Chapter 2: The Letter My Mother Left Behind
Dad carried the wooden box into the kitchen like it contained something fragile enough to shatter.
Rebecca followed him.
Hailey came behind her, still muttering about how everyone was making a big deal out of nothing.
I walked last.
My hands were shaking.
Dad placed the box on the kitchen island and carefully arranged the photographs inside.
"Where is it?"" he whispered.
Rebecca crossed her arms.
"Marcus, what are you talking about?""
"The letter.""
"What letter?""
Dad didn't look at her.
He lifted the music box, turned it over, and examined the empty space beneath its velvet lining.
Then he closed his eyes.
"Your mother wrote Nia a letter before she passed away.""
I stared at him.
"Mom wrote me a letter?""
He nodded.
"She wrote it during her last month. She asked me to keep it safe and give it to you when you turned eighteen.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because she wanted it to be a birthday surprise. She told me there were things you needed to understand when you were old enough.""
"Where is it now?""
Dad looked inside the wooden box again.
"It was here.""
Rebecca gave an impatient sigh.
"Maybe you misplaced it.""
Dad finally turned toward her.
"I put it here myself.""
"Well, perhaps it fell out when Hailey was cleaning.""
Hailey immediately shook her head.
"I didn't touch any letter.""
I looked at her.
"You were holding the box.""
"I was trying to sell it. That's not the same thing.""
"Why would you sell it?""
"Because nobody wants old junk!""
Dad slammed his palm against the counter.
"Enough!""
The kitchen went silent.
He pointed toward the front door.
"Everyone who bought something today needs to be contacted. We're getting everything back.""
Rebecca's mouth fell open.
"Marcus, are you serious? We already made money.""
"Then give it back.""
"We were going to use that money for the house.""
Dad stared at her.
"My daughter's belongings are not your household budget.""
Rebecca's face hardened.
"You are making me look like a monster.""
"No. You're doing that yourself.""
She turned away.
I watched her carefully.
Something about her reaction bothered me.
She wasn't surprised that the letter was missing.
She looked annoyed that Dad had noticed.
I waited until he stepped outside to speak with the neighbors who had purchased some of the items.
Then I approached the trash bin beside the kitchen.
A black garbage bag sat on top.
Something white poked through a tear.
I pulled it out.
Paper.
Several torn pieces of paper.
My heart started racing.
"Hailey?""
She was standing near the refrigerator, scrolling through her phone.
"What?""
"Did you throw these away?""
She glanced at the paper.
Then she looked away.
"Probably.""
I began unfolding the pieces.
Some were covered in dirt. Others had been ripped into tiny strips.
But the handwriting was unmistakable.
My mother's handwriting.
I recognized the way she crossed her letter T's and made the little loops in her capital N's.
My fingers trembled.
"Where did you get this?""
Hailey shrugged.
"From the box.""
"You tore up Mom's letter?""
"I didn't know it was important.""
I stared at her.
"You knew it was hers.""
Hailey rolled her eyes.
"Everything in this house is supposedly sacred because it belonged to your mother.""
I held up the paper.
"Why would you do this?""
"Because Rebecca said we needed to clear out the old stuff.""
My head snapped toward her.
"Rebecca told you to tear it up?""
Hailey froze.
For the first time that afternoon, she looked nervous.
"I didn't say that.""
"You just did.""
"You're twisting my words.""
I gathered the pieces and rushed into the living room.
Dad was speaking to a neighbor on the phone.
"Mr. Collins, I don't care what you paid. Keep the jacket safe. I'll come get it myself.""
He ended the call when he saw my face.
"Nia?""
I held out the paper.
"Look.""
He took the pieces.
The moment he recognized the handwriting, his shoulders dropped.
"Oh, God.""
"Can you put it together?""
He sat at the dining table.
I helped him arrange the torn strips.
Some words were missing, but enough remained to make sense.
My mother's letter began with a sentence that made my chest ache.
My beautiful Nia, if you're reading this, I hope you've grown into the brave young woman I always knew you would become.
I covered my mouth.
Dad continued reading silently.
Then his eyes stopped.
He leaned closer.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He didn't answer immediately.
I pointed to the next line.
"Read it.""
He took a shaky breath.
"There is something I need you to know about the house. It was purchased with money from my family, and I made arrangements to ensure it would remain yours...""
Dad went completely still.
I read the sentence again.
The house.
Our house.
The place where I had grown up.
The place where Mom had taught me to ride a bicycle in the driveway.
The place where Dad had carried me upstairs after I fell asleep on the couch.
I looked at him.
"What does she mean?""
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Your mother inherited money from her grandmother. She used part of it to purchase this property.""
"But I thought you bought it together.""
"We lived here together. But the ownership arrangements were more complicated.""
Rebecca appeared in the doorway.
"What are you two reading?""
Dad covered the letter pieces with his hand.
"Nothing.""
Rebecca stepped closer.
Her eyes moved to the paper.
Then she saw the words about the property.
Her expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I noticed.
"What?"" I asked.
"Nothing," she replied quickly.
Dad stood.
"Rebecca, I need you to tell me something.""
She lifted her chin.
"What?""
"Have you seen this letter before?""
"No.""
"Are you sure?""
Her voice became sharp.
"Why would I lie about a piece of paper?""
Dad stared at her.
"Because someone destroyed it.""
Rebecca looked at the scattered fragments.
Then she laughed nervously.
"Marcus, this is ridiculous. It's probably some sentimental note with no legal meaning.""
"How do you know that?""
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Hailey appeared behind her.
"Mom, just tell him.""
Rebecca turned.
"Hailey, go upstairs.""
"But—"
"NOW!""
Hailey disappeared.
Dad waited until she was gone.
Then he asked the question that changed everything.
"Where is the original deed to this house?""
Rebecca's face went white.
"I don't know.""
Dad stepped closer.
"Then why did I find a copy in the study with Nia's name crossed out?""
I stared at him.
"What copy?""
He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a folded document.
He placed it on the table.
There was my mother's name.
There was the property address.
And beneath it, someone had typed a new beneficiary.
Hailey's name.
I looked at Dad.
"Why is her name there?""
He shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Rebecca suddenly reached for the document.
Dad pulled it away.
"Don't.""
She looked at him with something close to panic.
"Marcus, you don't understand what you're looking at.""
"Then explain it.""
She swallowed.
"I was trying to protect our family.""
Dad's voice dropped.
"From what?""
Rebecca stared at me.
May you like
Then she said something I would never forget.
"From the fact that your daughter was never supposed to inherit this house.""
