Chapter 19 - MARGOT AND THE HOUSE
The family residence question resolved quietly.
Celeste retained her lawful lifetime occupancy in the east wing.
She did not own the house.
Stellan did not.
Camille did not.
Margot did not.
The residence trust appointed professional property management.
No one family member controlled keys or renovations.
Our household received eligibility for west-wing occupancy.
We declined.
I had no desire to raise Margot inside a house where Celeste had already imagined her belonging to someone else.
We bought our own home.
Smaller.
Modern.
Backyard.
Mortgage.
Our names.
No trust occupancy.
Camille remained in her condo.
Her inactive child-support branch stayed inactive.
No baby.
No house preference.
Nothing transferred from Margot to Camille.
Good.
May you like
The trust eventually revised residence preference rules so occupancy did not create unnecessary competition between branches.
Families can create conflict simply by making one house feel like a crown.
