Chapter 4: The Name Her Daughter Feared
Laura lunged for the envelope.
Dean moved it behind his back.
"Don't," he warned.
"That letter belongs to my family!""
Mabel stood beside Emily, one hand resting protectively on the girl's shoulder.
"No, Laura. It belongs to me.""
Laura stared at her mother as though she'd never heard those words before.
"Mom, you're being manipulated. These men are taking advantage of you.""
Frank let out a short laugh.
"Lady, we brought groceries. If that's manipulation, my wife has been manipulating me for thirty years.""
Nobody laughed.
Laura pointed at Emily.
"Get your backpack. We're leaving.""
Emily tightened her grip on Mabel's cardigan.
"I want to stay with Grandma.""
"You don't understand what's happening.""
"Then explain it!""
Laura's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Dean unfolded the second sheet of Arthur's letter.
He read the first few lines silently, then his expression changed.
"There's a name here.""
Laura went pale.
"Put that down.""
Dean looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because you have no right to read private family documents.""
Mabel held out her hand.
"Please, Dean. Read it.""
He hesitated, then handed the letter to her.
Mabel adjusted her glasses.
The first paragraph was written in Arthur's familiar handwriting.
My dearest Mabel,
There is one more thing I have kept from you because I wanted to protect you from unnecessary worry. I discovered that Laura had been taking money from our joint savings account before my illness became serious.
Mabel's fingers tightened around the paper.
She continued reading.
At first, I believed it was an honest mistake. She told me she needed help with her mortgage. But when I checked the records, I found repeated withdrawals totaling $46,700.
Mabel looked up.
"Forty-six thousand dollars?""
Laura stepped forward.
"That was a loan!""
Mabel stared at her.
"You told your father you needed help with your mortgage?""
Laura folded her arms.
"He offered to help me.""
"Arthur wrote that you took the money without telling him.""
"He was sick! He didn't understand the accounts anymore.""
Dean looked at her.
"Convenient.""
Laura turned sharply.
"Shut up.""
Frank stepped between them.
"Careful.""
Mabel returned to the letter.
The next paragraph was even more painful.
When I confronted Laura, she promised to repay everything. Instead, she asked me to change the beneficiary on my insurance policy. When I refused, she threatened to take you away from me.
Mabel stopped.
A tear fell onto the paper.
"She threatened him?""
Dean nodded.
"That's what it says.""
Laura's face had turned red.
"He was confused. He was dying. You can't believe every word he wrote.""
Mabel looked at her daughter.
"Did you threaten your father?""
Laura didn't answer.
"Laura?""
"He was protecting you from reality!""
"What reality?""
"That he was leaving us with nothing!""
Mabel shook her head.
"He left me with a home, a pension, and enough money to live comfortably.""
Laura laughed bitterly.
"Do you really think that money would have lasted? You can't even remember to pay your electric bill!""
Emily looked at her mother.
"Mom, why are you shouting at Grandma?""
Laura ignored her.
Dean continued reading the letter.
The final section contained the name of the person Arthur had trusted.
*Martin Reeves, Executor and Trustee.*
Beneath it was a second name.
*Emily Whitmore, Alternate Beneficiary of the Education Trust.*
Mabel looked confused.
"Emily?""
Dean nodded.
"Your granddaughter.""
Laura's face changed completely.
"That isn't possible.""
Mabel looked at her.
"What isn't possible?""
Laura snatched the document from Dean's hand.
She scanned the page.
Then she whispered, "No.""
The letter explained that Arthur had established a separate education trust for Emily, funded with $65,000.
The money was intended for her schooling and future education.
Laura had been appointed temporary custodian of the account only while Emily was a minor.
She had never been given ownership of the funds.
Mabel looked at Emily.
"Your grandfather wanted you to go to college.""
Emily wiped her eyes.
"I didn't know.""
Laura crushed the edge of the document in her fist.
"That account was never supposed to be opened.""
Dean's eyes narrowed.
"Why?""
Laura threw the paper onto the table.
"Because I was handling everything!""
Mabel's voice was barely audible.
"Did you spend Emily's money?""
Silence.
Emily looked from her mother to her grandmother.
"Mom?""
Laura grabbed her handbag.
"This conversation is over.""
Dean didn't move.
"Not quite.""
Laura pointed at him.
"You have no idea who you're dealing with.""
"Neither do you.""
Mabel slowly reached for the letter.
"Laura, I want to know what happened to the money.""
Laura stared at her mother.
For a moment, she looked almost frightened.
Then her expression hardened.
"You want the truth? Fine. Your husband left behind debts. I used the money to keep this family afloat.""
"What debts?""
"Medical bills. Mortgage payments. Property taxes.""
"Arthur's letter says the trust was protected.""
Laura looked away.
Mabel's voice broke.
"Did you take Emily's money, too?""
Emily stepped closer.
"Mom, please tell me.""
Laura grabbed her daughter's backpack.
"We're going home.""
Emily pulled away.
"No!""
Laura froze.
It was the first time Emily had ever openly refused her.
Mabel gently took her granddaughter's hand.
"She can stay for a little while.""
Laura looked at the two of them.
Then she pointed at the envelope.
"You're making a terrible mistake, Mom. That letter doesn't prove anything.""
Dean folded his arms.
"Then you won't mind us calling the attorney.""
Laura's eyes flashed.
"Don't you dare.""
Dean picked up his phone.
"That's exactly what I'm going to do.""
Laura turned and stormed outside.
But before getting into her SUV, she made one final phone call.
Dean watched her through the window.
He couldn't hear the conversation.
He could, however, see the way her face changed.
She wasn't calling a friend.
She was calling someone she was afraid of.
And when she finally ended the call, she looked directly at Mabel's house.
May you like
Then she mouthed three words through the glass.
*You'll regret this.*
