Hearing Sawney called the lawyer, "Come, Uncle Thomas, have a seat, now let me fix you a nice cup of coffee just the way you like it."
Train saw the hearty smile on Ken's face, his love for this child was genuine, "Shawney my child, it has been so long, you must have forgotten how to fix my coffee."
Hearing her laugh as she said. "You won't believe it Uncle Thomas, but on the road. I met some wonderful people who liked their coffee just the way you like yours."
"Is that so Shawney?" Thomas was just happy to see the child return after three years. He had heard all the reports Danial confided in him about her whereabouts.
"Yes Uncle Thomas, and on many occasions I had to wash dishes. Sometimes I even had to cook to get sleeping accommodations, but I was happy."
"Shawney, I hope you are not going on any road trips again?" Thomas asks knowing now she is the owner of this vast business.
Shawney dipped her head knowing she had returned to be with her dad but now that he was no longer here to share that joy with her, she knew she should move on from these ungrateful people. "Sorry to disappoint you Uncle Thomas, but I just stopped by for a few days."
Thomas knew he had to convince her to stay, "Shawney there is so much that you need to learn about in this business. So why the rush to leave so soon?"
Observing all the faces around the table, from what she knows about this family they will not be happy with the outcome of the reading of the will.".
Uncle Thomas, you seem to be forgetting, it has Sid, Meg, Curtis, and Linsey. They could handle the business, I don't need to be here. Besides what is the use, I know nothing about this kind of business. I didn't even know we had a business until I had returned home."
Ken held Shawney's hand, "Honey, come sit down, you need to be aware of a few things that occur when you leave home." Ken urges her to sit.
Shawney excused herself to get the coffee and then returned to hear all that transpired in her absence.
When Ken said, "Sit Shawney and let me update you about your Dad. Honey, you see when your dad resigned from his job he invested his retirement money into this business. So that you all will have something stashed away just in case a need arises."
Shawney took a deep breath before she said, "I am so glad to hear that Uncle Ken, from what you are saying that was a good business decision. Now the others won't have any need to worry financially. Dad knows I wasn't here so he invested wisely so they could be well cared for. Uncle Ken, hearing this good news, helps me to put my mind at ease. Also, they have you and Aunty Joan with them, so I have nothing to worry about now when I go on the road."
Train notices the lawyer opens his briefcase and then says. "Shawney, your father's last wish when he decided to draw out this will was for you my child being the eldest to hold this property together. Also, twenty-five per cent of the shares from the business belong to you.
You're Uncle and Aunt together with their children hold twenty-five per cent just like you.
Your brothers and sisters own twelve and a half per cent of the shares each."
Becoming patientless Sid spoke out of turn," But Uncle Thomas, that's not fair." Sid stands up vouching his opinion openly ignoring what Ken told him earlier.
Thomas had no choice but to instruct Sid, "It is your father's last wish, Sid, you should be happy to inherit something from the business. Son a year back everything was only in Shawney's name. I don't know what caused him to change his will, but I am glad. Now you all are benefiting from the business."
Train glanced her way noticing how subtle she was. She had her head bent as the lawyer completed the reading of the will.
Train thought, 'I could be wrong, but I believe the child changes the father's will. If my guess is right she will be shoving off sooner than anyone expected.
This business and property don't seem to matter to her. It seems her mother's flower garden is worth much more to her than all she has inherited. I must not delay but seize the opportunity to convince her of my proposal before she leaves.'
When she did speak, "Uncle Thomas, can you attend to my portion of the business on my behalf, please?"
Thomas takes out the original will and rests it in front of Shawney, "Shawney my child, read this document carefully, now I was hoping that you know what's in the will and change your mind and stay, seeing that you own the majority of the shares?"Smiling she glanced through, when Sid said, " Let me see that document." Shawney immediately reject his demand. She knew they shouldn't be aware of he truth. Without hesitation Shawney decided to finalise all her business once and for all in from of the family so Untle Thomas wouldn't be questioned or be blamed unnecessarily. Especially how the others was glaring at her.
"Uncle Thomas, I am so glad you are concerned and seek my interest. Please be my trustee, and if there's any more expansion in the property. Whatever profit make in that expansion all profits go into my account. And another thing Uncle Thomas, I once heard Dad say the parcel of land is fifty acres?"
Thomas had no idea she was knowledgeable of the property. his intentions were to discuss it privately with her especially the way the others were receptive to the shares. "Yes, that is correct Shawney."
With her head still bent reading the document she said, "Uncle Thomas, I would like if it is not too much trouble, for you to survey the property and cut it in two blocks. A twenty-acre block from the back and thirty acres this side of the business. From the twenty-acre block, cut out four three-acre blocks and four two-acre blocks."