A Nantucket Wedding(75)
Poppy’s eyes blazed. She opened her mouth to speak.
David spoke before she could. “Or we could discuss my will. I know you’re concerned about that.”
Red spots as round as roses appeared on Poppy’s cheeks while the rest of her face went white. “Dad. Come on. That’s harsh.”
David shrugged. “I’ve always had a will. You and Ethan have always been apprised of its contents. I’ve made some changes. Only recently. I don’t have copies for you and Ethan and Alison yet.”
“Dad, I didn’t mention your will. I was talking about the wedding, and the company, and for months you said you wanted to retire!”
“Well, let me finish about the will before we go on to other matters. Poppy, I’m leaving you and Ethan the company and all its assets. The split is seventy-thirty. You will receive seventy percent and have the controlling vote. Ethan, who I realize is not helpful at the moment, could grow up. He could change. Or his experiments with exotic flowers could actually be helpful.”
“That’s fine, Dad,” Poppy muttered.
“As for the rest…I am dividing my personal assets three ways, among you, your brother, and Alison. I’m leaving the Boston apartment to Alison and the Nantucket house to you and Ethan and Alison. You know I’ve established trusts for Daphne and Hunter and Canny’s college tuitions. I’m going to do the same for your new child, and also for Alice and Luke.”
“Dad! Alice and Luke are not your grandchildren.”
“No, but once Alison and I marry, they will be my step-grandchildren.”
“And leaving a trust for Canny!” Poppy’s lips tightened. “Her mother can pay tuition—she can practically buy Canny a college!” Her eyes widened. “Is Canny coming for your wedding? Is Esmeralda?”
“They’ve been invited, of course. They haven’t replied. I doubt that they’ll appear. Esmeralda is so busy with government work.”
Poppy twisted her hands together, worried. “If you establish college trusts for Alison’s grandchildren, that will take a bite out of your personal assets.”
“Yes. That’s true.”
“So that’s less for Ethan and me and Alison when…” Poppy could not say the words.
“When I die,” David finished for her. “That’s true. But still, you and your family will be well provided for. As for English Garden Creams, you will be the engineer of its future success or failure.”
“If,” Poppy said, “you ever allow me to take the reins for the company.”
“Ah. A new topic of conversation.”
At that moment, the waiter appeared, setting their plates down in front of them, smoothly introducing each dish. For Alison, Bay of Fundy salmon. For Poppy, a spring green omelet with vegetables and goat cheese. For David, steak frites.
David raised his wine glass. “Bon appétit.”
Poppy ignored her food. “Dad, you said when you got married, you’d turn the company over to me. To my management. I have some really good ideas for change that I’d like to implement, and I don’t want to have to spend time explaining them to you or arguing about them. You’re either the CEO or I am.”
David cut a bite of steak and took a moment to enjoy it. “Excellent,” he announced. “Poppy, Alison, have some frites. I won’t be able to eat them all.”
“You’re stalling,” Poppy said.
David put down his knife and fork. “My darling and beloved daughter, do you really think it’s wise to take over the operation of our company by yourself? Now? Heather has informed me that you’ve missed a tax deadline, and botched a few contracts, and unfortunately lost an account.”
“Oh, Heather!” Poppy huffed. “And it wasn’t an important account.”
“All our accounts are important. The point is, Poppy, I’m still here, still capable, and still willing to continue to head our company while you take the time to enjoy your baby. And we can gradually make the transition from me to you with less stress on both of us. We can work together.”
With much of the fight gone from her voice, Poppy grumbled, “You said you wanted to step down.”
“I did. I know. And I meant it. But as you know, Alison doesn’t mind waiting a year or so for our honeymoon travels, and that year will give you and me time to make this very significant adjustment to our lives. Not to mention to the company.”
Poppy bit her lip. For just a flash of a moment, Alison thought Poppy might put her thumb in her mouth. She looked like a little girl who’d been caught making a few minor mistakes, and Alison could only imagine how Poppy’s chagrin was wringing David’s heart. How in the world could an important company be run by a family? Alison wondered.
The same way a family was run, she decided, by a world of schedules and teamwork, laughter and anger, misunderstandings and kindnesses, by hard work and hurt feelings and forgiveness, all held together by love.
“I could do that,” Poppy at last conceded. “I’d like to do that, really. It is hard with a new baby.”
“So, we’ll give ourselves a year?”
“Agreed.” Poppy extended her hand and David shook it.
For a while they all paid attention to their food, which was delicious. The wine was soothing. Alison felt the atmosphere around their table changing, as if storm clouds were rolling away, as if the sun was shining again.