Alice was the only girl in her family, with two older brothers named Jake and Ashton. Her parents had worked on cruise ships when they were younger, which meant they traveled a lot. They wanted their kids to have a stable life, so they made a deal with their dad, Bill. The agreement was that Alice and her brothers would stay with him while their parents were away at work.
Growing up, Alice spent lots of time with her grandfather. She loved him very much, and over the years they became more like friends than just grandparent and granddaughter. Even after her parents found jobs at home, Alice continued to visit Bill regularly.
They shared everything; he told her stories about his adventures and tough but happy childhood while she shared all of her dreams for the future. Sadly, one day Bill passed away. This broke Alice’s heart completely; it felt like her world had turned upside down.
Even though she knew he lived a long life and went peacefully, it didn’t make losing him any easier. He was someone she could always count on for support or laughter.
Soon after his passing came the time to discuss Bill’s will. He left most of his belongings to his grandchildren—so there was a meeting between Alice, Jake, Ashton, and Bill’s lawyer Lawrence in his office where he explained what everyone would receive.
“How could someone who brought so much joy suddenly be gone?” Jake wondered aloud as Lawrence read through the will eagerly looking for what they’d get.
“What did he leave us?” Jake asked impatiently.
“Yeah! What do I get?” Ashton chimed in quickly.
“Just wait! I want you all to understand what your grandfather left behind,” Lawrence said before starting again about the estate…
As Lawrence spoke on about details that faded into background noise for Alice as she got lost in thought reliving how painful it felt losing someone so close to her—she remembered how hard it hit when doctors told them that Bill had passed away; she recalled kissing him goodbye thinking “How could such warmth turn cold?”
She still had many feelings swirling inside but being there wasn’t helping at all—it just reminded her of everything lost even if Lawrence tried explaining things clearly…
“Alice? Do you understand me?” Everyone stared at her now as if waiting for an answer from deep within herself…
“Uhm… What?” She snapped back into reality finally realizing everyone else was waiting on answers too!
“The house goes to your brothers,” said Lawrence calmly “Bill left you the barn where his farm used to be.”
“Oh great! A whole barn!” scoffed Jake while Ashton laughed loudly beside him making fun of what little she’d received compared to them!
“I suggest trying salvage whatever you can from it,” said Lawrence kindly “It might not be much but maybe negotiate something with new owners.”
“What do you mean? You got peanuts sis’. So much for those summers spent at grandpa’s!” Ashton joked again causing more laughter between them both!
Unable hold back tears anymore now feeling hurt by this whole situation—Alice grabbed belongings rushing out without another word spoken…
“Oh come on! We were just joking around!” yelled Jake after seeing how upset she’d gotten leaving behind memories filled only sadness instead happiness once shared together…
What really stung wasn’t material possessions—it made question whether or not their bond mattered since siblings hadn’t cared enough during lifetime compared against hers…
She wished he’d considered financial struggles too knowing how different things were between them all especially since inherited house needed repairs badly yet still worth something unlike barn which held no value whatsoever except memories cherished deeply within heart itself…
“Alice can I stay there until figure out my situation better?”
