Chapter 19 - Wyatt’s Thirty PercentA year after the barn incident, Cedar Hollow posted a modest profit.
Nothing spectacular.
Real numbers.
No hidden consulting fees.
No secret restructuring.
The trust’s thirty-percent interest remained exactly thirty percent.
An independent accountant reviewed it annually.
Wyatt received a child-friendly statement Rachel designed.
COWS: 186.
FARM ACRES: 312.
WYATT’S SHARE: 30%.
He loved the cow number most.
“Do I own fifty-five point eight cows?”
Clayton laughed.
“That is not how ownership works.”
“Can I pick which fifty-five?”
“No.”
“What about the point eight?”
“Please stop.”
Wyatt laughed.
The joke became tradition.
More important, Wyatt stopped asking whether Denise could take his farm.
He also stopped sleeping with the old phone under his pillow.
Clayton noticed one morning.
“Where is it?”
“Drawer.”
“You don’t want it?”
“I have you.”
Clayton turned away so Wyatt would not see his eyes fill.
Then Wyatt added:
“And my new phone is better.”
Clayton laughed through the tears.
Seven-year-olds were excellent at ruining emotional moments.
Wyatt was eight now.
Growing.
Healing.
Not transformed into a symbol.
May you like
Just a kid again.
That was the best result Clayton could imagine.
