Page 92 of Perfectly Matched: Harbor Falls Romance Collection

Jasmine woke, blinking at the sunlight streaming through Jack’s bedroom windows.

Jack’s bedroom. She blinked again and rolled over. Jack was gone.

Since it was daylight, she assumed he was up and getting ready for work, something she should be doing herself. Not get ready for work, of course, but get ready for her meeting with Art Manchester at ten o’clock.

But she didn’t move, staring at Jack’s pillow. Reaching out, she ran her fingertips over the indentation where his head had been. She swore the pillow was still warm. Maybe he’d not been up long.

Leaning in, Jasmine put her nose next to the pillow and breathed deep. She inhaled Jack’s scent and a calmness came over her. Calm. He’d always made her feel that way. Safe and peaceful.

She should get up but the quiet was nice. Her brain wandered a little over the past day’s events, her conviction to let Jack down easy, the heartfelt goodnight kiss they’d shared before bed, the hours of sleeping in his arms.

Her heart was conflicted.

No. Her brain was conflicted. Her heart knew…

Not thinking about that.

Sleeping with him was wrong. She couldn’t break his heart again. She’d already decided she was telling him today that they could never make this work. Why did she succumb to the safe and warm confines of his kisses, his arms, and his bed?

She sat up, took a sniff, and stretched. Coffee. He must be downstairs.

Sleeping in Jack’s arms was wonderful, but it was over. They’d both had a good night’s sleep and that was that.

Now, it was time to get down to business.

She glanced at the digital clock beside Jack’s bed. Not yet seven. Plenty of time for a shower and a little research on her laptop before the meeting. When she met with Art and the bank officials this morning, she wanted her ducks in a row.

An hour later, Jasmine gathered her things and headed downstairs to the great room. The coffee was still on, hot and waiting, a large mug sitting in front of the carafe. A platter of cinnamon rolls sat on the counter. And beside of that was a tented piece of paper with her name on the outside.

She picked it up and slowly opened the note. The message was simple.

Help yourself to coffee and a roll.

Can’t wait to see you later.

I love you. Jack

Later. He was expecting to see her later. This day was not going to be easy.

****

“This shouldn’t be so complicated.”

Jasmine looked up from the papers, books and files spread across Carl Robbin’s desk. She, Carl, and Art Manchester had discussed the funds in the safety deposit box for the past thirty minutes, trying to come to some logical conclusions about how Jasmine could best make use of Ms. Leinie’s money.

“And it shouldn’t be. What’s going on here?”

The thing was, there appeared to be some loopholes that Art hadn’t originally discovered, or anticipated, and wasn’t privy to until sometime late yesterday afternoon.

Jasmine looked at Art.

“I don’t understand. Yesterday you said the will read that Ms. Leinie was simply leaving me the contents of her safety deposit box. And you said that was it.”

She faced Carl.

“And Mr. Robbins, you mentioned that the contents of safety deposit boxes are generally unknown to the bank, so there was no way you knew what Ms. Leinie had in there. Correct?”

Carl nodded.

“Yes, but now that we do know, there are some legal ramifications, such as inheritance taxes, etc.”

“I understand that, and it’s expected. But for some reason I don’t feel like I’m getting the entire story here.”

Carl glanced to Art who stared back at him. Then they both looked at Jasmine. Finally, Art pushed his chair back and stood.

“There are some recent developments. Some…stipulations. Stipulations we wish we could work around but can’t, and we’re not sure that you will agree to them. So, depending on some decisions you make soon, this could get way complicated, or it could be very simple. I don’t know the answers and frankly, you are probably going to have to think about it for a while.”

“Great.”

Stipulations. Ones she had not anticipated. What the hell was he talking about? Ridiculous stipulations that made no sense, likely. This day was not going as planned.

“Look.”

She added.

“Let’s just make this as simple as possible. I’ve done the research, and I know a fair amount about wills and trusts. I’ll establish a trust for the funds and put the money into an account in Atlanta so I can easily monitor.”

She looked at Mr. Robbins.

“I’m sure you can assist me with that transfer. The money will go for scholarships for qualifying graduating seniors. I’ll draw up the guidelines, and we’ll get all the legalities firmed up over the next few weeks. I’ll oversee everything from Atlanta. I don’t see an issue.”

Art shook his head.

“It won’t work, Jasmine.”

“Sure, it will.”

“No. Not according to this,”

Art told her, pointing to a paper on the desk.

“The money has to stay in the community.”

“That’s fine,”

Jasmine replied.

“It can stay right here in Harbor Falls.”

She glanced at Carl.

“Scratch that comment about the transfer. We’ll establish the bank account here. That’s probably better anyway. I can still oversee everything from Atlanta.”

Art cleared this throat.

“I’m afraid that won’t work either.”

“Why?”

“Because the trustee over the money has to be a Harbor Falls resident.”

Jasmine rolled her eyes.

“Either you or the bank can hold the trust, Art. That’s fine.”

“We can definitely do that for you, but there is more.”

“More?” What now?

Art exhaled.

“Before you can make any decisions about or provisions for the money, you have to commit to living in Harbor Falls for at least a year.”

“What? That’s ridiculous.”

“It’s right here.”

He held out the paper he’d been pointing at.

“It’s legal. It didn’t surface until late yesterday afternoon after Ms. Leinie’s cousin found it in her desk. This is her last will and testament, written, witnessed, and notarized a few days before her death. It clearly states that it revokes all previous wills and codicils. And yes, she was definitely of sound mind when she wrote it.”

She took a deep breath.

“But what about Ms. Leinie’s letter to me? The one she left in the box? Her indications were pretty darned clear there that it was up to me how to disperse the funds.”

“And that letter was dated when?”

She couldn’t remember. “Hold on.”

She reached into her briefcase and pulled out the envelope. Carefully, she removed the letter and unfolded it.

“January 2, of this year.”

“The same date as the will filed with me.”

Art pushed a new paper toward her.

“The date on this last will and testament found late yesterday, is just two weeks ago.”

Jasmine took it and slowly sat back in her seat. There, she read Ms. Leinie’s last words. The letter was short, just one page, and surprisingly, it all had to do with the money she had left to her. It read:

Regarding the funds of my safety deposit box. Those funds, as indicated in the letter in the box, continue to go to Ms. Jasmine Walker. However, I am now placing two restrictions on that money that I would like Ms. Walker to carry out. Those requests are: 1) the money will go to support a community building and food bank currently being built on Court Street. These funds do not go toward the building itself, but for the daily operational expenses for family support services—management, staff, food, supplies, and so on; and 2) the family support services are to be operated by someone who has lived in the community and knows the community, and for at least the first year, that would be Ms. Jasmine Walker. She will coordinate services with the owner of the building, who is Mr. Jack Ackerman.

Furthermore, Ms. Walker must live in Harbor Falls for a minimum of one year in order to proceed with these plans. She has lived in Atlanta for many years, and I want her to remember what small-town living is like, before she takes full control of this project. If she cannot agree to this provision, or if after one year she does not want to move forward, she forfeits all assets bequeathed to her to Mr. Jack Ackerman, who will proceed with my wishes.

Jasmine laid the paper in her lap and looked at the two men.

“So, I either have to move to Harbor Falls or give up the estate entirely to Jack?”

Art nodded.

“That’s about the gist of it.”

Jasmine glanced toward the window, watching the lazy town of Harbor Falls drift by. Return to Harbor Falls? Oh, Ms. Leinie. What have you done?

****

Jack looked across the desk at Cam Parker.

“You’re kidding me. I own the building?”

“Yes, as soon as all of the legalities are taken care of.”

“I don’t understand. You said last week Ms. Leinie had made provisions for the completion of the project through a trust, and I would be working with someone here at the bank to get all the details worked out. Then once the construction was finished, my obligation was done.”

“Yes, that was right. Then. But now—”

“Now what?”

“Now there is a new development. The building and land have been left to you. It’s all right here.”

Jack looked to a sheet of paper in Cam’s hands.

“What is that?”

“Ms. Leinie’s last will and testament. Her cousin found it in her desk and delivered it to Art Manchester, who is handling her estate, yesterday afternoon. It precedes all other paperwork. Perhaps you should read it.”

Cam handed him a piece of paper. At the top of the page, it said, ‘page 2’.

“Where is page one?” he asked.

Cam nodded toward the door.

“With Carl Robbins. There are some details there he needs to discuss with another client.”

“Oh.”

Jack settled back to look at Ms. Leinie’s last words:

Regarding the building under construction on Court Street, I bequeath the land and the completed structure to Mr. Jack Ackerman. The necessary funds for the completion of the construction project are in trust at Harbor Falls Bank and 2) even though he will own the building, the family services offered within the building will be managed by a Harbor Falls resident, Ms. Jasmine Walker, who must commit to living in Harbor Falls for at least one year in order to oversee the family services efforts.

In that regard, if Ms. Walker does not comply with the stipulations indicated in this document, that is, live in Harbor Falls for one year, she will turn over her portion of the estate to Mr. Ackerman, who will proceed with my wishes. If Mr. Ackerman cannot, or chooses not, to fulfill the stipulations of the building and its management, then the land and the building, and as well as the assets bequeathed to Ms. Walker, will be turned over to the state of North Carolina to do with as they wish.

Jack blew out a breath. “Shit.”

He stood then and raked a hand through his hair, still staring at the page.

“Excuse me?”

“Cam, this is not good. Not good at all. Does Jasmine know?”

“I believe they are meeting right now. Should we see if we can meet with them?”

Jack paced.

“I don’t know. I’m just not sure how this is going to sit with her. I need to think.”

Cam agreed.

“I’m more worried about you. If she decides to forego all the assets, then it all falls on you to manage the community building, staff, and everything else.”

“Or, it goes back to the state.”

“Right. But there are people here in Harbor Falls who could benefit.”

“Yes. That is definitely true.”

Jack looked at Cam.

“I don’t have time for this. As much as I loved Ms. Leinie and her vision for helping families, this is all out of my comfort level. I dig in the dirt, plant trees, mow lawns. Hell, even acting as contractor for that building of hers was a stretch for me, but I did it because she trusted me. I have no earthly idea how to run a community building.”

Cam shrugged.

“Maybe you won’t have to know. Maybe Ms. Walker will stay in Harbor Falls, and it won’t be your problem.”

Not my problem. Right.

Jack just stared at him. That’s the last thing he wanted, for Jasmine to be forced to stay in Harbor Falls. This didn’t bode well for either of them. All of this was too new and too complicated to wrap their brains around. Their relationship, notwithstanding.

“You don’t understand. Either way, it’s a problem. In more ways than you know.”

Jasmine didn’t need to be handed a reason to bolt. Why would Ms. Leinie tie up this land and funds with all these stipulations? What was she after?

To get you two back together. Jasmine was right. Her plan was more than helping families at risk. Her plan was getting them back together.

A knock sounded at the door and before Cam could answer, Carl Robbins, Art Manchester, and Jasmine walked through the opened door. Her gaze landed on his. He could clearly read her expression.

Lawyer face. His worse fears suddenly materialized.

“Jack, we need to talk,” she said.

He nodded.

“Yes, we do.”