Chapter 13 - The Offer on Apex
The first legitimate offer came from Caleb Frost.
One of Gavin’s former investors.
$560,000.
Cash equivalent.
Due diligence.
No pressure.
Miriam said:
“Market may support more.”
I said:
“No decision.”
Caleb accepted.
Then Mason Reed’s group offered $590,000 with zoning contingency.
Another developer:
$615,000 but long closing.
Apex had become more valuable after public corridor approval.
Gavin and Harriet nearly stole it for zero.
Their investors expected under $300,000 basis.
Mom had been right to refuse.
Then I drove to property.
First time in years.
Twenty three acres of scrub grass.
Pines.
Old fence.
Nothing glamorous.
I remembered being nine.
Mom packed sandwiches.
Dad was still alive then.
Lucas threw rocks into creek.
The land had been Granddad’s.
Not an investment to us.
Then I understood why Mom left it to me.
Not because value.
Because I loved the place before value.
I sat on hood of Honda.
No decision.
Then a truck arrived.
Older man.
Neighbor.
Thomas Avery.
He owned adjacent ten acres.
He remembered Loretta.
“She said you’d come eventually.”
“When?”
“Last month.”
Before death.
“She asked me not to sell access rights to anybody named Vance.”
I almost laughed.
Mom covered every angle.
Then Thomas said:
“She was thinking about selling part.”
“What?”
That surprised.
Loretta had not been refusing all sales.
Only Gavin’s.
She had discussed selling seven acres closest to corridor while keeping rest.
Why?
Pay off Lucas’s mortgage? No, maybe fund her retirement and leave rest. Let's make she wanted fund a scholarship at local cardiac nursing program? Could be sentimental but not necessary.
Thomas said:
“She wanted enough money to fix her house and put aside something for grandkids if you two ever had any.”
No grandkids yet. Samantha no children. Fine.
“She didn’t want warehouses all the way to creek.”
That changed choice.
Maybe partial sale.
Then Martha had notes.
Loretta asked about subdividing.
So I did not need choose between keep everything or sell everything.
We commissioned survey.
Seven acre commercial frontage worth around $420,000 alone.
Remaining sixteen acres retained access and creek, maybe $180,000.
Total more.
Developers had tried to buy whole cheap.
Then Caleb offered revised:
$435,000 for seven acres.
Good.
We negotiated.
$455,000.
Easement terms.
Environmental protections near creek.
Miriam reviewed.
No rush.
I chose sale of seven acres.
Keep sixteen.
That felt like mine.
Not Mom controlling from grave.
Not Gavin’s reaction.
Mine.
Then probate allowed executor Lucas to execute per will? Since property devised to Samantha, transfer to Samantha first then she sells portion. Fine.
Title clear after quitclaim and court declaration forged deed void? Need formal. Civil court entered order declaring deed invalid due lack of authentic execution, based on evidence and Macon Ridge non opposition? Harriet/Gavin still? Their civil counsel conceded title while criminal case ongoing. Order clears.
Then I became record owner.
For one day before parcel split.
I drove to county office.
Signed my name.
No one standing over me.
No one saying hurry.
Then commercial sale closed.
After taxes, fees, I received substantial funds.
Not life changing billionaire wealth.
Life changing for me.
I paid:
Attorney costs.
Moved emergency savings.
Bought modest townhouse in Macon? Would I move from Atlanta? Maybe near Lucas and Mom memories. I worked in Atlanta? Could remote medical billing. Let's say I chose small house outside Macon, changed job remote. But divorce case Atlanta. Fine.
I placed rest into managed account in my name.
No joint anything.
The sixteen acres remained.
Then Gavin learned sale.
He had no claim.
His lawyer wrote:
Mr. Vance reserves rights regarding marital appreciation.
Dana replied with law and facts.
Issue dropped.
Then Gavin sent no direct message due order.
But Harriet’s sister contacted me:
“He says you stole his deal.”
I answered:
“Don’t contact me again.”
Blocked.
Then criminal pretrial motions.
Gavin sought suppress laptop evidence claiming search overbroad.
Court heard.
Some files admitted, some perhaps not. We don't need detailed.
Notary testimony remained.
Recording.
Texts lawfully obtained via warrant.
Strong.
Then prosecutor offered pleas.
Gavin:
Plead to forgery and domestic assault, restitution, incarceration reduced.
Harriet:
Plead to conspiracy/forgery role and participation in restraint, probation or shorter custody depending.
They initially rejected.
They thought trial could shift blame.
Then Denise notary testified at preliminary hearing.
Calm.
“I did not notarize this.”
Defense:
Could you have forgotten?
“I keep a journal.”
Defense:
Could seal have been used by staff?
“No.”
Then forensic analyst showed copied image.
The courtroom changed.
Gavin looked at Harriet.
May you like
Harriet did not look back.
Continue to the next part: Samantha finally makes her own decision about Apex, while the criminal case moves toward trial and Gavin and Harriet realize blaming each other may not be enough.
