Jemma is the youngest child of the Miller family. She grew up to be a Daddy’s girl. Her father had been always a great source of happiness and comfort to her growing up. Her father was like a mentor and a best friend.
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When Jemma received the call about her father’s sudden passing, her world came crashing down. She was overwhelmed with grief and sadness. She was unfocused and even after she saw her father’s casket go into the ground, she could not believe what was happening.
Finding it hard to move on
While the rest of the Miller family were trying their best to move on, Jemma was still feeling lost. Perhaps part of why Jemma was having difficulty moving on is that the last time she saw him, they had an argument and she never had the chance to fix things.
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She regretted ending things sourly with him and wished she could turn back time so that he passed away knowing how much he meant to her and how much she loved him. Her father’s death was so sudden there was no chance for anyone to have proper goodbyes.
A big fight
You see, Jemma got pregnant unexpectedly and she decided to keep the baby. Her father wanted her to move back into their house so she and her child could be cared for. But Jemma did not want to put her career on hold just because she got pregnant.
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It did not take long for their arguments to escalate. Jemma’s dad argued that she was too young and was not mature enough to handle the responsibility by herself. Jemma got mad at him for belittling her and she swore she would prove him wrong.
The inheritance
But it was all too late now. No amount of tears or regrets could bring her father back to life. One day, the entire family was summoned by the family lawyer. It was a snap back to reality. Everybody gathered in the living room as the lawyer read their father’s will.
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Jemma’s father was not the wealthiest but he did acquire a few properties over the years. Jemma’s father was a wise investor and he would purchase these properties at a small cost and sell them off when they grew in value to make a profit.
A change of heart
Jemma knew there were several properties left. Despite everything, she expected to get something of value – after all, she was the favorite child. But she realized that this was not the case.
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Jemma was confused as she watched her siblings’ faces light up every time they got a property. Had their fight hurt her father so much that he made unexpected changes to his will? Did her father write her off the will?
Her brothers hated her
Jemma’s brothers never liked her. She was not only the youngest child but she was also the only girl. Their mother passed away giving birth to Jemma and she thinks it is one of the reasons why they do not like her. They noticed her discomfort and smirked.
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Jemma hoped that their father’s passing would be an opportunity to fix their relationship. But even the loss of their father could not move them. They did not even care that she was pregnant, pointing out that it was her pregnancy that broke their father’s heart.
Kicking her out
When the lawyer stopped reading, Jemma was stunned. Her father had left everything to her big brothers. All she had was an old barn, a few yards away from the family home. it was a property that her father had not even touched or improved yet.
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When the lawyer left, their brothers handed her the keys to the old barn and made it clear that they want her out of the house. Jemma had been staying in their father’s house ever since he passed away but the house belonged to their eldest brother now.
The neglected barn
Dejected, Jemma started to walk towards the old barn her father left her. She told herself that she had to be strong for her baby. She remembered that it had been there since she was a child but she barely got to explore it back then.
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There must be a reason why her father thought of leaving it to her. As she got closer, she could easily see how neglected the barn was. The closer she got, the angrier she felt. How could her father treat her this way? He knew she was pregnant!
An offer to buy the barn
Jemma stepped outside and inspected the barn. She noticed Mr. Halsey, their neighbor, approached her from his side of the fence. He then told her that he is willing to buy the barn from her. Jemma was curious and asked him how much was he offering.
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Jemma knew she badly needed money now. She quit her job when her father died and that meant losing the studio apartment her boss provided her when she took the job. She has not been working for a while so her savings were depleting as well.
There must be a reason
Mr. Halsey looked at the old barn and told her. “there is nothing there but problems.” She knew the barn was not valuable but why would he want it then? She remembers him wanting to buy the barn from her father and each time, her father said no.
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There must be a reason why he decided to leave it to her. Maybe he wanted to keep this barn in the family for some reason and he knew she was the only one who would respect his wishes. Jemma told Mr. Halsey she will think about it and let him know.
More than what meets the eye
Jemma could feel there was something more than what met the eye when it came to this barn. As Jemma looked around, she began to find a lot of interesting antiques and artifacts. She came across the desk her father used to sit at while reading a book.
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She found some documents about the barn that said it was built in the late 1800s. She had no idea the barn was that old. Maybe if she made some research on the area and the past owners, she could determine what was so special about it.
The note
Jemma was about to move to another area when she noticed something on the wall the desk was facing. She tried to take it out and saw that it looked very old. Jemma was amazed that it had survived the harsh seasons.
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She opened it carefully and recognized her father’s handwriting. She felt her legs go weak when she saw the letter was addressed to her. She looked at the date and saw that it was written years ago, before the big fight. She was immediately overwhelmed with sadness.
His last wishes
In the note, her father had expressed his undying love for her and for her brothers. Her father expressed his fear that his sons would fall back into their bad habits while he was gone. He reminded Jemma to keep an eye on her brothers when he was gone.
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He reminded her that she was the one more capable. He wanted her to be strong and to never forget the values that he had taught her. He reminded Jemma to never forget the importance of family and that she should always stay connected.
A hidden cellar
Her father also wrote to Jemma that she should build a life for herself and always strive to be the best version of herself. She should be brave and never give up, no matter what kind of trials would come her way. He promised her that he would always be with her in spirit.
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As Jemma came to the end of the letter, her father had written about a hidden cellar door in one of the barn stalls. He told him that he already unlocked it and wanted Jemma to explore the cellar, saying he had a hidden “cupcake” for her. Jemma was intrigued.
A treasure hunt
Jemma’s eyes widened as she remembered something from her childhood. Her dad would tell her he had hidden cupcakes for her. These cupcakes were not baked treats but items like books or toys. “Cupcake” was their code word for “treasure.”
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Jemma immediately ran to where the stalls were. His heart raced as she inspected one stall after the next. But she had no idea how challenging the task would be. She checked every corner of each stall but nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary.
Finding the secret cellar
When Jemma finally found the secret cellar door, she found that it was covered in all sorts of gunk. She pulled on the door until it opened. Jemma could see that the cellar was totally dark. She took her phone out and used the flashlight to help her maneuver her way in.
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Jemma could make out a corridor. The ceiling was very low so it was difficult to move around. Jemma worried for the baby she was carrying as she tried to go around the cellar. “It’s just a cellar, don’t be a coward,” she told herself.
The end of the corridor
As Jemma moved through the corridor, she noticed that the walls were now made out of stone and concrete but the floors were still made of dirt. Jemma was surprised to find a few tools scattered around. Did her father create this secret cellar all by himself?
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After about 10 minutes of walking, Jemma was able to make it to the end of the corridor. She found herself in a room filled with books. She picked one up and found they were very old – some of them could sell for a small fortune!
There was more
Jemma walked around the room and wondered if it was just all books. Behind a stack of books, she found a bunch of crates on the floor. Jemma felt excitement take over. Could it be something of value that her father had left behind, especially for her?
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Jemma got one of the crates and found a note. “My little cupcake, what makes a whiskey exquisite is its age. Find Mr. Livingstone, he will help” and there was a phone number. Jemma opened the box and found a bottle of Whiskey with the famous Macallan logo on it.
Aged whiskey as investment
Jemma did not drink much but she knew that aged whiskey costs a fortune. This is because the longer a whiskey is aged, the more flavor it develops and it will be smoother and more enjoyable to drink.
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Jemma went through the other packages and found notes from her father explaining the value. Every package had a different whiskey brand that came from the 1960s. It looked like her father did not only invest in the land but also in whiskey too.
She had the last laugh
Jemma gathered her finds and took them up to the barn. She eagerly called Mr. Livingstone and made arrangements to sell the aged whiskey. He told her he had been waiting for her father’s collection to be sold and he was ready to pay her instantly.
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Jemma decided to use the money to renovate the barn into a home where she can raise her child. This way, she can still be near her brothers despite everything they did to her. After all, it was her father’s wish to stay connected to them.