Lifting her head she looks at the family, not missing anyone's expression, "Now I have a small proposition for the family. If you all are willing to accept, then I will settle the business matter as soon as possible.
This will be entirely up to you all if you agree, no pressure, but it will come with a condition. Now listen carefully so don't go jumping to the wrong conclusion. I will give you all five years to settle yourselves down if you all decide to take up my offer. During that time you all will continue to have your twelve-and-a-half percent shares running. If it's accepted then after five years all your shares become mine.
"Here I go," Shawney said, "I give Uncle Ken's family three acres of land for him and his family, if he were to accept this offer then within five years they have to vacate from this building and the business.
Also, to my brothers and sisters, I give two acres each, with the same proposition, it's their choice. Now if they agree they have five years to do what they wish with their portion."
When Sid stood up in such rage looking at Shawney as though she was executing them. Without any courtesy, he said, "Uncle Thomas this is ridiculous, these shares belong to us."
"I agree with you Sid, but as you heard, your Dad didn't leave any property in his will for you all, this is your sister's decision, you could either accept or reject, your choice."
Curtis thought to himself, 'What Uncle Ken said is true and this is a good opportunity to protect my family.'
Hearing Uncle Thomas saying, 'No one is forcing you, the choice is all yours. You can either accept the property and after five years you all return your shares. Or you could keep your shares as the will states and reject Shawney's proposal. Shawney has taken this decision of her own free will no one forced her."
Curtis stood up, "Uncle Thomas, I accept Sis's offer. And if she doesn't mind I would like to say where I would like my piece to cut out. After the surveying of the twenty acres."
Seeing the nod from Shawney. "Okay Curtis, you get to make your choice first. So I will start the ball rolling from this week."
Meg said, "Uncle Thomas, I will also accept Shawney's offer and get to do as Curtis asks."
"Excellent! Then by Friday, I should have things in place when I return to visit Shawney."
"Uncle Thomas another thing, I need you to pull a fence around the thirty acres. If after five years I don't return. I would like for you to get a manager to handle my portion of the business. By then I should be owning fifty percent in shares."
Resting down the coffee cup, Thomas said, "Shawney this is the best coffee I have tasted in years."
When the eldest brother stood up, "Uncle Thomas, I would also like to accept Shawney's offer as well."
"Me to Uncle Thomas." Linsey replies."
When Ken said, "Then, that leaves my family alone with shares. So I will do like the others and agree to Shawney's proposition, in this way when Shawney has her own family, there won't be any conflict."
Thomas sneaked a peek at the faces around the table, some were gloomy while few were happy.
Having no choice seeing that his work was cut out for the upcoming week, he said, "Well seeing you all have agreed to accept the land. I have to begin the process immediately, as you all can see my work is cut out for the week ahead. Now I must say thank you very much for a delicious and wonderful breakfast. Now I will excuse myself and leave first." With a smile on his face, Thomas stood up and left the dining area.
Train observed all faces, wondering, 'What they must be all thinking? Also, what the lawyer must be thinking, knowing the will had a spin from what was originally written.'
Seeing now that the family had made their decision to accept the property. She will now be holding the entire business within five years.'
With frowned faces leaving the dining area, Train did the same and walked towards the front. He observed Ken walking with the lawyer towards his car, he was very calm.
Thinking, 'The only one who was a bit upset was the eldest brother. I was hoping to get the chance to speak with her, but what I want to know is. 'Whose ideas was it to share the property and redeem the shares? In all my years, my instinct was not wrong. And it can't be that I misconceived her decision to distribute the property.'
Recalling when both of them enter the dining area. She was not dressed to go visiting, but as her Uncle said, anything she wears looks stunning, even in track pants, so where did I misjudge her? She was wearing tracks and sneakers as though she went jogging and the way her clothes were wet indicated she was jogging indeed, so where did she meet the Lawyer?'
Getting into his van, Train thought, 'I might as well see what this village has to offer.'
Then the thought crosses his mind. 'Why didn't any monitory questions arise? I am sure her father had money. Did her father settle that matter before his death?'
From overhearing them converse, the only person who seems to care about her is the Uncle. She may not care about the business, but she sure has a business head. Could it be she is a genius and finished schooling at an early age and the others were unaware of it?
'Five years from now she will own the entire business and the house. It will have more rooms for rent, which is not a bad business transaction whatsoever.
'What her Uncle says is true, when she has her own family. These here will already fix their own business causing no conflict to arise in the future.'
In all my years doing business I never come across anything as mindblowing as her suggestion. I should take a leaf out of her book and encourage Torren to do the same for his siblings. By her doing this deed of kindness and hearing her Uncle's report I know she will be the perfect wife for My Torren and a wonderful mom for my two grandchildren.'