Tobias leaves his mother-in-law, Nan Hawthorne, an annuity of one hundred thousand dollars a year, a trust for medical expenses, and all of her daughter Alice's jewelry. Tobias also asks Oren to continue on in his position for Avery. He leaves his head of security, John Oren, the contents of his toolbox and a sum of three hundred thousand dollars. Tobias leaves one hundred thousand dollars each to Andrew and Lottie Laughlin, the caretakers of his estate, as well as life-long, rent-free tenancy of Wayback Cottage, their home on the western border of the House. To the surprise of everyone, but his lawyers, Tobias leaves almost his entire fortune to Avery. With the arrival of Avery and her half-sister Libby Grambs to Hawthorne House, Tobias's will is finally read.

His law firm, McNamara, Ortega, and Jones, has been trying to locate Avery Grambs as it is stipulated in his will that she must be present before the will can be read. Tobias has passed away about a month ago at seventy-eight years old. His grandsons are Nash, Grayson, Jameson, and Xander Hawthorne. He married Alice O'Day Hawthorne, and they had three children, Zara Hawthorne-Calligaris, Skye Hawthorne, and Tobias Hawthorne II. He was the ninth-richest person in the United States and the richest man in Texas. Tobias made his fortune through the oil industry, then diversified.

The hawthorne inheritance