She smiled. “And while that’s an intriguing thought, I can’t put off the inevitable because it’s time for me to get my past settled once and for all, and I can’t do that until I make matters right with my family.”
It took two hours to get everyone gathered at Mason Manor because a message had to be delivered to Howard at his mercantile store, and then he had to fetch his daughters from their candy shop as well as Hester from a social luncheon. Hester had been quick toinform Eunice that she didn’t appreciate being summoned out of one of her events, especially not when she’d been doing what she’d called “Mason family damage control” after so many rumors had begun spreading about the family—none of which were favorable.
After assuring Hester that the meeting might result with Hester being able to quash those rumors once and for all, Hester settled down and even agreed to help Howard get Uncle Raymond and Aunt Clarice down to the library, something they’d been refusing to do.
Five minutes later, Uncle Raymond shuffled into the library, looking like a broken man. He went to sit behind James’s old desk, then seemed to think better of it and took a seat beside his wife, who looked as if she’d been crying.
It was a sight that left Eunice’s heart aching.
Yes, her family was capable of horrendous behavior toward one another, and yes, they seemed to thrive on secrets and holding fast to slights they felt they’d been dealt.
However, they were her family, and sometimes one needed to remember what family was all about.
After Georgette and Douglas finally wandered into the library after Lloyd had been sent to find them, a task he’d done reluctantly because he was convinced the couple wasn’t going to be thrilled to be interrupted, and settled themselves on a small chaise that barely had room for one, Eunice strode to the center of the room as everyone fell silent.
“I think we can all agree that it’s been a very interesting few days, filled with confessions I wasn’t actually surprised to hear—well, except for who killed Grandfather,” she began. “But with those confessions came the revelation of some truths, and all we can do now is accept those truths and try to move forward as a family. And speaking of truth,” she continued, “I recently revisited some notes I jotted down during my stint at Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum.”
Douglas sat forward. “I don’t believe you’ve gotten around to telling me about a stint in an asylum.”
Eunice’s lips curved. “There’s much you and I haven’t gotten into, but that’ll need to wait for another time. To return to what I was going to say about my notes, as I was looking through them, one note in particular caught my attention. It was a note to explore the topic of truth.”
She walked over to a small table and picked up the old family Bible she’d found on a library bookshelf, the beautiful handwriting inside it belonging to her grandmother Mary. “When I found Grandmother’s Bible, I opened it to where she’d marked a page with a faded ribbon and found exactly what I was looking for. It’s in the book of John, and the verse states, ‘And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’
“And while the meaning of the verse is clear—that we need to follow the path Christ laid out for us, to accept His teachings and live by those teachings—I was struck by how accepting my own personal truth could finally set me free. I also believe everyone in this family could be set free as well, if we move forward in truth and move forward by adhering to this verse and follow the path Christ expects us to follow.”
She gestured around the room. “We, the Mason family, seem to have a very large problem with the truth, and we have that problem because of Grandfather and the vast fortune he used to control everyone. Some in this room have abandoned truth in order to get a greater share of that fortune, done so because Grandfather’s actions encouraged that type of behavior. He should have freely shared his wealth with his family because family is important and should be treated with love. Instead of doing that, though, he doled out his money at whim, creating resentment and lies that have almost ruined this family. It’s time for the lies to stop. It’s time for truth to be the motto the Mason family embraces, and it’s time to divide the Mason fortune in a way that’s actually fair.”
As those words settled, everyone began glancing around the room, expressions of disbelief on every face, except for Arthur’s, who was smiling warmly at her, the warmth of his smile leaving heat settling on her cheeks. She sent him a smile in return andset aside the family Bible before she picked up her grandfather’s will.
“As I’m sure all of you know, Grandfather left me seventy-five percent of Mason Mines, along with his entire savings, stock portfolio, and this house. The other twenty-five percent of Mason Mines he left to my mother.” She arched a brow at Georgette. “Before I continue, do you have any desire to live in Mason Manor?”
Georgette shuddered. “Absolutely not. It reminds me of Father, and while I know I’ll eventually get around to forgiving him for tearing Douglas and me apart, I’m not quite there yet. I certainly won’t get there if I permanently return to a house where rounding every corner brings back memories of him.”
“Where do you intend to go?” Douglas asked.
“I’ve been thinking about using some of my inheritance to turn my little artist colony into a resort,” Georgette said. “I could invite artists from all over the country at no cost to them and paint to my heart’s content, surrounded by artistic types. I would no longer worry about how I’m going to afford my next meal, or if I have to set aside my painting to milk a cow.” She smiled. “I was thinking darling little stone cabins might be the way to house all the artists, the kind one always imagines in fairy tales, and the kind that would certainly spark some creativity.”
Douglas’s lips curved into a smile. “May I assume, knowing how you always adored those fairy tales, that you’re considering building your very own castle to live in?”
“That would depend on whether or not you’d enjoy living in a castle.”
“If it comes complete with my very own fairy princess, you may count me in,” Douglas said before he leaned closer still and settled his lips against Georgette’s, both of them seemingly oblivious to the fact they were in a room filled with curious relatives, most of whom had taken to sighing, except for Howard and Raymond, who were looking somewhat embarrassed.
“I bet that struck a chord in your romantic heart,” Arthur said as he walked up to join her.
Eunice grinned. “Indeed, and I’m going to have to remember to tell Daphne all about what just happened with my parents. She’ll be certain to want to include that in one of her books, now that she’s been including more romance in her plots.”
“Maybe I’ll have to think of something she could include as well,” Arthur said, not bothering to expand on that before he moseyed to take a seat beside his grandfather, who was sitting on a long couch beside Aunt Hazel. Lloyd looked completely delighted by the fact that he needed to scoot closer to Hazel to give Arthur enough room.
Having no idea what Arthur had meant but remembering she had a somewhat captive audience at the moment, or at least she might have a captive audience if her family could pull their attention away from Georgette and Douglas, Eunice took a step toward Uncle Raymond, who immediately began fidgeting.
“I’m going to start with you, Uncle Raymond,” she began, which had everyone swinging their attention back to her. “You seem to be under the impression I’m going to boot you out of Mason Manor. But since Mother has no interest in living here, there will be no booting from me. In fact, I’m going to give you and Clarice the house, along with the grounds, so there’ll be no more talk about your packing up and moving. This is your home, and this is where you’re going to stay.”
“You’re giving me the house?” Uncle Raymond asked.
Eunice nodded. “I’m also going to give you an additional five million dollars, which combined with what you already inherited and what you’ve been taking as salary for your titled role in Mason Mines will see you living more than comfortably.”
As Clarice dissolved into tears and buried her face in a handkerchief, while Uncle Raymond looked stunned, Eunice turned to Howard. “I’m also giving you another five million, and in addition to that, I’d like you to head up the Montana Mason Family Philanthropy Institute, which I’m going to fund but which I’d like you to run.” She settled a smile on Hester. “I expect you to help run it as well because I have a feeling you, with your societyconnections, have the pulse of Butte, and know what additional improvements need to be made in the city.”
