Chapter 4 - THE CHALLENGE CLAUSE
Helen’s trust had a safeguard.
If the stewardship beneficiary was:
legally incapacitated,
financially reckless,
or demonstrably unable to manage operations,
the board could appoint an alternate steward.
The alternate named in Helen’s documents was:
Ryan Bennett.
Why Ryan?
Helen had liked him once.
Years earlier.
She believed marriage meant continuity.
Claire had never thought much about it.
Now she did.
If Claire were removed, Ryan would control:
staffing,
budgets,
leasing decisions,
contract approvals.
He could not sell the sanctuary.
But he could control operations.
Linda had always wanted Ryan involved in “something real.”
Then Claire remembered a comment Linda made after Helen’s funeral:
“At least if you can’t handle it, Ryan can step in.”
May you like
At the time, it sounded harmless.
Now it sounded like a plan.
