The old cottage in the Yorkshire village greeted Poppy with a musty smell and a deadquiet hush. She flung the windows wide, letting the May sunshine and the scent of lilacs spill in. Its been a month since Granddad Michael passed, and only now has she found the strength to come back and sort through his things.
Michael had been more than a granddad to Poppy. When her parents died young, he stepped in, raised her, got her on her feet. In recent years theyd barely seen each other his job in Leeds, the rush of everyday life, never enough time. Now she stood in the living room, every object a reminder of him, and she chided herself for every day theyd missed.
The phone rang, cutting the silence.
Poppy, have you started yet? Aunt Gails voice sounded oddly motherly. Victor and I will be there tomorrow, help with the furniture. Dont touch anything valuable for now, okay?
Of course, Aunt Gail, Poppy replied, eyeing the old sideboard laden with sea shells. Im just clearing out the stuff, the paperwork.
Good. After the will was read, things got a bit awkward dont be upset that Granddad left you only his books and the piano. He just wanted to split everything fairly.
Poppys lips tightened. The solicitor had read a will that split the house and most of the assets between his children Gail and Victor. Poppy got only the books, an ancient piano and a set of engraved pocket watches dear to her heart but not worth a fortune.
Its fine, Aunt Gail. I dont need anything else.
Exactly! Youve got your own flat, your own life. Victor and I could use the cottage for the summer holidays the garden seasons kicking off. See you tomorrow!
She hung up and sighed heavily. Granddad had always said the house would be hers. Who else would I leave it to, love? Youre the only one who really gets the walls, hed said. Looks like he changed his mind at the last minute. Thats his call.
The whole day she spent pulling through the books. Each volume held a memory a battered fairytale collection he used to read to her at bedtime, textbooks hed helped her with when he was a teacher, even dried flowers and old photos tucked between pages, notes in his neat hand.
By evening she reached his study. A cramped room with a massive oak desk and floortoceiling shelves, always a special spot for her. As a child, Granddad never let her in without knocking my creative lab, hed joked. Here he wrote his memoirs, kept diaries, sorted archives.
She carefully flipped through folders, yellowed envelopes and a stack of letters tied with twine letters from her grandmother, a woman Poppy never met. Beside them lay a worn leather diary. Opening it, she saw an entry dated the previous year: Call S.P. about new will. Destroy the old one.
Her heart jumped. A new will? At the probate hearing, Notary Simon Parker had only presented one document.
She kept searching, pulling every drawer. Behind a pile of old newspapers in the filing cabinet she found an envelope stamped Will. Copy. Original with Notary S.P. The date was a month before Granddads death.
Trembling, Poppy took the paper and started to read. In this version Michael left the whole house, the land and all the valuable items to her, Poppy. His children, Gail and Victor, were to receive cash payments instead.
This decision isnt about favouring one heir over another, the note read, but about keeping the family nest intact. Poppy is the only one who values this home as a repository of our history. I trust shell preserve it for future generations.
Poppy sank into Granddads old armchair, stunned. Why hadnt the second will been shown? Did the solicitor know? What now?
She lay awake that night, tossing on the old bed in her former room, weighing her options. Presenting the will would spark a huge scandal. Gail and Victor had already started planning what to do with the property theyd never been close to Michael, only visited occasionally. Did that give them less right?
Morning came, coffee in hand, when the sound of a car pulling up broke the quiet. Aunt Gail was the first in, her voice booming as she burst through the door, full of energy.
Poppy, were here with Mia, she said, nodding toward her daughter, who trudged in looking disgruntled. Lets see what we can take right now. Victor will bring the movers later.
Hello, Poppy forced a smile. I havent finished sorting
No worries, well help! Gail was already darting around, eyeing furniture. Ill take that sideboard and the bedroom chest. You okay with that, Mia?
Mia shrugged. Whatever, Mum. I only came for Granddads coin collection, remember?
Of course, of course! Poppy, wheres the coin collection? He kept it all his life, you know. Itll be a keepsake for Mia.
Poppy felt a surge of anger. The coin collection had been Granddads pride, hed shown her each piece and told its story. Now it was being handed to a niece whod barely attended the funeral.
Aunt Gail, Poppy began cautiously, did you speak with the solicitor after the will was read?
Gail froze, turning sharply. Simon Parker? No, why?
It just seems somethings off with the will, Poppy said.
What do you mean? Gails eyebrows knit.
I found a reference to another, later will in Granddads papers.
A heavy silence fell. Mia stopped examining the sideboard and looked at them.
What nonsense is that? Gail finally said, her voice shaking. There was only one will, thats what they read.
I think we should call Simon, Poppy said firmly. Ive got a copy of the other document.
Gail went pale. Poppy, listen why stir things up? Father made his choice, everything was divided fairly. You got the things he loved most the books, the piano. He knew how you love music.
Its not about the stuff, Aunt Gail. Its about Granddads last wishes. If he changed his mind, we should respect it.
Changed his mind? Gail laughed bitterly. He spent his whole life thinking of you! Your parents died, tragedy, of course. But why did he always put you above his own kids? Were we strangers to him?
Poppy was taken aback by the sudden outburst.
I never asked for special treatment
Of course you didnt! You were always there. We have our own lives, our own worries. We cant be with him all the time.
Enough, Mia, her daughter interjected. If theres another will, let the lawyers deal with it.
The front door opened and Uncle Victor strode in, a big man with a face uncannily like Michaels.
Whats the argument about? he asked, looking around at the tense faces.
Poppy says shes found another will, Gail blurted out. Says Granddad left everything to her.
Victor walked to the sofa, sat down, and said, Really? You found it?
His tone was weary, not surprised. Poppy stared at him.
Did you know about it? she asked.
Victor sighed. Dad mentioned he wanted to change the will. Said the house should stay whole, not be split. He thought you were the only one who truly loved it.
And you kept quiet?! Gail snapped. Traitor!
Dont shout, Gail, Victor replied, tired. I didnt know if hed actually signed a new will or just thought about it. Either way, the house is old, needs constant upkeep. We need it as an asset we can sell, not as a memory for you.
So youre on her side? Gail flailed her arms. Brilliant! Well give it all to the girl and walk away with nothing!
Mum, stop, Mia rolled her eyes. Uncles right. We dont need the house. You said you wanted to sell and buy a flat in the city anyway.
Poppy listened, feeling oddly detached. They talked about the cottage as a piece of property, a chunk of land. For her it was a world of smells, sounds, memories.
I propose this, Poppy finally said. We call Simon and sort out the wills. If Granddads final wish really was to leave the house to me, Ill pay you both a fair compensation for your shares, over time.
What compensation? Gail sneered. From a librarians salary?
I could take a loan, or sell my flat, Poppy answered calmly.
Enough, Mum, Mia interjected. Lets just call the solicitor.
Simon Parker arrived within the hour, briefcase in hand, and took a seat in the sitting room, watching the gathered family.
So youve discovered a second will, he said after hearing Poppys story. May I see a copy?
Poppy handed him the paper. He examined it, checking dates and signatures.
Yes, this is a genuine copy, he confirmed. Michael did draft a new will shortly before he died.
Why wasnt it presented? Gail demanded.
Simon removed his glasses, rubbed his nose. A week before he passed, your father called me. He said he wanted to revoke the earlier will but hadnt managed to sign the paperwork. He planned a meeting that never happened.
So his last wish was to revert to the original? Victor asked.
I cant say for certain, Simon replied cautiously. He didnt give a reason over the phone, just that he didnt want a family feud.
Poppy felt tears prickle. Even at the end, Granddad was thinking about them, trying to keep peace.
Legally, Simon continued, the most recent will that isnt formally rescinded is the one that stands. Thats the one leaving the house to you, Poppy. But if you contest it, it could drag on for years and only lawyers would profit.
A heavy hush fell. Poppy stared out the window at the old apple tree Granddad had planted decades ago. Each spring it burst into white blossoms, filling the garden with a sweet scent. He used to say, As long as the apple tree blooms, the house lives.
I wont push the second will, Poppy said suddenly, turning to the others. Lets keep things as they are.
What? Youre giving up the house? Mia asked, surprised.
No, Poppy shook her head. I have another idea. The cottage stays jointly owned. Nobody sells it. Ill stay here, look after it, and you all can visit whenever you like summer, weekends, holidays. Just like a real family home.
Why would you do that? Gail asked, puzzled. You could have it all to yourself legally.
Because Granddad wanted us to be a family, Poppy replied simply. He feared inheritance would tear us apart and was ready to change his last wish for that reason. I want to honor that.
Victor looked at his niece a long moment, then nodded. Im on board. Thats the right thing.
Gail hesitated, the conflict of money versus principle playing across her face.
But who will pay for upkeep? Repairs? she asked.
Ill cover the main costs, Poppy said. Youll have a tidy, readytouse home whenever you come. The only condition is nobody tries to sell it, ever.
What if I need money urgently? Gail pressed.
Then Ill buy out your share, gradually if needed. The house stays the house.
Mia laughed, brightening the room. Granddad would have loved that. He always said Poppy was the wisest of us.
Simon smiled, noting the shift. I can draft an agreement to formalise this arrangement, so its all legally clean and respects Michaels wishes.
By evening, paperwork was signed, the tension eased, and they were sitting on the veranda with tea, swapping old stories. Victor talked about how he and Michael built that very porch, Gail reminisced about family pies, Mia giggled over Granddads childhood tales.
Poppy watched them, feeling shed gained far more than a property. Shed reclaimed a family. If a compromise was needed, so be it.
When they finally left, she stepped into the garden. The apple tree was heavy with white petals, drifting down like soft snow. Birds sang above the old cottage, which still stood proud.
Thank you, Granddad, she thought, looking up at the sky. I get it now. The real inheritance isnt walls or things. Its the people who remember and love each other.
She slipped the copy of the second will into her pocket maybe one day shell show it to her own children and tell them the story. But not now. Right now, shes focused on what truly matters: the home, the memories, and the peace between those she loves.
