“Why don’t you share the profits with us?”
I laughed. “I paid for the farm and worked day and night to restore it. You didn’t lift a finger.”
James looked away, embarrassed, but I could see the desperation in his eyes.
They were drowning in debt. Instead of turning them away, I offered them jobs. “If you’re willing to work hard, I’ll pay you a fair wage,” I said.
They hesitated but eventually agreed. Watching them struggle on the farm gave me insight into their father’s frustrations. They’d never understood the value of hard work, but slowly, they were learning.
One day, James found a $500 bill in the attic and returned it to me. I smiled and said, “That’s your bonus for honesty.” Truthfully, I’d planted it there to test him. The farm became a family treasure.
I taught my kids how to grow crops and care for animals, just like Sebastian had wanted for his sons. When my children went off to college, they still came back to help during their breaks. Unlike Sebastian, I never worried about the farm’s future.
I knew it would be in safe hands. Sebastian’s letter had given me more than money, it gave me a purpose. His farm saved my family, and I made sure his dream lived on.
When my grandmother passed away, my brother Walter and I were called to the lawyer’s office. Walter was thrilled, expecting a hefty inheritance. But me?
I just wanted to honor her last wish and rebuild the house my grandfather built for her. On her deathbed, Grandma made a heartfelt plea. “This house means the world to me.
Your grandfather built it with love, and I promised it would stay in our family for generations. Please, rebuild it in his memory.”
I promised her I would. Walter nodded, but I could tell he wasn’t sincere.
At the lawyer’s office, we learned she had left the house to us. That’s it. No money, no jewelry, just the old house.
Walter’s face twisted with anger. “That can’t be right! What about her money?
Her valuables?” he demanded. The lawyer explained that everything had already been liquidated or used. All that remained was the house.
Furious, Walter stormed out. “Do whatever you want with it,” he snapped at me. “I’m not wasting my time or money on that place.”
I was disappointed but not surprised.
Walter had always been about what he could gain, while I valued the things that truly mattered. I wanted to honor Grandma’s wish, but I didn’t have the money. My family was barely getting by, and I had debts to pay.
Still, I couldn’t abandon the promise I’d made. November 29, 2024
November 27, 2024
December 02, 2024
I used every dollar of my savings and borrowed from a close friend to begin rebuilding the house. It was hard work.
Most of the time, I was out there alone, hammering, painting, and fixing. One day, while digging in the front yard to repair the sewage system, my shovel hit something solid. Curious, I uncovered a wooden hatch.
Beneath it was a short staircase leading to an underground room. With a flashlight in hand, I climbed down. In the middle of the room was an old wooden chest with a letter on top.
My hands shook as I opened it. The letter was from my grandfather. “To my grandson Harry,
If you’re reading this, you’ve honored your grandmother’s wish, and for that, I thank you.
I asked her to tell you about the house because I always believed in your integrity and love for family. If Walter is with you, I’m glad he’s had a change of heart. Inside this chest are items that belong to our family.
Take this letter to my lawyer, and you’ll find what you deserve. Your grandmother and I are watching over you. Enjoy this house and cherish your family.
With love, Grandpa.”
Tears filled my eyes. My grandfather had always been a man of wisdom and foresight, and even in death, he found a way to guide me. Inside the chest were family albums, heirlooms, and a small box of my grandparents’ jewelry.
I clutched the letter and went straight to their lawyer. The lawyer smiled when I handed him the letter. “Your grandfather always said it would be you who would bring this to me,” he said.
I felt a wave of gratitude as he explained the next steps. “Your grandfather left you a bank account with $300,000. If you hadn’t rebuilt the house, the money was to go to charity.”
My breath caught in my throat.
$300,000. It was more money than I’d ever dreamed of having. I knew what I had to do.
I donated $100,000 to charities for the elderly, in honor of my grandparents. The rest, I used to pay off my debts and finish rebuilding the house. The house became a home again, just as Grandma and Grandpa would have wanted.
My wife and I sold our old home and moved in. We started a small café, funded by the remaining money, and poured our hearts into making it a success. Soon, our business took off, and for the first time, we were free from financial stress.
The house became the center of our lives, a place filled with love and laughter, just as it had been for my grandparents. Walter? He never came around, but I’ve made peace with that.
This house is my family’s legacy, a symbol of love and hard work passed down through generations. Grandpa’s words stayed with me: “Cherish your family.” And that’s exactly what I’ll do, ensuring this house remains in our family for years to come. Liked these stories?
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Source: amomama
