Chapter 13
Marjorie was giving me something different: an apology with no instruction attached.
The accountant's work continued, and the company's management procedures continued with it. Under the governing agreement, Marjorie took the necessary steps to suspend Grant's operational authority while the identified transactions were investigated.
An interim manager took over approvals. Staff received instructions about who could authorize spending and where to send further questions.
No one announced that Grant had lost his inheritance. His ownership and his authority to spend company money were different matters.
For the first time, he could no longer hide one behind the other.
He called his mother that evening. Reed and I were in her kitchen when the phone rang, but she answered without putting it on speaker.
We heard only her side.
"I haven't forgotten you're my son."
She listened for a long time.
"No. Loving you doesn't authorize another payment."
Her eyes filled, and she pressed her free hand against the edge of the counter.
"Your father isn't here to tell me what to do. I am still here, and this is my decision."
After she hung up, Reed moved toward her. She let him hold her, then wiped her eyes and asked whether we wanted dinner.
The boundary had cost her something. She kept it anyway.
He requested a meeting later that week. It took place in Linnea's office, with counsel present.
Grant looked tired, but he still spoke as though he was negotiating an inconvenience.
"I wanted the hotel kept in the family," he said.
Reed leaned back in his chair.
"I'm in the family."
"You don't understand what it takes to run it."
"Then you could have shown me the accounts."
Grant looked at me.
"You were going to change everything."
"I was going to read a report."
He rubbed his forehead.
"Avery took the pregnancy announcement too far. I didn't ask her to hurt you like that."
Linnea placed his message about the timing beside his email requesting cancellation paperwork.
Grant did not look at either page.
Marjorie spoke then.
"Your father gave each of you a share because each of you was his son. You have spent eighteen months acting as though Reed's belonged to you by mistake."
His face reddened.
"I did the work while he was off renovating other people's houses."
"You were paid for your work," she said. "You weren't paid to decide who deserved his life."