.” She grabs my hand. “It’s my money, and this is what I want to do. If it turns out my grandmother’s money is clean, I’ll repay my trust fund.”
“And what if it’s not?”
“Then I’ll still probably have some money in my trust fund, right, Dad?”
“That will drain a lot of it, Ava,” Ryan says. “But if Wendy’s money is clean, you’ll have something. You’ll never be destitute, of course. Your trust fund isn’t your only inheritance. But it’s yours to live on now, before you inherit everything along with your sister and cousins.”
“Since I haven’t touched it yet, and I don’t plan to, I’ll be fine.”
I squeeze her hand. “Ava, baby, you’ve got to be sure about this. You didn’t create this mess. Your grandmother did.”
“She did. None of it is my fault, Brendan. I know that. But I feel in my heart and my soul that I’m the one who needs to clean this up. There’s a reason why I’m me. Why I am Ava. Why I haven’t touched my trust fund up to this point. I was saving it. I was saving it for something like this. And in some way, perhaps my grandmother knew. Perhaps that’s why she reached out to me.”
“You’re giving her way too much credit,” Ryan says.
“Perhaps. But this feels right to me, Daddy. So right. I understand all of it now. I think we can all move on.”
“Even without finding out who shot your uncle? And the other questions?”
“I feel certain that it will all be revealed in time,” Ava says. “And I also feel certain that, now that Wendy is truly dead, the rest of these things are going to take care of themselves.”
“I wish I shared your feelings,” Ryan says. “Are you sure about this?”
“How many times do I have to say it, Daddy? I’m very sure. This makes sense to me. This is the end. The end of this portion of our lives. We’re going to take care of all of this. We’re going to give the good people of Snow Creek their property. If my grandmother’s money turns out to be clean, I’ll repay my trust fund, and I’ll share it with Jack and maybe even Pat Lamone. They’re her grandchildren too, and they deserve it.”
I shake my head. “Ava, you’re amazing.”
“I’m not amazing, Brendan. I just know this is the right thing to do. My grandmother chose me to right her wrongs.”
“That’s not why she chose you, Ava,” Ryan says.
“It’s the way I choose to see it, Daddy. This will fix things in town.”
“First, Ava, you don’t have to share your trust fund with Jack and Pat. I’ve already started talking with your uncles and your aunt. If Lauren turns out to be a daughter of Brad Steel, we’re going to set up funds for both of them. And as for the town, they may not want your money,” Ryan says.
“Leave that to me,” the attorney says. “We can do it anonymously. I’ll contact all the property owners in town, let them know the liens have been released, and send them checks for their portions of the two million dollars. They’ll never know it came from you.”
“They’ll assume it’s from the Steels,” I say, “but they won’t have proof. These are special circumstances. It’s because of Wendy Madigan’s dealings with the Steel family that this all happened in the first place. She chose Ava. She chose Ava because she felt the two of them had some kind of connection, but she underestimated the size of Ava’s big heart.”
Ava squeezes my hand again. “Thank you for understanding, Brendan. And Daddy? Please understand too.”
“I understand, darlin’. And I agree with Brendan. Your heart is bigger than most. If this is what you want to do, I will facilitate it. And Mr. Wolfram here will make sure the good people of Snow Creek accept your generous gift.”