Without permission from the actual owner.
Walter’s trust document was unusually specific.
Patricia had materially violated the conditions of her life estate.
She had endangered the property.
Daniel called it waste.
And Walter had included a remedy.
If Patricia materially breached those conditions, the remainder beneficiary could ask the court to terminate her life estate.
Meaning me.
Once the divorce was finalized, Daniel intended to file the necessary action.
Actually, as it turned out, he had already arranged everything.
I asked him once whether what we were doing was cruel.
Whether I was becoming the bitter, vengeful woman the Monroes already believed me to be.
Daniel considered the question seriously.
Then he said,
“No.”
He leaned forward.
“Revenge would be doing something solely to hurt them. What we’re doing is enforcing Walter’s clearly documented wishes, protecting property that legally belongs to you, and stopping Patricia from continuing to damage it.”
