Chapter 15 - SNOWMERE AFTER CLAUDIA
Nobody moved into Snowmere.
Important.
I could have.
I did not.
The professional trustee kept the property maintained.
Staff reduced.
No lavish family events.
Lily refused to visit.
Her choice.
Could the trust sell?
Yes, with independent approval and preservation review.
Should it?
Unknown.
The trustee commissioned a full valuation.
Snowmere and surrounding land:
$23.8 million.
Not a hundred-million-dollar fantasy.
A valuable mountain estate.
Maintaining it cost about $620,000 annually.
Did it make sense to preserve indefinitely for a three-year-old who hated it?
The trust had to ask.
Eleanor did not intend sentiment to consume assets.
One letter:
A house should serve people. People should not serve a house.
Good.
The trustee considered:
Sale.
Partial rental.
Historic retreat operation.
Family-health use.
Lily’s independent counsel recommended waiting until her trauma stabilized before making irreversible decisions unless financially necessary.
The trust had liquidity.
Wait.
Good.
No rushed symbolic sale.
Meanwhile, I became acting trust protector in reality instead of name.
Every quarter:
Reports.
Invoices.
Occupancy.
Maintenance.
I read them.
All.
Naomi once said:
“You know you can delegate review.”
I stared at her.
She laughed.
May you like
“Never mind.”
Trauma-informed paperwork again.
