Chapter 5: What Margaret Whitmore Knew About Her Daughter
Daniel didn't speak for several seconds.
Then he slowly lowered the brown envelope.
“Where is it?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Dad, please.””
“Where is your mother's second letter?””
“I don't have it.””
“Vanessa.””
“I said I don't have it!””
Her voice echoed through the ballroom.
A waiter carrying a tray of untouched champagne stopped near the entrance.
The guests were no longer pretending not to listen.
I stepped toward Vanessa.
“What does the second letter say?””
She looked at me.
“Nothing that concerns you.””
“Apparently, everything concerns me tonight.””
“You're making this worse.””
I almost laughed.
“You've spent the entire evening making my mother feel worthless, and now you're worried about things getting worse?””
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“I was trying to protect my family.””
Daniel looked exhausted.
“Your mother was my family too. And she trusted Eleanor more than she trusted you.””
Vanessa flinched.
That sentence seemed to hurt her more than anything else.
My mother gently touched Daniel's arm.
“Please don't turn this into a fight. Margaret wouldn't have wanted that.””
Daniel nodded.
“You're right.””
He looked at me.
“Marcus, I think you should hear the rest somewhere private.””
I agreed.
We left through a side entrance into a quiet conference room beside the ballroom.
The room smelled of fresh coffee and polished wood. A long table stood beneath recessed lights. Someone had left a plate of untouched wedding cake near the window.
My mother sat beside me.
Daniel remained standing.
Vanessa followed us inside.
“I don't have to be here,” she said.
“No,” I replied.
“You don't.””
She looked surprised.
For months, she had been accustomed to deciding where I went, who I saw, and which family obligations mattered.
Tonight, I wasn't asking her permission.
She pulled out a chair and sat down.
Daniel opened his phone.
“I've contacted the attorney who handled Margaret's estate. He's on his way.””
Vanessa's head snapped up.
“You called Jonathan?””
“Yes.””
“You had no right!””
“He was your mother's attorney.””
“He has confidential information!””
“And the documents concern Richard's trust and Marcus's inheritance.””
She stood abruptly.
“This is unbelievable.””
My mother looked at her.
“Vanessa, sweetheart, why are you so afraid?””
Vanessa turned toward her.
“Don't call me that.””
My mother recoiled slightly.
I immediately stood.
“Don't speak to her that way.””
Vanessa threw her hands up.
“See? This is exactly the problem. Everything is always about Eleanor!””
Daniel slammed his palm against the table.
“Because Eleanor never asked anyone to choose between her and the people she loved!””
The room fell silent.
My mother looked down.
Daniel took a breath.
“Margaret and Eleanor became close after Richard died. At first, Margaret felt guilty. She believed she should have been able to save her marriage. She also knew Richard had wanted Eleanor and the baby to be protected.””
He pulled out another photograph.
It showed Margaret sitting in a wheelchair beside a hospital bed.
Vanessa, perhaps ten years old, stood next to her.
A younger Eleanor was holding a cup of water.
“Your mother became ill when you were a child,” Daniel said to Vanessa.
“Eleanor visited almost every week.””
I looked at my mother.
“You never told me.””
She gave a faint smile.
“I didn't think it mattered.””
Daniel continued.
“During that period, Margaret began noticing things about Vanessa. She was frightened by how much her daughter cared about appearances and money.””
Vanessa's face hardened.
“I was a child.””
“Yes,” Daniel replied.
“And your mother loved you. But she also knew you needed guidance.””
He opened a folder on his phone.
“There were several letters between Margaret and her attorney. One was written six months before she died.””
He read aloud.
Vanessa is becoming increasingly interested in the financial side of the Whitmore family. She has asked several times about Richard's estate and Marcus's future inheritance.
I am concerned that she sees Marcus as an opportunity rather than a person.
Vanessa covered her face.
“Stop reading.””
Daniel continued.
I hope I am wrong. I want my daughter to be happy. But if she ever approaches Marcus, I want him to know that his mother must never be treated as an obstacle.
My stomach tightened.
“Was that why you never told me about Vanessa's connection to my mother?”” I asked Daniel.
He lowered his phone.
“I was wrong. I thought they had grown apart. I also believed Vanessa would tell you herself.””
I looked at him.
“You knew she had recognized Mom?””
“Yes.””
“And you let her behave that way?””
His face crumpled.
“I didn't know she would go this far.””
I shook my head.
“You should have told me.””
“I know.””
A knock interrupted us.
A man in his late fifties entered carrying a black leather briefcase.
“Daniel,” he said.
“I came as quickly as I could.””
Daniel introduced him as Jonathan Pierce, the attorney who had managed Margaret's estate.
Jonathan shook my hand.
“Marcus, I'm sorry we are meeting under these circumstances.””
He placed his briefcase on the table.
“I understand the wedding has been stopped.””
“Yes,” I replied.
Jonathan nodded.
“Perhaps that is fortunate.””
Vanessa stood.
“Mr. Pierce, I need to speak with you privately.””
Jonathan didn't move.
“I believe everything should be discussed with Marcus and Eleanor present.””
“You're my mother's attorney!””
“I was. I am now administering the remaining provisions of her estate.””
He removed a sealed envelope from his briefcase.
The handwriting was the same as the first letter.
Vanessa stared at it.
Jonathan placed it in front of me.
“Your mother-in-law left this with instructions that it be opened only after the first letter had been read.””
I glanced at Vanessa.
She looked as though she might faint.
Jonathan continued.
“There's one more condition. Before I read this document, I need to ask Vanessa something.””
She swallowed.
“What?””
“Did you recently contact my office requesting a change to the beneficiary arrangements?””
Vanessa's face drained of color.
Jonathan opened his briefcase and removed a printed email.
“Yes or no, Vanessa.””
She looked at her father.
Then at me.
Finally, she whispered:
“Yes.””
May you like
Jonathan placed the email on the table.
“Then I think everyone needs to understand what you were trying to accomplish.””
