The Judge Put Our Seed Rights Beyond My Cousin's Reach

I took my sleeve gently out of Renata's hand.

"You can't give me what you don't control," I said.

"You know what I mean."

"And I can't tell the court something I don't believe."

June stood beside me. Renata waited for another offer, another argument, something she could push against.

I went down the hall to fill my water bottle.

The ruling came in March, while the first trays of the year sat under lights. June called before she sent it.

"The will was rejected," she said. "Come in. We'll read the order together."

I finished labeling the tray in my hands. My writing came out uneven, so I made the last label again.

At June's office, the order lay beside a fresh cup of coffee.

The judge found that the alleged June will had not been properly signed or witnessed. The testimony, hospital records, appointment book, and document examination supported that finding. Celia's valid 2022 will would govern the estate left outside the trust.

The January transfers stood. I remained sole trustee, with control of the breeding assets and the propagation-house lease. The estate had no right to sell them.

Renata's request to manage the estate was denied. Ellen would finish the work as the neutral representative.

"Read this page," June said.

The judge addressed the money.

The $22,240 still held from the diverted royalties would go to the trust. Renata would repay the $6,400 she had spent. The third licensee could release its separate $8,920 payment under the trust's instructions.

The $31,000 demand was rejected for lack of support.

There would be another hearing on the legal fees and audit costs caused by Renata's conduct. The judge's order pointed to the January notice she had received and the threats she had made after seeing it again.

I read the payment directions twice.

"So I can pay the spring rent?"

June nodded.

That was when I cried. Not when she said we had won the will dispute. When I knew I could pay the rent without selling the parent plants.

June passed me a tissue and waited.

At the later costs hearing, the court ordered Renata to pay $14,700 in legal fees and $3,900 for the audit. With the $6,400 repayment, her total obligation was $25,000.

The order allowed collection from her estate share when it was ready, rather than leaving me to chase promises.

My original $4,800 retainer was included in the legal fees, not added again. June showed me the full account. I checked every line because that was what I did.

Beth taped a copy of the lease order inside the propagation-house office cabinet.

"Anyone asking about possession gets this," she said.

The license companies each sent a form naming the person allowed to give payment instructions. I filled in my name, signed as trustee, and attached the same proof to each reply.

One clerk called to check the spelling of Salazar.

"Your cousin used the same last name," she said.

"Please check the first name and the authority page, too."

"They're both on the screen now."

I wrote down her name and the time. When I hung up, I added a new divider to my records: Confirmed. It was a small task, but I finished it without my hands shaking.

The buyer wrote to withdraw his offer to Renata. He asked me whether I wanted to discuss selling a limited batch of seed in the future.

I thanked him and said the next harvest had to pass its tests first.

He wrote back: Fair enough.

I read that small reply several times. Someone had asked for my answer and accepted it.

Ansel came by on a clear Saturday. I had bought a new wheel for the cart for $38 and cleaned its bed. I left the rust on the outer rails where it did no harm.

"That yours?" he asked.

"Mine under either will."

He ran a finger along the straight frame.

"A decent thing to keep."

I gave him a pressed blue aster in a paper sleeve. Its label carried the cross number, harvest date, and my name.

"For your appointment book."

He inspected the sleeve before accepting it.

"No loose petals?"

"Sealed."

"Then thank you."

The civil order did not decide who had made the false page. The judge had directed that the record be sent for review. Investigators later interviewed me and obtained Renata's computer under a warrant.

I gave them my messages and answered their questions. Then I went back to the greenhouse. I could not make an investigation grow faster by standing over it.

By August, we had filled our first clean seed order under my sole signature. I rolled it to the loading door on the old cart.

When I came back inside, the day's mail lay on the bench.

There was a letter from the county prosecutor's office. A criminal charge had been filed over the false will.