Turning towards Uncle Thomas, "Now I want Uncle Thomas to raise that to five per cent, and I am requesting that three new, unnamed trust funds be opened."
Not waiting for anyone to interrupt, Shawney continues at the same pace, "These three will go to all the other children in the family, including my children, Shantel and Julien. As we all know, there is only one child per family at present. Also, this has been a family business, and it is going to remain this way, like it or not. Our parents made sacrifices, and no business will be sold. You all should cherish their sacrifice."
Thomas sees her going through the deeds, putting aside the four that her brothers and sister now gain control of, to manage. Shawney then said, "The three Juliens have, and the two Shantels have, together with the four one-year deals with my brothers and sisters."
Shawney slid it across to Uncle Thomas and said, "Uncle Thomas, you are my witness, this is the last chance I am giving them. Now, seeing that you are my personal trustee, I am placing the four remaining duplicate deeds before you. These four are my businesses. Now that my properties have expanded, I would like to offer this opportunity to you as a package. If you were to accept my proposition, I am giving you, I will highly appreciate it."
Waiting a minute, giving him a second, when he nodded to continue, Shawney said. " I will give you twenty-five per cent of the profit from my business. I don't know what the original deal was between you, Dad and Uncle Ken."
Seeing him scribble something on a paper and give it to her. Shawney smiled and said, "Now, as my trustee, you know I won't be here, so I want you to seek the business interest. I am asking you to hire an advising accountant to oversee the entire business. And every three to six months, I will visit and check the business."
"Shawney, I already hired an accountant."
"I need an adviser to assist you in pushing the business forward. I am also asking if, at any time, the business I place in their charge is failing, I authorise you to take it back immediately and assign new managers. At the end of one year, no one blamed me, and the same after two years." Shawney ignores the stares and the gloating faces.
Standing up, she said, "Now I am tired and need to get some rest. If there is anything else you all can contact me at my home."
With that said, she placed all the documents into the envelope, then left. Knowing everyone was staring her down, she just needed to drop into bed. She had long passed the stage of caring.
Thomas noticed their faces. Joan's mouth was open, staring at her, when she was out of sight. Thomas heard her brothers and sisters saying, "After the way we treated her, she still loves us so much, giving us a second chance?"
"Now do you see why they trust her to be the custodian over the business?"
"Oh, Uncle Thomas, we have really treated her badly," Sid said, "I am so sorry and ashamed for my behaviour."
"Sid, you don't have to tell me that; you have to tell your sister, she is the one you all hurt."
"I don't know where to start. Uncle Thomas, I am so ashamed. I didn't set an example for the others. Seeing how brave she was, I now realised, being her eldest brother, I am too weak and a disappointment in her eyes."
"Well, you all could start with an apology, or a simple sorry, that should help. And another thing, don't make the same mistake, because you are the ones to lose out in the end."
"Thank you, Uncle Thomas. We will make every effort to change and not repeat our shortcomings."
With that said, Thomas looked at them as each family left, one by one.
Thomas, who had known Shawney as a child, felt a heavy burden being lifted from his heart.
He hadn't thought she would go out of her way to give him such a huge portion of her business. Her father and uncle were right, but her generosity is truly magnanimous. She is truly a genius, I must never let her down and break that trust she has steem me."
Smiling, he thinks of the benefits of being faithful. " Now, with a twenty-five per cent profit, I don't need to seek out clients. I have a flourishing business to manage."
Being content in his heart, Thomas hurried home to his wife and children to share the good news.
Reaching home, Shawney slips off her shoes and walks up the stairs to her room. She closes the door and sits on the bed.
Removing all the original deeds from the envelope. "Lord, how is it they own so many businesses, and they never revealed it to the family? Before I leave home, Dad had only shown me a few that he and Uncle Daniel invested in, but this is fantastic. Now that the family business has expanded so enormously. They all have the opportunity to stand on their own to build their family. I am looking forward to seeing how they develop within the few months ahead."
Feeling her eyes burning and her eyelids heavy, Shawney pushed aside all the documents and lay down.
Whispering a word of prayer, knowing that Torren and the children will be here in the morning. "Lord, thank you for sending Mr MacCarty to me. I never thought Uncle would also die and leave me. I say a special thank you for giving me my own family in Torren and the children. Please protect my family and grant them travelling mercies. You know he is still not completely well, but I know you can do anything. Thank you for giving me the wisdom tohand the affairs concerning the boldness and to make those swift decisions. In Jesus' name, amen."
When Torren enters the room seeing so many papers on the bed. Wondering why there's all the mess on the bed.
He enters quietly, not wanting to disturb her rest.