both know Danny can’t be trusted with that much money. I’m afraid to leave it for Bristol. If I’m not there, who’ll tell her that her dad has no right to drain her of one single cent?
And the boys. God, I love our boys. But, Gentry, they’re wild and they have the world at their fingertips. You and I settled down so young and my gut says they won’t. This money? It’s a privilege, and I trust us to raise them to do good things with it. But if I’m gone, if you’ve moved on, and I hope you have, then I want them to have someone to share their life with. They can suffer a little mama interference even if I’m not there.
I also know you. If Danny is still around and if he wouldn’t be a good steward for this money, I know you and the boys will do what’s necessary to keep the trust in the family. But if it’s just Bristol, and she grows into the bright, capable young woman I think she will, then I know that one or more of the trusts going to her won’t be the end of the world no matter what my parents say.
I also admit to hoping she ends up with one of the boys. A mama can dream, right? (It’s Dawson, isn’t it? They’re so cute together, and the way he watches out for her melts my heart.)
But if it doesn’t work out, if all the boys marry and get the trust, can you make sure she’s taken care of? She’ll be stubborn like her dad, and proud, but everyone needs a little help sometimes.
So, I guess that’s it. I hope I’m around long enough to change the trust into an inheritance. But if I’m not, then I won’t be around to deal with the repercussions. I’m going with my gut, Gentry. I love you. And make sure the boys never forget how much I love them. After this, I’m writing a letter to each of them. They’ll be tucked away in their baby books in my office.
Always yours, even if you’re cursing me out for what I did,
Sarah
I pressed a palm against one leaking eye, then the other. “Shit.”
“Yeah,” Dad said, his eyes gleaming.
Bristol sniffed and handed me a napkin from the counter. She gave one to Dad and the three of us dabbed at our eyes without saying a word.
“I guess that answers that,” I finally said and carefully folded Mama’s letter. “The baby books are packed away in the closet in the office. The others didn’t want theirs until they’d settled down. I never thought to look inside them.” I hadn’t wanted to. Packing up Mama’s office had been hard enough when I took over the house.
Dad took the letter back. He stared at it for a moment, then reverently tucked it into his pocket. “This was such a Sarah thing to do. Figuring out a way to say goodbye even after she’s been gone for so long.”
“Did you show Kendall?”
He nodded. “She thought it best to give us privacy.” His gaze touched on Bristol. “You both did what two generations couldn’t and got over yourselves.” He started for the door. “By the way, Kendall left a gift box in the mudroom from all of us. She said you two didn’t have time to plan a honeymoon. So if it works for you, Xander and Savvy will stay the whole week so you two can get away. Aiden has the plane ready to go tomorrow when you are, and Beck left instructions for how to get to his cabin in the mountains after you land in Denver. Congratulations.”
I twined my fingers through Bristol’s. Dad went out the front door and I faced my wife. “I guess we’re getting a honeymoon.”
“I’ve never left Montana.” She squeezed my hand. We’d talked about getting away on short notice, but we’d been too impatient to marry and left it as a conversation for later. My family had our backs.
I pulled her into my arms. “Are you doing okay?”
She pressed her lips together, emotion heavy in her eyes. “I thought I was fine not knowing, but . . . I needed that. Your mom was a really special person.”
I tugged her toward me. “It just so happens that I married a really special person today.”
Faux surprise widened her eyes. “No way. Me too.”
I pulled her in and pressed my lips to hers. “I love you, Bristol Cartwright King.”
“I love you,