The Inheritance Journal: A Legacy of Secrets and Sibling Rivalry

 When Joshua McAvoy storms out of the lawyer’s office with nothing but a battered journal, it seems his grandfather’s will has torn the brothers further apart. But inside the flimsy covers lies more than money — it’s the key to whether they can reconcile or lose everything.

The Inheritance Journal

“A book? A damn book? That’s all I get in the will?” The solid oak guest chair rocked as Joshua McAvoy leaped up, snatched the flimsy cardboard-covered volume from the lawyer’s hand, and headed for the door. “I’m going to burn this thing.”

“Wait! Wait!” Eric half-rose from his chair, reaching toward his brother. “If you don’t want Grandpa’s journal, at least give it to me.”

“You want it? Here!” Joshua flung the volume, barely missing Eric’s head. It fluttered to the carpet like a dying bird. “Have it! Have it all! It’s not enough you get his bank accounts and investments. So sure, have the damn book, too. What the hell did you do to earn it all, Golden Boy?”

Kathy Kellerman rested her elbows on her desk, chin resting on her clasped hands as if to keep herself from speaking. Three decades of handling wills and estates had taught her how unequal bequests could shatter families, although usually the cracks started to show long before the benefactor’s death.

But she’d known the young men’s grandfather. They’d been friends for years. It had come as no surprise when the old man had appointed her executor. Phineas McAvoy would never do anything to harm his family. In fact, he’d often said he wished his grandsons had a better relationship. Joshua was mercurial, always quick to anger, while Eric played it safe—too safe. “If only they could get along,” Phineas would say, puffing on one of the ever-present cigars that would eventually kill him.

“Don’t go,” Eric begged as Joshua hovered in the doorway. “We can divide the estate between us.”

“No, thanks. I don’t take charity.” Yet Joshua lingered, radiating rage and disappointment.

The silence thickened in the gloomy office. Kathy’s gaze drifted over the rows of legal tomes without seeing them. She considered ending the meeting since her part was done, but with no other clients that day, she chose to wait.

Eric bent awkwardly to pick up the slim volume. It had landed splayed on the Persian carpet, more dead butterfly than wounded bird now. The exceptional quality of the hand-woven rug only made the dollar-store notebook look flimsier. The lurid pink cover had partially ripped away from its spine. Eric tried to reposition it, but the cardboard had torn and the cover now listed to one side. It could never be made whole again. “Will you at least look at Grandpa’s journal?”

“Why would I?” Joshua demanded. “Probably just a record of how he planned to leave everything to his favorite grandson. Besides, I officially gave it to you. With a witness and everything.” He waved dismissively toward Kathy. “It’s yours now. Do what you want.”

“Then I’ll read it.” Eric glanced at Kathy, who gave a small nod. Eric closed his eyes, exhaled, then reached a finger toward the page. Carefully, he turned the battered cover to the first page. After a moment, he breathed, “Oh, wow! These are the passwords and codes to all his investments. Without this, I can’t access any of his money. Come have a look!”

Joshua hesitated, fists clenched at his sides, then re-entered the room and crouched beside his brother. Eric held the left side of the book; Joshua grabbed the right. For a tense moment, Kathy thought Joshua might rip it away. After years of pulling in different directions, the brothers now read together, flipping pages and pointing out particular entries. Kathy felt her chest unclench, relief mingling with hope. She imagined this was how they might have read Dr. Seuss together as children before they’d become estranged.

When they reached the final page of spidery handwriting, Joshua let go of the journal and stood. “It’s all yours,” he muttered bitterly. “I gave you the book.” Even in the dim office, Kathy saw his cheeks flush. “I’m such a hothead.”

“Forget it,” Eric said. “Grandpa left this to you. We’ll work together to access the accounts and split them evenly. It’s what he would have wanted.”

“Why didn’t he just do that in the first place?” Joshua asked, wonder softening his voice. His shoulders sagged, years of anger burning out like a spent match.

It had probably been meant as a rhetorical question, but Kathy, usually silent on family matters, spoke up. “Because if he had, you’d each take your share and walk away. He wanted you to work together. That way, maybe you’ll repair your relationship.”

Eric nodded. To Kathy’s surprise, Joshua did too. Perhaps they had always wanted to be friends as well as brothers, but never knew how to start.

“Good thing you didn’t burn the journal,” Eric said. “Then we’d both have nothing.”

Kathy smiled. No need for them to know about the secret codicil: if they failed to reconcile, every dollar would go to a children’s charity, along with a photocopy of Phinehas' account information.

The brothers stood, heads together, already making plans as they headed for the door. As Kathy finished her paperwork, she thought she heard, “Thanks, Kathy,” echo down the hallway — followed by the faintest trace of cigar smoke, as if Phineas himself had orchestrated one last trick from beyond the grave.

END

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