To appreciate this story I would recommend you read the previous stories first.
'Life's Illusions', and 'Life's Illusions, 10 years on', here on Nifty, under 'Relationships'.
It will give you a much better understanding of the Thorn Family, starting with PJ, Lenny, and their children, plus all of their extended family.
The first story had almost no sexual content, it should have had, from the first chapter it seemed it would have, but I couldn't control it, it dictated it's own course, however as the children hit their teen years, puberty and adulthood in the second story, that changed, though not in the extreme.
There are, or could be, in chapters to come, details of sexual activity between male/female, male/male or any variation thereof, if that is, or possibly could be, offensive to you or your beliefs, or not legal to view for whatever reason where you are, I do not want or wish to offend you, nothing could be further from my mind, so please, leave now and find other material to satisfy you, if you are offended later after reading, I make no apologies, you have been warned.
Having said all of the above I would ask you, nay, I would implore you please, to donate to Nifty, it's a wonderful site, it offers an excellent free service to one and all, the link for donations, large or small, all of which are welcome, all of which will be received with thanks, is:
Http://Donate.nifty.org/donate.html
And so to commence.
Life's Illusions - A new generation.
On that day a year ago, once again they'd arrived en-mass, in Montclair, from all over the world, to lay PJ and Lenny's ashes to rest, nothing would have stopped them, the need to pay homage so great, as the world press reported it :
'They gather to lay witness too, the end of an era, to say a fond farewell to, two of the most wonderful people this world will ever have seen'.
It had been the saddest, most overwhelming day many of them would ever remember, the sense of loss overpowering.
For a while there had been no direction, no cohesion, no feeling that there was someone steering the ship, and then, after PJ and Lenny had been lovingly settled, whilst they were all gathered from far and wide, there came the reading of the wills in the White Dining Room at Chateau Montclair.
And then they were given hope, from beyond the grave came a voice, one they understood, one they would all obey without question.
She may have been gone, but none were inclined to argue.
Although they had individual wills, there were many instances where PJ and Lenny had joined forces, referring to the same items.
PJ's last will and testament dealt mostly with the distribution of his vast fortune.
Billions of dollars, in expected bequests, to his children, to his grandchildren, his great grandchildren, family members who were related, and the ones who though not blood related, were still considered his family.
And his charities, so many of them, some great household names, some so obscure no one had heard of them, but to PJ they had been important, he had deemed them important, saving people, saving animals, it didn't matter what they saved, to PJ they were all equally important, his final plea, that the family ensure his charities were continually supported, saw each being adopted by one or another family member before the day was out.
Some of the items announced were jointly bequeathed, and came with unusual requests and requirements, like their fleet of aircraft, and, The Christmas House, both left to 'The Curator of The Collection', carrying sufficient funds to maintain them for the next ten years, with the added request they remain available for family use, just as they'd been during PJ and Lenny's lifetime, but at that stage there was no hint of who the 'Curator' would be.
Lenny's private fortune was dealt out in a similar fashion to PJ's, her family, friends, charities.
But Lenny's will did reveal the key to one of the unusual bequests in PJ's will.
She'd realised a long time ago, it wasn't only about money, for Lenny the real richness of life was all about family, nurturing, encouraging, protecting, she'd been the lioness, from the birth of the triplets she'd understood, guarded, guided, her ever growing extended brood, whether blood related or not, she'd protected them, one and all, with a passion none could match, few had been stupid enough to dare challenge her, any who had tried bore the scars to remind them of their folly.
She'd known, realised long ago, before any hint of her ill health or imminent death, there had to be a successor, it was a forgone conclusion for Lenny, she'd had that person earmarked for many a year, nothing had ever swayed her resolve, every incident over the years only serving to confirm the person were humane, just like Lenny, struggling with a conscience, struggling, and winning, against an urge to be judgemental.
In traditional fashion, as each individual bequest was announced that person left the room, until only close family remained, and their most personal bequests had been read out.
Then came the really stunning statement from Lenny's will, and everyone was summoned back to hear it.
'The Collection, started by PJ's Grandmother, I have to pass it on, it's now a massive and beautiful gathering of jewels, it's rules are clear, but someone has to manage it.
I thought long and hard about this, it's not a decision I made in recent months, or even in recent years, it's something I've known for many years, something I saw in someone so long ago, nothing has ever changed my mind, but before I name that person, I have a need to explain, I have to reinforce this message.
It's not just about taking control of a box of baubles, and that's all they are, pretty, shiny stones, it's a badge of office, it doesn't just make you curator of that box of baubles, it means you take on a role so diverse, so difficult, you will sometimes want to run away from it, but you can't, you have to be strong, taking on that role makes you head of the family, you will be the one, it will become your mission in life, to protect, nurture, encourage, love them, fight for them, the family, one and all, by blood or not, whatever.
And so, Jacqueline Montclair-Thorn, you were my devoted daughter in law, the sister I never had, my friend, I'm asking you, no, I'm begging you, please, accept that role'.
And the die was cast, a new Matriarch was appointed, by a hand they all loved and trusted, from beyond the grave.
Thank you. Allan
ARB