He thought about his brother and sisters. Jeffrey still did not know if Elizabeth had orchestrated this entire year, but he didn’t really care. He only wanted to know and grow and learn from each member of his family. He wanted to be a good brother to them. A real brother.
He felt especially concerned for Will. But he didn’t know how to reach someone who seemed so irretrievably broken.
The irony did not escape him. He had been perceived that way for many years—as irretrievably broken. But he had been retrieved. He had been rescued. He had been mended.
He pulled up next to Elizabeth and watched her for a moment as she sat with her head thrown back. He laid his head back as well and looked up. The purple of the wisteria mesmerized him. He studied the stubborn vine, amazed at how it had been pruned and woven in directions it would never have gone on its own. It was pliable, and because it could bend, it had become all the more beautiful.
Jeffrey smiled. For so many different reasons, he smiled. But mostly because, for the first time in his life, someone would actually care if he hadn’t come home.
The live oaks stood over the driveway of Wisteria Plantation in regal splendor, the moss draping down as if bowing. Welcoming royalty, Mary Catherine thought.
She had felt anything but royal over the last year. She’d endured a radical change in lifestyle, the annulment of her marriage to a man she loved, a job that tried her to the limits, and sudden parenthood to a teenager in puberty. But she’d never been happier. She’d never been saner. She’d never been more at peace, with life, with herself, with her past, with her future.
And she was coming home, to the place that held her inheritance. Not the money, but the memories. The love of a man and woman, a father who did his best, and even in the end tried to make up for what he had left undone.
As she pulled up to the circular drive, she parked next to Jeffrey. The wisteria blossoms draped across the hood of her car, the lilac blooms nodding to her as if she had been expected. She nodded back and paused, a prayer forming softly on her lips, thanking God for what had transpired this year, for what was about to happen. A prayer for Jeffrey, for Elizabeth, and for Will. Especially for Will.
And this time, unlike a year ago, she knew why she was praying.
Elizabeth watched as a small red sports car came careening up the driveway, going so fast that the dust churned by its wheels couldn’t catch up. Will’s head was sticking out of the sunroof. The owner was most likely the sun-drenched beauty behind the wheel.
“Who is she?” Elizabeth muttered to Jeffrey.
“His latest girlfriend, I expect. Ever since he left your place, he’s been bouncing around from one to the next, staying until they kick him out.”
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. “How do you know this?”
Jeffrey shrugged. “He’s my brother. I keep an eye on him.”
The sports car came to a screeching halt in front of the house. Will bounded out of the car, visibly inebriated. The girl climbed out as well.
Jeffrey walked around to the driver’s side. “I’m sorry. No one but our family is allowed into the house.”
“But Will said—”
“I apologize for whatever misinformation Will might have given you, but it might be best if you go for a drive and come back in an hour or two.”
She turned her false eyelashes in Will’s direction and fluttered them. Elizabeth was almost certain she could feel the breeze.
“Come on, Jeffrey, don’t be such a hard—”
Jeffrey turned and looked at Will. “Will, you heard what I said. There is no negotiation.”
Will stumbled to her side of the car and gave her a sloppy kiss in front of all of them.
“After seeing that, I’m going to postpone dating for at least five years,” Mary Catherine whispered.
Will kissed her again. “I’ll be right back, baby,” he slurred. “Right back with all the money your little heart could desire.”
Jeffrey stood holding the car door open for her. “You need to leave now. Will can call you on your cell phone when we’re finished here.”
She roared away in a cloud of dust. Will headed for the porch and stumbled on the first step. Jeffrey came around and tried to help him, but Will shook him off.
Esau was there, dressed in a white shirt and bow tie. Elizabeth saw him clutching a copy of the gilded invitation in his hand. Of course. Esau would be part of this too. Whatever the terms of her father’s will, he would take care of his old friend.
They all stood in the middle of the grand foyer, waiting for something to happen.
“Got any food?” Will’s request broke the silence.
“There’s some cold fried chicken in the refrigerator,” Esau said.
But the ringing of the doorbell stopped even Will. “Let’s get this ridiculous thing over with,” he said, changing directions from the kitchen to the front door. He opened it so hard it bounced against the wall.
The Executor reached out and stopped it before it could slam in his face.
“May I come in?”
Will stepped back and bowed.
The Executor entered the foyer, opened his briefcase, and drew out a gold-colored folder. “Shall we?” He motioned to the study at the other end of the foyer, across from the drawing room.
Elizabeth felt a tingle run up her spine. She almost wished she had taken that last call from the private investigator. Despite whether Jeffrey had anything to do with this or not, she still wanted to know who this character was.
The mahogany paneling of their father’s study glowed red in the setting light of the August sun. Despite the humidity, the room was cool. A ceiling fan whirred softly overhead.
The Executor seated himself in their father’s aged leather chair and propped his elbows on the desk. Elizabeth and Mary Catherine pulled Esau down on the sofa with them. Jeffrey and Will sat down in the two leather club chairs across from the desk. Will slapped Jeffrey on the arm and then rubbed his hands together as if they were two fraternity brothers about to enjoy a round of poker.
Elizabeth watched the interchange between them. It was evident that Will thought this reading was somehow more legitimate than the last, and equally evident that Jeffrey was both annoyed with him and concerned about him. Even from this distance, she could tell Will had been drinking most of the day.
The Executor cleared his throat and began to speak. “As you know, it has been a year since we last met. Over this past year your actions have been closely monitored. We have watched to make sure that each of you has followed the guidelines set for you. Three of you did, and one of you did not.” He eyed Will.
Will shifted slightly in his seat. For the first time, he seemed to be getting the message that this might actually be serious.
“Esau, we know that you are just becoming a part of this read- ing,” the Executor continued. “However, I will belabor the point no longer.”
They watched as the Executor’s long index finger reached underneath the lip of the envelope and undid the clasp. He pulled a large document out from inside, laid it on the table, and began to read.
“I, Elijah Clayton Wilcott II, being of sound mind and body . . .”
He read through the preliminaries without pausing. When he got to the personal part, he slowed his speech.
“To my children. Years ago, when your mother and I inherited this piece of land, I found an unruly vine of wisteria. Wisteria is a stubborn specimen, and if it is not trained in the direction you want it to take, it will eventually take over the entire yard. And so Esau and I planted stakes and began to tell the wisteria where we wanted it to grow. We gave it direction and trained it into something so beautiful that this place became known for it.”
Mary Catherine was already dabbing at her eyes. Esau took one hand, and Elizabeth reached for the other.
“The challenge of this past year has been very similar. For years, in my ignorance, I let you grow wild and untamed. I did not give you direction, instead simply gave you
advice, forgetting that my primary responsibility was to be your father and not your friend. I watched as four beautiful children became so unruly and self-directed that they threatened to ruin their own future happiness and success.”
“He calling us wisteria?” Will asked.
“Just listen, Will,” Jeffrey said.
“Jeffrey, I can only hope that somehow this past year has changed you. There has always been an insatiable need in you to be loved and approved, making it ever so clear to me that you never felt those things from me. I hope somehow you have found the love and approval your heart has so longed for. And I hope that you can forgive me for not supplying you with the complete assurance of my love for you.”
The Executor shifted his glasses on his nose.
“If the Executor is reading this part, then you have successfully completed your year’s journey. I can only say how proud I am of you. My hope, however, is that it was not merely a change of occupation, but a change of lifestyle and of values. I leave to you one-third of my estate, approximately three hundred and fifty million dollars, to be distributed in one lump sum when all of my assets, except my company and the plantation, are liquidated. You will also serve as one-third partner of the company I spent years developing. I pray this is worth the sacrifice you have made this year. But more than that, I hope you have learned how to love well.”
“Did you understand all of that, Jeffrey?” the Executor asked.
Jeffrey was having trouble catching his breath, and it wasn’t because of the staggering amount of money he had just been bequeathed. In thirty-eight years he had only heard his father tell him that he loved him one time, and never that he was proud. He tried to hold back the tears. “Yes,” he choked out. “Uh, yes, I’m fine.”
“Woo-hoo!” Will shouted, bouncing up and down in the seat. “Keep it coming, man!”
“To my daughter Elizabeth. What an amazing woman you have become! I only hope that the hostility you had toward me has been put to rest since my death. You are so like your mother—headstrong, passionate, and my right-hand girl despite the feelings you had toward me. The day you left my company, I grieved so desperately for you. But I knew you had to learn how to fly on your own, and fly you have. I hope you know that I loved you with all my heart.”
The Executor turned the page.
“You have spent your year doing what I asked of you. I trust that in giving yourself to pro bono work, you have experienced a side of life I was never capable of showing you—a life where obstacles are common, prejudices are numerous, and opportunities are limited. I hope you have come to realize that to whom much is given, much is required. You have within you gifts that are capable of turning the tide for others.
“Every life needs a tide turner. Some people are capable of turning their own tides by sheer faith or determination, but others need a mediator, a mouthpiece. You have the ability to give a voice to the voiceless, to be an advocate for those who need one. I only hope that this experience has revealed a part of you that has surprised even you. And finally, my sweet, strong girl, I hope this year has helped you banish the fears you have been harboring all your life.”
Elizabeth let out a soft cry. The Executor paused for a moment, and then continued to read.
“I know that something happened to you, Elizabeth. Something you would never speak of. And I have prayed that the God of this Universe would reach into your soul and heal your deepest places. That freedom would be the greatest endowment you could possibly have.
“But as for your inheritance, I leave to you one-third of all of my fortune, approximately three hundred and fifty million dollars, to be distributed to you in one lump sum once all of my assets except my company and the plantation are liquidated. You will also serve as one-third partner of my company. I pray this is worth the sacrifice you have made this year.”
Elizabeth’s shoulders slumped as her tears took over. Jeffrey got up and knelt in front of her. “You okay?”
She nodded.
“Come on, Elizabeth. He needs to keep going,” Will interrupted. “This is getting good!”
“You can wait, Will!” Jeffrey snapped. He turned his attention back to Elizabeth, who was trying to compose herself.
“I’m fine. I’m fine.” She patted her eyes with the handkerchief Esau had given to her.
Jeffrey went back to his chair, and the Executor continued.
“To my precious Mary Catherine, my baby girl. You have been so good to me. You cared for me after your mother died. You genuinely loved me, and you will never know how special those moments were that we shared over the last couple of years. You have a true heart of gold, Mary Catherine, even if it has gotten clouded by your priorities.
“But if the Executor is reading this, then you have spent the last year using that education I paid for. I hoped you would spend the year teaching, because ‘teaching teaches the teacher’ just as ‘parenting teaches the parent. ’”
Mary Catherine gasped. Elizabeth gripped her hand more tightly, and saw that Esau did the same.
“But no matter what you chose to do, I hope you discovered something about yourself. I hope you’ve discovered the deep well of talent that has been inside of you untapped for so many years. I hope that you’ve become confident in your abilities, realizing that people don’t have to be bought, simply appreciated. And I hope that you’ve come to understand the love I had for you.”
“I did, Daddy, I did.” Mary Catherine’s tears overflowed and fell onto her linen skirt, spreading as they landed.
“As I did for the others, I leave to you one-third of all of my fortune, approximately three hundred and fifty million dollars, to be distributed to you in one lump sum. You will receive your money once all of my assets except my company and the plantation are liquidated. You will also serve as one-third partner of the company that I spent years developing. I pray this is worth the sacrifice you have made this year. But more than that, I hope you will change someone’s life with the gifts you’ve been given.”
The Executor paused to study Mary Catherine as she steadied her chin. Then he turned his gaze to Will. “Are you sure you are ready for this, son?”
“I’ve been ready for this charade to be over for a year.”
Elizabeth cringed when she saw him turn and give Jeffrey an exaggerated wink. In his alcohol-induced stupor, he had not yet realized that three-thirds equals one. “Bring it on.”
“To my baby boy, Will. If I questioned how I raised any of my children, Will, it is you. You received a father’s old age and apathy. Forgive me. It wasn’t until you started college that I realized how far off the path you had strayed, and by then I didn’t know how to get you back. All I can do now is remind you of what I know is inside you—greatness, humor, the ability to lead. Wherever you go, people follow.
“I am grateful I am not there to witness this moment, because even writing this, thinking that you did not complete your task, I feel as if my heart will break. I had hoped you would spend a year serving in some capacity, because a good leader must first know how to serve.
“Yet you have chosen not to serve, but instead to continue on a path of self-centeredness and self-destruction. At this point, son, the only person who can help you is you. So it is with great sorrow that I tell you, you will receive no inheritance.”
Will laughed. “Come on, man. Quit trying to play me. I’m not falling for it.”
The Executor gazed at him with an expression of great sorrow.
“I’m afraid this is real, Will. And there is more.”
Jeffrey put his head in his hands, and Mary Catherine cried softly. Elizabeth felt her heart slowly crack inside her chest.
“Everything I had put aside for you has been equally divided among your siblings. You will have no part in the family company. Furthermore, your siblings are instructed not to help you financially in any way other than the following: They may offer you a job suitable to your education and experience at a salary commensurate for the position, and the
y may pay for any rehabilitation treatment you need to help you recover from your self-destructive habits and become the man you were created to be. But, Will—”
The Executor stopped to make sure this was sinking in. Elizabeth, like the rest of them, was watching Will closely. His skin had gone pale and clammy, and he looked as if he might throw up. But his expression had changed. It was both sober and stunned. He had finally gotten it. Unfortunately, it was too late.
The Executor continued.
“You need to realize that no matter what you do from this point on, the inheritance you would have received will no longer be available to you. You have made your choice. I gave you ample warning and opportunity. You chose to heed neither. I can only pray that at some point that you will come face-to-face with yourself and your need. Your real need.”
Will slumped back in the leather chair. The Executor heaved a sigh and read on:
“And to my fine friend Esau. No one has cared more for me or this plantation than you. You have been my constant friend and true companion on life’s journey. I ask you to reside on this property until our Maker takes you home as well. You will receive a cashinheritance of a million dollars. It is yours to do with as you like. You can travel to all the places you and I wanted to see and eat all the home cooking your heart desires. An account has been set up to provide for the continued upkeep of this home. None of the money needed to care for this property will come out of your inheritance.
“And, Esau, I want you to know that I’m saving a really good seat for you.
“Finally, to my son Jeffrey, I leave Wisteria Plantation, in the hopes that he will make it a home for himself and my grand-son Matthew. Matthew has always had a special connection to this place, and I would like for it to be his one day.
“I love each of you, my dear children, and I am confident I will see you again. All my love, your father.”
No one moved. The Executor stood from his chair and walked toward the door, then turned back. “Might I say one thing?”
The Will of Wisteria Page 32