Chapter 14 - Emma Corrected Robert’s Last Mistake
Emma remained involved with Willowbrook’s conservation planning.
One afternoon she brought Margaret Robert’s original draft agreement.
“I think you should destroy it.”
Margaret read it again.
Then shook her head.
“No.”
Emma looked surprised.
Margaret placed it in a family archive with a note.
ROBERT WANTED TO PROTECT THIS LAND. HE SHOULD HAVE ASKED ME HOW.
Charles smiled when he read it.
That sentence captured his father better than any memorial speech.
Robert loved Willowbrook.
He loved Margaret.
He distrusted Richard.
He also believed protecting people sometimes gave him permission to make
decisions for them.
Emma had repeated that mistake when she removed the agreement.
Margaret repeated it when she hid Robert’s letter.
Stephanie repeated it when she concealed Richard’s plan.
Charles had almost repeated it by assuming he should decide
Willowbrook’s future after discovering the scheme.
The farm belonged to Margaret.
So Margaret decided.
Emma apologized again.
Margaret accepted.
Then she handed Emma a folder.
“What’s this?”
“A consulting contract.”
Emma laughed.
“For what?”
“Keeping me from signing things I don’t understand.”
Emma smiled.
“That rate is too high.”
“I’m seventy-one now. I don’t negotiate downward.”
They laughed.
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Willowbrook had survived a family war.
Now it needed bookkeeping.
