Chapter 23 - Mason’s Question
Mason turned thirteen and asked a question Andrew expected later.
“Do I still get part of company?”
Andrew nodded.
“Potential future beneficial interest, yes.”
“Same as Lila?”
“Yes.”
“What if I want to work there and she doesn’t?”
“Then your careers differ. Ownership rights don’t need to.”
“Can I buy more later?”
“When adult, maybe.”
“Can she sell?”
“Subject to trust and company rules.”
Mason sighed.
“Complicated.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Did Grandma want me to control?”
“Yes.”
“Did Grandpa not?”
“He wanted both of you to choose before control came.”
Mason looked thoughtful.
“What do you want?”
Andrew paused.
Old Andrew might say:
I’d love you to join company.
He did feel that.
But he remembered Thomas.
“They are not our second chance. They are themselves.”
So Andrew answered:
“I want you to become good at something you care about and decent to people around you.”
Mason laughed.
“Boring.”
“Extremely.”
Then:
“If that is Briarwood, great.”
“If not?”
“Still great.”
Mason nodded.
That night he told Lila:
“I might want company.”
She shrugged.
“I might want pottery.”
“Pottery company?”
“No.”
“Could be.”
She threw pillow.
Then Dorothy learned Mason was interested in business.
Old excitement returned.
She called Andrew:
“See? He has instinct.”
Andrew warned:
“Don’t make it destiny.”
Dorothy sighed.
“I know.”
She asked Mason to visit foundation office? Better Briarwood no longer hers. She could tell family history if he asks. She gave him Thomas's old book on property development.
Then bought Lila nothing equivalent.
Would that be unfair?
No, because Lila not interested.
Fairness matured enough to allow different gifts.
Lila asked what Mason got.
“A book about buildings.”
“Gross.”
No problem.
Then Dorothy took Lila to pottery museum because Lila asked.
Mason declined.
No forced equal outing.
Each relationship individual.
Then Andrew and Claire discussed wills.
They had neglected updates after moving.
They created equal child trusts.
But not identical distributions.
Education/health supported.
Independent trustee.
No Dorothy control.
No Julia.
No parent beyond certain point.
They explained age-appropriately.
Lila said:
“Are you dying?”
“No.”
“Then stop talking.”
Reasonable.
They filed.
Boring adult responsibility.
Then Claire completed certification.
Family celebrated.
Andrew bought flowers.
Mason made terrible cake.
Lila made ceramic pen holder.
Dorothy gave Claire a card:
I am proud of you.
Claire stared long.
No qualification.
No “finally.”
No comment about children.
She cried.
Dorothy hugged.
Repair across generations.
Then Julia announced engagement? Not needed. Maybe career award. Keep focused.
Julia visited and said:
“I think I can be around Mom without becoming nineteen.”
Andrew understood.
He could be around Dorothy without becoming peacemaker child.
Claire without frightened daughter-in-law.
Mason without favored heir.
Lila without bad child.
That was family healing.
Then Dorothy asked Lila:
“Do you remember the phone day a lot?”
Lila thought.
“Sometimes.”
“Do you hate dishes?”
“No.”
“Do you hate me?”
Lila looked at her.
“No.”
Dorothy’s eyes filled.
Lila continued.
“But I hated you then.”
Dorothy nodded.
“You were allowed.”
Then Lila said:
“I still don’t like when you yell.”
“I’m working on volume.”
“You’re loud.”
“Family trait.”
Andrew shouted from kitchen:
“I heard that!”
Everyone laughed.
Then Dorothy looked toward sink.
“Can I ask something?”
“What?”
“If we ever have that many dishes again, remind me to order pizza.”
Lila smiled.
“Deal.”
The memory could now exist beside jokes.
May you like
Not erase.
Integrate.
