Chapter 9 - The Settlement Draft
Maude’s proposed family settlement arrived through counsel.
She had not merely asked for the cabana back.
She offered:
$150,000 to Elspeth’s trust.
In exchange:
Transfer of remaining Cabana Fourteen license to Maude.
Waiver of any claim to Rowan “legacy membership privileges” beyond ordinary junior family status.
Withdrawal of objections to centennial exhibit classifications.
That last clause made me sit up.
“What objections?”
Our lawyer, Maris Bell, frowned.
“This wording suggests there has already been a dispute about membership category.”
Quillan confirmed.
Maude had petitioned the membership committee to classify Elspeth as a regular sponsored junior guest rather than Rowan legacy junior.
Why matter?
Legacy juniors paid lower fees and received priority access to certain family events.
Not major wealth.
Symbolic status.
Then settlement:
Trust receives $150k.
Cabana market appraisal:
$215–230k.
Not financially fair.
Independent trustee had already rejected.
Good.
Then:
Maude’s personal statement attached.
Elspeth has never historically used Cabana Fourteen as a Rowan descendant and has generally attended the club as Tavia’s guest.
False.
Club records mixed only because Maude wrote guest slips.
Then photographs.
Cropped.
Then one declaration:
At family gatherings, Elspeth has not traditionally been presented in Rowan lineage photographs.
False because Maude omitted her.
There.
Self-created evidence.
I said:
“She’s making the history she needs.”
Maris nodded.
“Apparently.”
Gareth looked sick.
Then one line:
Gareth has privately acknowledged the sentimental intent was to preserve Edmund and Maude’s marital place.
Had he?
“Yes,” Gareth said.
I turned.
“You told her that.”
“I said Dad should have found another way to make his point.”
Maude converted empathy into agreement.
Then Maris said:
“There is something you both need to see.”
She opened an older file.
A signed acknowledgment.
Three years earlier.
Maude Rowan.
I acknowledge receipt of the transfer agreement providing three reserved summer seasons to me, after which the Cabana Fourteen license remains held solely for Elspeth Rowan under the trust.
Signed.
Notarized.
Maude knew exactly.
Then another document.
A letter from Edmund.
Addressed to the North Shoal membership committee.
Dated two weeks after Elspeth’s adoption.
I read the first paragraph.
My wife may object because Elspeth is not biologically descended from us.
My hands went cold.
May you like
He had predicted this.
The rest would change everything in Chapter Ten.
