“Since when do you want to keep the cabin? We all agreed to sell it even before we knew about dad's shit finances. You haven't visited in ten years, and now you’re suddenly interested.” Lucas leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms, glaring at her across the room.
Ava's mind raced. Her suggestion to keep the cabin surprised her as much as it did Lucas. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized a part of her wanted to keep it. She’d already lost the Agatha Building, not that it was hers to begin with, and now panic lanced her when faced with the reality of selling the cabin to settle her dad's debts.
There would be nothing left of dad.
Her heart ached.
“I thought we had time. To clear it out, clean it up. But you're making it sound like we need to sell sooner rather than later.”
“We would. Or more accurately, Noah would,” Lucas said, his scowl still in place.
“What does that mean?” Ava asked.
“Dad left you as the sole beneficiary of his life insurance policy. But he left the cabin to Noah. And according to the most recent will I found, he named me the Executor. Congratulations, Ava, you get the money, and we’re responsible for all the debt.” The sarcasm in Lucas's voice left a bitter taste in her mouth.
“What the hell?” Noah said, glancing between Lucas and Ava.
Ava lost the ability to breathe as anxiety stabbed its way through her chest. “What are you talking about?” she asked.
Lucas turned a piece of paper around and slid it across the desk in her direction. The mental block that prevented Ava from entering the office lifted as her feet moved before her brain caught up. She picked up the signed will, showing exactly what Lucas said. She placed the will down, and Lucas shoved another paper toward her.
Maine Trust Financial Group
Insurance information: Death benefit $250,000
Beneficiary: Ava Hanson 100% allocation
“This can't be real. Why wouldn't he allocate all of us evenly?” Ava looked at her brothers in shock.
Noah had a deep frown on his face, so unlike his usual carefree countenance. He said nothing. The anxiety in Ava's chest traveled to her stomach, a sinking sensation overcoming her.
“It’s ironic, really, considering you caused most of Dad's debt,” Lucas announced.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? I didn't even know about Dad's debt,” Ava's voice rose in indignation.
Lucas uncrossed his arms and shoved up to his feet. He pulled out more documents from the folder in front of him. “Dad's highinterest debt came from paying your college tuition out of pocket. Your ivy-league tuition so you could attend Columbia University.” He slid more documents to Ava.
“I don't understand.” Ava flipped through page after page of loan documents dating back the past twelve years. “I talked to him about student loans for college. He said he had it covered. Had been saving for years. He didn't want me to start my career saddled with debt. Did he pay for you guys, too?”
Lucas and Noah exchanged looks. Noah shook his head.
“I had a full-ride scholarship for my degree. Mom just made sure I had money for living expenses and books. Dad and I never even talked about paying for college. I assumed him and Mom had worked all this out ahead of time.” Noah rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at the desk.
“Dad didn't pay shit for me,” Lucas declared. “I had to pay my tuition. Take out loans. I wasn't a STEM genius, like Noah, or Dad's favorite, like you.” Lucas tossed his reading glasses on the desk and ran his hands through his hair, tugging at the ends in frustration.
“I wasn't the favorite,” Ava protested.
“Kind of looks like you were,” Noah said. “We used to joke about it, me and Lucas, but the documents say it all. He went into debt to pay for your ivy-league college so you wouldn't have to take out loans. He made you the beneficiary for his life insurance. He left us the financial mess to clean up.” Noah backed away from them, shaking his head. “Doesn't feel like a joke anymore.”
Noah chuckled humorlessly.
Tears stung the backs of her eyes at the betrayal on Noah's face. Her sweet younger brother had turned into a bitter version of himself she didn't recognize. “I–” she cut herself off. She didn't know what to say, what she could say to make either of them feel better.
“That's probably why he also worked at the high school. Dad was probably trying to make any extra money he could. He was over his head in debt,” Noah continued.
“What’s this about the high school?” Lucas asked.
Ava swallowed hard, past the lump in her throat. She hated fighting. “I donated some stuff a couple of weeks ago to the Baptist church. One volunteer was a high school kid. Said Dad was their favorite substitute teacher. It’s been bothering me ever since, wondering how he had the time,” Ava said.
