It would also be interesting to know whether Isabella's mother made a will, whether they're in a community property state, and whether LW's name was on the deed at the time of the gift, or only his wife's. In my state, if the wife died intestate and the house was considered community property, the husband would inherit the other half automatically and absolutely (that is, he could do as he liked with it - there might be a moral reason to consider his daughter's wishes and interest, but no legal reason he would have to).

That actually happened in our family. When Dad sold the house quite a while later, he distributed half the proceeds of the sale to the kids, saying he thought Mom would have left us her half, but it was his idea and he didn't have to do that. By great good fortune everyone pretty much agreed on what should be done re selling the house and splitting up the contents, and there was no family quarrel, which seemed like a miracle as we are a rather large and exceedingly opinionated family. But certainly none of us could afford to keep up the house, and it went to a very rich family who are still there and have done well by it.