Chapter 53 The Reading of the Will
Rory, Logan, and Christopher pulled up to Billy's house. Nick set this up for Billy's house because that is the way Billy wanted it. He had to explain to everyone that he and Billy talked the day after Christmas. He made several changes in his Will. Ronnie had questioned how often he changed his Will. Nick explained this is the only time he had changed it since the divorce.
Rory was sitting in the car with Logan and Christopher in Billy's driveway. Logan held her hand and realized she was shaking. "Ace, are you going to be, okay?" Logan asked. He was becoming concerned for Rory's health, along with the baby's.
"I don't know why the lawyer would set up a Will reading at the home of the decedent. I would never do that." Christopher exclaimed. Rory looked at Logan, then her dad.
"Dad, we need to tell you something before we go in. I will need your help covering this. No one knows other than Paris and Honor." Logan watched as Christopher's face went from worried to concerned to a slight smile. He figured out the news. "Dad, we are pregnant. We found out on our honeymoon. You can't tell anyone. Mom doesn't know and you cannot let her know before her." Rory was smiling as she told Christopher.
Christopher was just smiling. "Congratulations, Can I put my order in for a girl this time?"
"I don't think it works that way, but we will keep it in mind," Logan said.
They sat there talking as Nick pulled up. They got out of the car and greeted him and introduced Christopher as Rory's dad and lawyer.
Nick laughed, "Family discount?"
Logan said. "Well, her dad was the first choice, but I could have called my brother-in-law or my best friend. Joshua Chase out of Hartford or Colin McCrae out of New York"
"I know Collin and Josh. Didn't know they were related. Honor must be your sister" Nick said.
"You know Honor?" Logan asked.
"Yes, I met her at a conference a couple of years ago. Hard to forget." Nick told them. Logan and Rory both nodded their heads. Honor was hard to forget. She was one of a kind.
When they entered the house, they were met by Nick's assistant, Brooke. She showed them to the sitting room while Nick went to the dining room to get everything ready. Brooke offered them a drink. Rory said she will take a bottle of water. Logan and Christopher said they were fine.
While she left to get the water, Rory asked Christopher: "Will I be able to get the boys' things tonight, or should I come back tomorrow?"
Logan and Rory both looked to Christopher. "I don't know. I guess it is according to what it says in the Will." Christopher said.
"But if you have a choice, I will prefer you wait until tomorrow. It has been a long day and you need to rest." Logan told her. Christopher agreed. Rory nodded as Brooke entered the room with Rory's water followed by Ronnie and James. Rory and Logan stood up as Ronnie hugged Rory. "It is crazy to have the reading of the Will in his house," Ronnie said.
"I agree" Both James and Christopher said. Rory introduced her dad to James and Ronnie. Brooke went to get more water for the guest.
Ronnie asked, "What are we waiting for? Ricky?"
"I'm not sure," Rory said.
After a few minutes, Brooke came into the sitting room. She told them that Ricky called. He got lost. He will be here in a few minutes, then they can start. It wasn't two minutes when Ricky entered the sitting room.
"Aunt Ronnie, Rory, I am sorry. My GPS sent me in the wrong direction. I didn't realize I had to put Road in. It pulled up Ln and I clicked on it." Rory and Ronnie laughed.
"There are several roads, lanes and avenues that have the same name. I believe they did it on purpose." Rory said as she stood up and kissed him on the cheek.
"I bet it causes all kinds of problems with 9-1-1," Ronnie said.
Brooke ushered them into the dining room. Nick sat at the head of the table and Brooke had a seat to his left. They were sitting at an 18-seat mahogany dining room table. This table used to belong to Billy's grandmother. Rory was thinking that it dated back to the early 1900s, or so she was told. Nick stood up and asked them all to have a seat.
He started out by welcoming them to Billy's home. He explained that he and Billy played a round of golf the day after Christmas and mentioned some changes that he wanted in his Will. We decided to go to the office after…."
"Hello everyone. I am sorry I am late. It has been so hard to get out of bed. I miss him so much" Melissa said as she stormed into the room wiping the tears from her eyes. Everyone's eyes were on her. Rory thought 'I guess she was left something in the Will.' Ronnie thought, 'she needs to leave. I will see to it that she doesn't get this house.' Logan and James both thought 'oh shit, we got trouble' Ricky was just sitting there staring at her.
"Melissa, have a seat," Nick said. "As I was saying, we went to the office after our round of golf. After the changes were made, I called Brooke in, and she notarized Billy signing and me witnessing. The reason for reading his Will here, is because this is something Billy wanted."
Melissa was looking around the room. She spotted Logan; she knew him from the wake. She moved on to Christopher. 'Hum, yummy, who is that?' Melissa thought.
"Nick, before you get started, I am not sure I know everyone, could you introduce us all?" Melissa asked, smiling. If looks could kill, Melissa's funeral would be next.
"Okay, this is James and Ronnie, Billy's sister and her ex..no her husband. Billy said that you and James got remarried at Christmas." Ronnie nodded her head. "And next to them is Ricky, Billy's oldest son." Ricky nodded his head in greeting. "On the other side is Rory and Logan Huntzburger. Rory is Billy's ex-wife and mother of two of his children. Next to Rory is Christopher Hayden"
"Rory's Lawyer" Christopher interrupted. He had been observing this girl since she came in. He was sure she was up to no good. Rory looked at her dad and he winked at her. Rory and Logan both smiled.
"Okay. I am going to ask everyone to have a seat and listen to the reading of the Will. I will answer any questions that I can as we go along, but please let's do this in an orderly fashion out of respect for Billy." Nick said as he sat down and opened a folder. Christopher, James, and Logan all took out a notepad and pen.
Nick started reading. 'I name Nicholas Barber as executor of the Last Will and Testament of Richard William "Billy" Greene.' Christopher was listening and writing everything Nick was saying down. After all the normality, Nick cleared his throat. "I, Richard William Greene, hereby bequest the following:
To Melissa Hall, I leave the money left in my household account. Melissa sat up in her seat, waiting for the rest. Her smile turned to a frown.
To Richard William Greene Jr. 'Ricky' I leave my McLaren. You already have access to one of your trust funds. At the age of 25, you will have access to the remaining $10 million. Until you become the age of 25, Rory Gilmore will have control of the trust. The trust that you have now is controlled by me. I give that control also to Rory Gilmore. This trust is contingent on you going to college. Ricky was not sure how to react. He and his dad talked at Christmas about him coming to the east coast to go to school. His mother traveled so that she was never home.
To Ronnie, I leave this house in Jacksonville Fl. I also leave you with the house in California and the Apartment in New York. These belong to you to keep or sell. I have set up an account in your name for taxes and maintenance for 3 years. I leave a $3 Million trust to each of your children to be accessed when they start college. I leave control of these trusts to Veronica Greene. Ronnie was sad. She would rather have her brother than the houses and apartment, but she is grateful.
There are 5 insurance policies. 3 policies for $150,000 each belong to Ricky, Will, Chris Greene. 1 policy for $300,000 for Rory Gilmore and $500,000 for Veronica Greene. Ronnie and Rory sat there. Both were afraid if they moved the tears would start and would not stop. Logan had Rory's held hands under the table.
I have a safety deposit box at First National Bank in Jacksonville. Nick has the key. In this safety deposit box, along with my insurance policies, you will find a letter addressed to each of my children, both of my ex-wives and Melissa. There is also a chest in the safety deposit box. This chest has personal items in it. I trust that Ronnie and Rory can divide these items up between the children. Ronnie and Rory just nodded.
Nick cleared his throat. "Before I start on the company assets, would anyone like to take a break?" No one said anything. Nick looked at Christopher and cut his eyes at Melissa.
"I think that is a good idea. Rory, Logan how about walking out on the deck and getting some fresh air" Christopher said.
Rory looked at him, but Logan spoke up, "I agree, it will give you time to process the information that you heard here so far" Logan stood up and took Rory's hand. Logan led her to the French doors and Christopher followed. Christopher stopped at the door, turned around, and asked Ronnie, James, and Ricky to join them.
When they all stepped out on the deck, Ronnie turned to Christopher, "I'm guessing that you know something that we don't."
Christopher replied. "I don't know anything for sure, but I think Nick is going to have Melissa sign the papers giving her access to the account and then ask her to leave. I'm pretty sure after hearing the first part of this Will, Billy has not left her any part of the company."
Rory was sitting on the bench with her head in her hand and her elbows on her knees. "Ace, you, okay?" Logan asked. He was concerned for her health.
"Yeah, just a lot to take in." She told him.
"I will go into more detail later, but I suggest you set up several trust funds for the boys. College, High School, Marriage." Christopher said. Logan nodded his head.
James said "I believe that is an excellent id…" before he could finish the sentence, everyone turned to look back at the French doors. Melissa was screaming and yelling. Nick and Brooke were trying to stay out of her way. Ronnie and Rory looked at each other. Ricky jumped at the yelling. He stood up and walked to the railing on the deck.
"Rory, I remember you sitting out here at night with a blanket and a book. You would let me sit with you. You would pretend to read the book out loud to me." Ricky said. He was talking to Rory, but everyone was listening. Rory looked up at Ricky and smiled.
"You were my first baby." She told him. She stood up and ran her hand on his cheek. "I am so sorry I lost contact with you. I am sorry you are having to go through this. Just remember I will always be there for you. I promise" Rory said. Ronnie and James were at the other side of the deck, watching Melissa inside.
"She is going to throw that lamp," James said.
"Should we call 9-1-1?" Ronnie asked.
"I don't know…." Before Rory could finish, they saw two officers entering the room.
"I guess Nick knew what was going to happen," Ronnie said. They all chuckled.
"Rory?" Ricky said. "I need to talk to you."
"Okay, you want to talk now or after the reading?" Rory asked.
"After reading the Will will be fine." Rory went over to him and sat down. She put her arm around him.
"I'm so sorry that someone as young as you is having to deal with all this." He just put his head on her shoulder. Logan was watching. This just made him love Rory more. She was so kind and had such a big heart.
Brooke opened the door "Nick is ready to get started again." They all filed back into the dining room.
"I'm sorry about that. I am following instructions. Billy requested Rory, Ronnie, and Ricky only to be at the reading of the company part of the Will." Logan looked at James and Christopher. "I don't think he would mind if your husbands and lawyers stayed," Nick said with a smile.
After the reading of the company part of the Will, Rory and Logan left to go get something to eat. It was getting late, and Rory needed food and to get some rest. Christopher and James stayed to finish up the paperwork. Ronnie and Ricky left to go home. Rory asked Ricky if they could have breakfast in the morning and talk. He agreed to meet her at her hotel in the morning at 9.
Rory and Logan were eating in the room when Christopher came in. They had saved a plate for him. As he was eating, Rory asked him what the final on the company was. He told her that she keeps her shares. Billy's shares are to be split between Ronnie, Ricky, Chris, and Will. Ronnie has been appointed CEO of Greene Charter. She is to remain in that position until one of the boys is ready to take over. This could not happen until the boys reach the age of 30. They are allowed to vote at the board meeting at the age of 20. Until then Rory had control of their shares. Ronnie is allowed to hire someone to handle the day-to-day operations, but she has the final word. If something happens to her, it goes to Rory.
Rory listens to this for the 2nd time today. "I want Ronnie to be my proxy," Rory said. Christopher looks up from his plate.
"I will draw up the paperwork, but Rory, you are married to a man that grew up handling this type of meeting and decisions. I think you and Logan should go to a couple of the board meetings. Maybe even by Zoom. I just think you need to make sure the boy's best interest is taken care of."Christopher told her. Logan agreed with Christopher.
"Okay, I will attend a few board meetings before I decide what I want to do. I don't wish failure on anyone, but if Greene Charter went belly up tomorrow, my boys will be taken care of. They already have trust funds. Grandma Emily, Grandma Fran, and you set up trust funds for them the day they were born. As did Billy. And if you haven't noticed, I have money of my own as well as I married a billionaire." Rory started laughing. "If Shira could see me now."