Other than me, every member of my family left the will reading with either cash, heirlooms, or investments. I was not one of them. I acquired a tired and dilapidated homestead. I was able to unearth a secret that my grandfather had held until the day he passed away because I accepted my inheritance.
At the time of my grandfather’s passing, I did not anticipate much. What my mother loved to remark was that I was the one who was continually “wasting my potential.” When I found out what he had left me, I was relieved for a little period of time, but then I was devastated. However, it turned out that his present was more valuable than everything else that my family had received.
My mother is referring to me as the family’s disappointment when she says that I am “wasting my potential.” At Christmas dinner, the parent who was supposed to love me no matter what was pointing out that I did not have an Oxbridge degree, a wealthy spouse, or a high-flying profession to brag about.
I, on the other hand, worked part-time at a bookstore and drew in my free time when I was 27 years old. Although it was not flashy, it was able to keep me happy. I was content with my subdued existence and the absence of lofty goals, but my family saw this as a sign of failure.
For the purpose of Grandad’s will reading, we met in that luxurious room lined with wood, and I sat at the back of the room with my hands clenched together, attempting to blend in with the furnishings. I was not resentful; rather, I was anticipating a disappointment.
My cousin Theo opened a savings account with a considerable amount of money in it. At family gatherings, my grandfather would often show off his collection of rare coins and old souvenirs, which my uncle Roland was able to acquire. Livia, my elder sister, who hadn’t called him in years, received investments and a fine watch. She had not rang him in years.
I can still vividly recall looking fixatedly at that one.
In all honesty, it was a little bit uncomfortable to sit through, but when I asked the attorney whether I needed to be there, he was adamant that I was required to be there. So there I was, feeling like a fool while everyone else was getting something of considerable value.
“To Nora—” the solicitor, a prim and proper individual by the name of Harold, then stated after clearing his throat.
That has been me.
This is a bequest that includes the property title to my farmhouse, as well as all of the rights and duties associated with it.
Yes, that was it. This is a wrinkled paper with fading writing and a name that has been forgotten; there is no cash and no investments. He had an ancient farmhouse.
When I heard a snicker, I was still reeling from the shock of receiving anything and trying to figure out what it was since I was still reeling. My guess is that it was Aunt Eira.
“Is that the same old place?” a cousin laughed it off. “He abandoned her in the ruins?”
He laughed out loud. “I’m willing to bet that the expense of bulldozing will exceed the value of the property. “Nora, do you have your jabs?”
It was silent from me. As I grabbed the envelope and placed it on my lap, I noticed that my hands were slightly shaking. Someone murmured that it was the ideal setting for a haunted home, which broke the oppressive stillness that had been hanging there.
Even when they stopped making fun of me, my thoughts continued to follow them. I could hardly recollect the property in question. Before relocating closer to us, Grandad had lived there for a very long time.
The last time I saw it, I was probably eleven years old. It was in the middle of nowhere, far away from the county line, and the roads were narrower than usual. The trees seemed to be watching me from a distance.
In the midst of my fantasy, Livia abruptly leaned over and jolted me awake. It was with a smirk on her face that she said, “You could sell it for parts.” “Alternatively, you could organize spooky tours.”
There was no grin on my face. Because, despite the fact that the idea of traveling there by myself made me feel uneasy, certain aspects of Grandad’s decision to leave it to me, and just me, caused my heart to hurt. In addition to selling it, he might have donated it to anybody. However, he did not.
I received it from him.
After a week had passed, I filled my dilapidated vehicle with gloves, rubbish bags, and a low-cost rake that I had purchased from a store. Before I reached the gravel lane leading to the farmhouse, I drove for four hours into the countryside while wearing old pants and boots. Along the way, I passed by gas stations and postboxes that had rust on them.
The farmland was in a state of disrepair, and the home was… unhappy. One part of the roof had fallen, and it had been years since anybody had lived there. The appearance of the porch was that it had been broken into. The chimney was being reclaimed by the vines, which were suffocating it. For a long minute, I stood there, doing nothing but breathing.
I addressed the air and said, “Well, Grandad, it’s just you and me out here.”
On the inside, it smelled like dampness and days gone by. Everything was covered in dust, there were scattered mouse droppings on the floor, and there was a broken mirror leaning in the hallway. In order to prevent anything sharp, I opened the windows.
I further verified that there was no plumbing or power.
The fact that Grandad had given it to me led me to believe that I owed it to him to take care of it. The fact that it was breaking apart didn’t bother me since I wasn’t going to allow it to deteriorate. It is likely that he had a reason, even if no one else understood it. For reasons of respect, I made the decision to clean it up. For him, perhaps I could mend what I could.
Wow, I completely forgot to add that the attorney told me that I owed past taxes on it as well! I wasn’t sure whether this was Grandad’s peculiar sense of humor, but since it was now mine, I decided to give it my best go no matter what.
For the purpose of preventing trespassers, my strategy was straightforward: I would clean up the garbage, mow the lawn, and board up any broken windows.
As I was working outside, removing weeds and cleaning up rubbish, I became aware of the sound of tires rubbing across gravel. My brow was cleaned as I rose up. At the gate, there was a slick black SUV that seemed to be in better condition than these pieces.
I could see my own reflection in the windows since they were so black.
When the door to the driver’s compartment opened, a guy who was wearing a fine suit, sunglasses, and shoes that had been shined emerged while clutching a leather folder.
“Am I able to assist you?” When I phoned, I was caught between wondering and being curious.
Following the removal of his spectacles, he said, “Are you Nora?”
A “Yes?”
With a grin on his face, he ambled over and extended his hand. “My name is Gideon, and I work for a development organization. I would like to inquire about this property. I was given his business card, and he said something.
“Uh… not a problem. Where does this come from?
After taking a peek around, Gideon quickly opened his folder. There were colored charts, maps, and zoning plans among the contents. “Your attorney, Harold, informed me that you would be present this coming weekend.”
As I relaxed a little bit, I said, “Oh.”
It’s possible that you are unaware of this, however there is a proposed infrastructure project three miles to the east. It is a brand new road that connects the city to the highway. Your property is located in an ideal location, making it ideal for urban development.
I blinked my eyes. Developing housing for people? “Like… houses?”,
That is exactly right. Or retail establishments. Perhaps both of them. We are prepared to make an offer on your property since it is situated in a strategic position.
The page was turned over, and he indicated. A million and two. Our beginning point is at that place. Depending on the schedules, we can go higher if you are willing to engage in conversation.
It wasn’t until my stomach churned that I realized I was hallucinating. “Are you even serious?”
It was the sleek, self-assured grin of an estate salesperson that Gideon smiled. Very much!
I was unable to respond straight away since my heart was beating so fast! As I stood there, drenched in perspiration, covered in filth, and clutching a rake, a guy dressed in a nice suit made an offer that was more than anything my family had ever seen before!
What a chuckle! I had no intention of doing it; it simply came out! “Two million dollars for this location? Are you certain that you have the correct address?
Likewise, he laughed. Without a doubt. Your grandfather was in possession of a priceless item. The majority of people would not have noticed.”
After he had departed, I sat on the steps of the porch for a considerable amount of time, holding that folder tightly. After taking a peek at the sky, I hushed my voice and said, “You knew, didn’t you, Grandad?”
It dawned on me at that moment. Due to the fact that I was the only person who came to visit, he handed me this. When I was in school, I would ride the bus to visit him once a month. He would instruct me in drawing birds and growing vegetables. When he became older, everyone else neglected him, but I didn’t forget about him.
Not at all, this was a hardship. This was a present!
I had a meeting with Harold and an estate consultant the next week. I filled out tons of documents and went through the overdue taxes, which turned out to be less of a burden than I had anticipated.
Word spread very quickly.
I was contacted by Livia three times in a single day.
His SMS message said, “Is it true?” Nor did I respond to any of them.
During that particular evening, I went outdoors into the frigid air near the farmland and gazed up at the bright stars. When I grinned, I drew my jacket closer to my body.
I made a hushed “thank you” sound. “In every possible way.”
mostly due to the fact that Grandad had not only given me land, but he had also left me pride, a chance at a fresh future, and a reminder that getting there is important.
After then, it is up to me to determine what occurs after this.