At Grandma’s will reading, my cousin Claire received $500,000 in cash. I inherited her old farmhouse—“with all its contents and responsibilities.” At first, it felt like a burden. The roof was rotting, the wallpaper peeling, and repairs seemed endless. Claire wept dramatically while I sat in silence, the weight of the house settling on me.When I arrived at the farmhouse alone, the place felt tired and forgotten. While cleaning, I discovered a letter hidden behind a mirror in the closet.
In Grandma’s handwriting, it read: “Some things matter more than money. This house needs hands that care.” The message stung, but it also made something clear—this wasn’t just a house. It was a trust. Soon after, Henry, an old friend of Grandma’s, appeared with an offer of $1 million for the property. Claire pushed me to sell, but I couldn’t.