Ch2 Stockholm Legacy

Willa was not a stranger to hard work.  From an early age she was used to getting up early and milking cows and tending to the horses on the farm.  Learning the family business had a lot of responsibilities. It also included going to the office on occasion with her parents while they worked.  Her and her older sister would be asked to do minor things to help out around the office.  Two generations of the Stockholm family were now involved in the dairy farm.  After grandpa Ben passed away he left everything to his only son Trevor, Willa’s dad.  Since Trevor didn’t have any sons of his own just two daughters, Willa and Rainey were destined to run the family business.  They were more than willing to do it too, because they both grew up knowing how important it was to continue the family's success.  Besides they saw how much money the business was able to rake in even though their parents worked long hours.  They were treated well all around and were the envy of many in town.

Rainey worked hard on the farm, but she wanted to look after the books and had gotten a degree in accounting.  She was a few years older than Willa and had already taken over the accounting department of the dairy farm.  She had a fiance and they were planning on getting married in the fall when the weather turned cooler.  Rainey met her fiance in college while she was studying.  Cal was an accountant as well.  He had a job with a big bank in Frankfort, the capital of Kentucky as an executive accountant.

That left Willa with overseeing Stockholm Dairy Farms when her father decided to hand over the reins.  Her father was a well known businessman in the industry and many looked up to him.  Willa had big shoes to fill and she didn’t want to let her father or family down.  The plan was for her to take the next two years under her dad’s wing and learn all of the ins and outs until he handed everything over to her.  It would be a big transfer of power.

Her parents were getting old and wanted to start enjoying retirement.  Willa’s mom had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and started going to treatment.  Life at the Stockholm household was hectic and it turned upside down all at the same time.  Martha needed a full time nurse to help out with her care and someone to make sure she was getting back and forth to her treatments.  Life on the dairy farm didn’t wait for anyone.

Although the company ran like a well oiled machine, Willa’s dad Trevor was slowing down due to running himself ragged.  Taking care of Martha and looking after his company were wearing him out.  It was a good thing that Willa was home now to help out.  He could finally take a breather and put some of the workload on her shoulders.

That first Monday morning Trevor met Willa for breakfast in the breakfast room and kissed Martha on the cheek.  Martha had been settled in by the nurse and was ready to eat with her family.  Rainey sauntered in just as the kitchen help started to serve breakfast.  “I could eat a horse!  How about y’all?”

“Rainey, you are always hungry,” Martha said.  “If I didn’t know any better I’d think you have a tapeworm inside your belly.”

“Oh mom!  You know I only eat two meals a day.  I’m so busy at work that I skip lunch,”  Rainey scowled.  “I’ve got another busy day today as well.  We have the acquisition for the Miller farm happening today remember.  I have to make sure that all of the numbers are in order before we take over.”

Trevor spoke up “Make sure that Cal has all of his ducks in a row today too.  I don’t want anything to go wrong.  Willa you will head to the office with me just as soon as breakfast is over.”

“Sure dad.”  Willa finished her breakfast and headed out the door with Trevor.  They hopped into his GMC truck and made tracks towards the family business in town.  Stockholm Dairies was headquartered in Lawrenceburg about twenty minutes away from the family home.

As the cow pastures flowed by, Trevor finally spoke first, breaking the silence.  “How are you settling in?  You have been gone for quite some time and a few things have changed.  Your mom’s condition for one thing has declined, but hopefully having you around will boost her spirits.”

“I’m getting back into the routine just fine dad.  Seeing mom struggle is sort of hard.  I hope that her condition gets better.  I see that it is taking a toll on you too.  Maybe you should let yourself have a break after this Miller acquisition and let me handle more.  You can work from home and look after mom more if you’d like.  I’m sure she’d feel better if you did.”

“Yes, it is rather hard seeing her in such a state.  Let’s get through the Miller dealings today and see how it goes.  I could use a little break.  If you want to head to the office everyday and I can stay at home and work from the home office, then we can probably still get along just fine.  It would make me feel better if I could help Martha along this journey a bit more,”  Trevor smiled.

“Anything you need dad and I’m here to help you get it done.  I’m not the little girl I once was.  Going to school in the UK was an opportunity that I can’t ever repay.  I learned so much about myself as a person.  I promise I won’t let you or our family down,” Willa said proudly.

Trevor replied to her, “I believe in you!  I’m so glad that you could come home and help out with the business while I am tending to your mom.  She really needs me right now more than anyone.  You know how much family means to her.  Honestly, family means a lot to both of us.  I will probably need to lean on you more than originally planned so don’t be shocked.”

“Ok, dad.  I won’t be.  Just do what you have to do for you and mom.  I’ll handle the rest.”  Willa’s parents were extremely close and she understood the deep rooted feelings they had for each other.  She hoped that one day she would have the kind of marriage her parents had.