Chapter 20 - SABINE’S MONEY
Sabine turned twenty-five first.
Under Alaric’s will, her share became distributable in stages.
Not one giant check.
The professional executor presented:
Cash.
Investment accounts.
Her portion of lake-sale proceeds.
Real-estate partnership units.
Taxes.
Fees.
Total net value significant.
Roughly $4.6 million by then due investment growth.
Maelis’s separate share remained managed because she was younger.
Sabine called me.
“I feel sick.”
“Why?”
“Because Grandma wanted me to have all of it.”
“You don’t.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you guilty of?”
“Nothing.”
Correct.
She asked whether she should give part to Maelis.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Maelis already has her equal share. Giving money to erase guilt turns the inheritance into the same emotional tool Grandma used.”
She cried.
Then laughed.
“You sound like Grandpa’s lawyer.”
Horrifying.
Sabine used some money for graduate school.
Bought a modest condo.
Invested the rest.
No luxury punishment.
No required charity for moral cleansing.
She later donated to a child nutrition program because she cared about it.
Did the cupcake incident influence that?
Maybe.
She said no.
People can choose causes without trauma branding.
Good.
Maelis watched.
Learned.
At twenty-five, she would receive her own share.
Until then:
No anticipation spending.
No family pressure.
Then Odette’s health declined.
Heart failure.
She was seventy-six.
Not dying imminently.
But older.
Margot asked if Maelis wanted to visit.
“No.”
Fine.
Later:
Maybe video.
They spoke ten minutes.
No dramatic deathbed forgiveness because nobody was dying.
Odette asked about college.
Maelis answered.
Then:
“Are you eating?”
Maelis stared.
Odette caught herself.
“I’m sorry. That was a terrible question.”
Maelis laughed.
Unexpectedly.
“Yeah.”
They both did.
Small.
No absolution.
But humor entered a place that had once held fear.
I watched afterward only because Maelis told me.
May you like
Not every repair belonged to me.
That was another lesson.
