Chapter 5: The Letter From a Dead Father
Daniel sat on the edge of our bed, staring at Brooke's message.
I stood beside him.
"Ask her what she means.""
He typed.
*Daniel:* What did you do with Dad's envelope?
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Then appeared again.
*Brooke:* I have it. We need to talk.
*Daniel:* Bring it back.
*Brooke:* Not until you understand what Mom has been protecting you from.
I felt a chill.
Daniel looked at me.
"She's playing games.""
"Then stop playing along.""
He called Brooke.
She answered after several rings.
"Daniel, I knew you'd call.""
"Where are you?""
"At home.""
"Bring Dad's papers tomorrow.""
A sigh.
"You're making this unnecessarily difficult.""
"Brooke, you took something from my bedroom.""
"Mom gave it to me.""
"She had no right.""
"She was trying to protect you.""
Daniel stood.
"Stop saying that! Protect me from what?""
Brooke lowered her voice.
"From the truth about your father.""
Daniel went completely still.
I watched his face.
"What truth?""
"You should ask Mom why Dad changed his will.""
The call ended.
Daniel slowly lowered the phone.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then he walked toward the closet.
I followed.
He pulled out an old photograph from the brown box.
It showed him at twelve years old, standing beside his father in front of their old house.
Robert had one hand on his son's shoulder.
Daniel smiled faintly.
"That's the last summer we spent together before he got sick.""
I sat beside him.
"Did he ever mention an inheritance?""
Daniel shook his head.
"He used to say he wanted me to have choices. He said money shouldn't decide what kind of life I lived.""
His voice cracked.
"Mom told me he spent everything on medical bills.""
I touched his hand.
"Maybe he was trying to leave you something without making you feel obligated.""
Daniel looked at the photograph.
"I should have asked more questions.""
I shook my head.
"You were grieving. You trusted your mother.""
He looked at me.
"And now she's using that trust against us.""
The following morning, Brooke arrived without warning.
She carried a cream-colored handbag and wore the same polished smile she always brought into our home.
Patricia followed her downstairs.
"Daniel, sweetheart," Brooke said, "I'm glad you've calmed down.""
Daniel didn't return her smile.
"Give me Dad's envelope.""
Brooke placed her handbag on the kitchen counter.
"Can we have a civil conversation first?""
"No.""
Patricia sighed.
"This is exactly what I've been telling you. Your wife has made you aggressive.""
I folded my arms.
"Please stop using me as an excuse.""
Brooke looked at me.
"Nobody is talking to you.""
"It's my house.""
"And here we go again.""
Daniel stepped between us.
"Enough. Where are the papers?""
Brooke opened her handbag and removed a brown envelope.
She placed it on the counter.
Daniel immediately picked it up.
The seal had been broken.
Inside were several documents and a handwritten letter.
He unfolded the letter.
The handwriting was unmistakably his father's.
My dear Daniel,
If you're reading this, I hope you are old enough to understand why I made certain arrangements.
Your mother and I have not agreed about money for many years. I have always believed that financial security should belong to the person it is intended to protect.
I have established a trust for you. It is not a gift to your mother, nor is it intended to become an inheritance for anyone else.
When you reach the age of thirty, you should be given full access to the trust records.
Daniel stopped reading.
He looked up.
"Mom?""
Patricia's face had gone pale.
He continued.
I have also made arrangements to ensure that the trust cannot be used to purchase, transfer, or secure property without your informed consent.
Daniel turned the page.
There was a signature.
Robert's.
And another signature beneath it.
An attorney's.
Rebecca had been right.
The trust had been designed specifically to protect Daniel's inheritance.
Brooke crossed her arms.
"That letter doesn't tell you everything.""
Daniel looked at her.
"Then tell me.""
She took a breath.
"After Dad died, Mom discovered that the trust had conditions. She couldn't simply withdraw the money.""
"Why?""
"Because Dad didn't trust her judgment.""
Patricia gasped.
"Brooke!""
But Brooke continued.
"He knew she would spend it on other people. He wanted Daniel to receive it directly.""
Daniel stared at his mother.
"Did you know?""
Patricia looked away.
"Your father was a difficult man.""
"Did you know about the trust?""
She said nothing.
"Mom!""
Finally, Patricia nodded.
"Yes.""
Daniel took a step backward.
"All these years?""
"I was trying to protect you.""
"From my own inheritance?""
Patricia raised her voice.
"Your father left me with nothing!""
"That's not true!""
"He made me promise to manage the money!""
"And you never told me?""
Brooke interrupted.
"Because there was a problem.""
Daniel turned.
"What problem?""
Brooke opened her handbag again.
This time, she removed a photocopy of a bank statement.
She placed it beside the letter.
The statement showed several large withdrawals.
Daniel read the dates.
His face changed.
"These transactions...""
Brooke nodded.
"Mom borrowed against the trust. She said she would repay everything.""
"How much?""
Brooke looked at Patricia.
Patricia began crying.
"Don't make me say it.""
Daniel's voice became almost inaudible.
"How much, Mom?""
Brooke answered.
"Over four hundred thousand dollars.""
The kitchen fell silent.
Daniel gripped the counter.
"Where did the money go?""
Patricia wiped her cheeks.
"Investments.""
"What investments?""
She looked toward Brooke.
Brooke looked away.
That was when I noticed something.
The bank statement contained a company name I recognized.
It was the same company listed in the property document Rebecca had reviewed.
A company called Northbridge Holdings.
I picked up the paper.
"Brooke, why is your company listed as the recipient?""
She snatched the statement from my hand.
"That's none of your business.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Your sister received money from your father's trust.""
Brooke's expression hardened.
"It was a business arrangement.""
"Then why did you hide it?""
"Because Mom wanted to help me.""
Daniel stared at his sister.
"You used Dad's money?""
Brooke lifted her chin.
"I was building something for the family.""
"What family?""
She didn't answer.
Instead, she looked at Patricia.
Then she said something that made the room go cold.
"Mom, tell him why the trust needs to be settled before December.""
Patricia stopped crying.
Daniel turned toward her.
"Why December?""
His mother slowly lowered herself into a chair.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"Because the money is almost gone.""
