Chapter 22 - The Trust Vote
When Grace was eight, Bennett Development faced a major vote.
Sell the Raleigh portfolio entirely.
The same properties that started the panic years earlier.
Northstar held Grace’s 22 percent voting block.
Daniel owned separate smaller shares.
Margaret retained some.
Board recommended sale.
Irony.
The sale Daniel and Margaret had tried to force through hidden governance years earlier had become financially sensible now.
Northstar voted yes after independent valuation.
Daniel voted yes.
Margaret voted yes.
Unanimous.
No secret plan.
No coercion.
The sale generated strong returns.
Grace’s trust increased substantially.
James Hollis told me:
“This is what independent governance looks like.”
I smiled.
“Boring.”
“Exactly.”
The trust was not supposed to produce drama.
It existed to prevent it.
Harold had understood that.
Grace’s education account was funded separately.
No need to touch principal.
At nine, she joined robotics club.
At ten, violin for three months, hated it, quit.
Margaret did not say anything.
Progress.
My marriage to Evan happened when Grace was nine.
Small ceremony.
Daniel attended? That might be weird but possible co-parent. He did, sat back. Margaret not invited. Good.
Daniel brought Grace.
He shook Evan’s hand.
“Take care of them.”
Evan answered:
“They take care of themselves pretty well.”
May you like
I laughed.
That was right.
