Chapter 6 - DAVID’S FIRST LIE COLLAPSEDWhen confronted through attorneys, David admitted he knew Emily existed.
His explanation?
Dad told him shortly before dying.
False.
Emily’s email proved he knew earlier.
Then he claimed Dad asked him to keep the secret.
Also false.
Dad’s journal contained an entry:
Need to tell boys about Emily. David resistant. Says it complicates succession.
My brother had argued against bringing our sister into the family because of succession.
There it was.
He had seen Emily first as dilution.
Not a person.
Dad had written:
I fear I taught David to count shares before people.
That sentence stayed with me.
Then another journal entry:
Luke would probably handle this best, but he is never home.
That one hurt.
I had left.
Built a life.
Served.
Worked.
None of that was wrong.
But distance has consequences.
I wasn’t responsible for David’s choices.
I was responsible for the fact that Mom sometimes had nobody nearby except the two sons most interested in her assets.
That realization changed what I did next.
I requested reassignment from long-term overseas travel.
Not resignation.
Not martyrdom.
A different position.
May you like
Closer.
Because family care cannot exist only in phone calls if the person needs someone physically present.
