Sycamore Row - John Grisham

admitted to college will qualify for funding.”
“How would you split the money?” Jake asked. Portia was smiling.
“In broad strokes, I suggest this: Let’s work with the figure of twelve million. We
know that’s a moving target but it’ll be close. Fund the bequests to Ancil and the church
at half a million each. Down to eleven. Take five million of that and place it in the trust
fund I just described. That’s a lot of tuition, but then we can anticipate a lot of kinfolks,
both old and new.”
“They’re still arriving by the carload,” Portia said.
Judge Atlee continued, “That leaves six million. Split it equally among Lettie,
Herschel, and Ramona. Of course, Lettie gets the eighty acres that was once owned by
her grandfather.”
Jake took a deep breath as the numbers rattled around. He looked across the table
and said, “Lettie’s the key, Portia.”
Portia, still smiling, said, “She’ll take it. She gets a nice house and a nice cushion, yet
she won’t be hassled by a fortune everybody wants a piece of. She told me last night the
money belonged to all of Sylvester’s people, not just her. She wants to be happy and she
wants to be left alone. This will make her very happy.”
“How do you sell it to the rest of them?” Jake asked.
“I assume Herschel and Ramona will be thrilled. Who knows about Ancil and the
church. Keep in mind, Jake, that I still control the estate, and I will for as long as I so
choose. Not a dime can ever be distributed without my approval, and there is no
deadline to close an estate. I’m sure no one has ever called me a jackass behind my
back, but if I want to be one I can sit on Seth’s money for the next ten years. As long as
the assets are protected, I can keep them bottled up as tightly as I wish.”
He had slipped into his Chancellor’s tone, one that left little doubt Judge Reuben V.
Atlee was about to get his way. He continued, “Indeed, it may be necessary to keep the
estate open indefinitely to administer the education trust we’re talking about.”
“Who will run the trust?” Jake asked.
“I was thinking about you.”
Jake flinched, then almost fled at the thought of dealing with dozens, maybe hundreds
of eager students clamoring for money.
“That’s a great idea, Judge,” Portia said. “My family would feel better if Jake stayed
involved and kept an eye on the money.”
“Whatever, we can work it out later,” Jake said, on his heels.
“Do we have a deal?” the judge asked.
“I’m not a party,” Jake said. “Don’t look at me.”
“I’m sure Lettie will approve, but I need to talk to her,” Portia said.
“Very well. You do that and get back with me tomorrow. I’ll prepare a memo and
float it to all the lawyers. Jake, I suggest you go see Ancil this week and get some
answers. I’ll schedule a meeting with all parties in about ten days. We’ll lock the door
and hammer out a settlement. I want this to happen, understand?”
They clearly understood.