Chapter 8: My Sister's Hand## Chapter 8: My Sister's Handwriting
I didn't sleep thatwriting
I didn't sleep that night.
At 2:13 a.m., I night.
At 2:13 a.m., I was sitting at my kitchen table, comparing the letter Patricia had shown Ella with three birthday cards Kindra had written over the years.
The capital letters were almost identical was sitting at my kitchen table, comparing the letter Patricia had shown Ella with three birthday cards Kindra had written over the years.
The capital letters were almost identical.
So were the unusual way she crossed her sevens and the little hooks she added to the letter R.
I.
So were the unusual way she crossed her sevens and the little hooks she added to the letter R.
I had never paid attention to my sister's handwriting before.
Now I couldn't stop looking.
At 7 had never paid attention to my sister's handwriting before.
Now I couldn't stop looking.
At 7:30 a.m., David called.
“Marcus, I've spoken to the handwriting examiner.””
“And?””
“The letter Patricia:30 a.m., David called.
“Marcus, I've spoken to the handwriting examiner.””
“And?””
“The letter Patricia showed Ella was almost certainly written by Kindra. The signature at the bottom appears to have been copied from an older document.””
I showed Ella was almost certainly written by Kindra. The signature at the bottom appears to have been copied from an older document.””
I rubbed my eyes.
“Can we prove it?””
“We have a preliminary assessment. The examiner rubbed my eyes.
“Can we prove it?””
“We have a preliminary assessment. The examiner needs the original document for a definitive conclusion.””
“Where is it?””
“Your mother has it.””
I looked at the clock.
“Then needs the original document for a definitive conclusion.””
“Where is it?””
“Your mother has it.””
I looked at the clock.
“Then we need to get it.””
“Not without proper authorization. We have enough to request that the document we need to get it.””
“Not without proper authorization. We have enough to request that the document be preserved.””
I agreed.
But before David could finish explaining the next steps, my phone rang again.
Kindra.
I stared be preserved.””
I agreed.
But before David could finish explaining the next steps, my phone rang again.
Kindra.
I stared at her name.
Then answered.
“What do you want?””
Her voice sounded unusually sweet.
“Marcus, can we talk?””
“About at her name.
Then answered.
“What do you want?””
Her voice sounded unusually sweet.
“Marcus, can we talk?””
“About what?””
“Mom told me you went to Willow Creek yesterday.””
“I did.””
“She said you embarrassed her in front of the police.””
“Did what?””
“Mom told me you went to Willow Creek yesterday.””
“I did.””
“She said you embarrassed her in front of the police.””
“Did she mention why the police were there?””
Kindra sighed.
“Look, I know things got she mention why the police were there?””
Kindra sighed.
“Look, I know things got out of hand. But we're still family.””
I leaned back.
“That's interesting. You didn't seem to remember that out of hand. But we're still family.””
I leaned back.
“That's interesting. You didn't seem to remember that when you took Ella's birthday venue.””
“Can we stop bringing that up?””
“No.””
She became quiet.
Then when you took Ella's birthday venue.””
“Can we stop bringing that up?””
“No.””
She became quiet.
Then she said, “I need you to understand something. Mom has been under a lot of pressure.””
“So have I.””
“It's different she said, “I need you to understand something. Mom has been under a lot of pressure.””
“So have I.””
“It's different. She's worried about the baby.””
I laughed without humor.
“Is that why you wrote a fake. She's worried about the baby.””
I laughed without humor.
“Is that why you wrote a fake letter from Dad?””
Silence.
Then Kindra said, “What letter?””
“The one Grandma showed Ella.””
“I letter from Dad?””
Silence.
Then Kindra said, “What letter?””
“The one Grandma showed Ella.””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“David has already had it examined.””
Her breathing changed.
“Marcus, you can't seriously don't know what you're talking about.””
“David has already had it examined.””
Her breathing changed.
“Marcus, you can't seriously believe Mom would fake something like that.””
“I didn't say Mom wrote it.””
Another silence.
Then she snapped.
“You believe Mom would fake something like that.””
“I didn't say Mom wrote it.””
Another silence.
Then she snapped.
“You've always been jealous of me.””
I stared at the phone.
“What?””
“Ever since we were kids, Dad paid more attention to Ella've always been jealous of me.””
I stared at the phone.
“What?””
“Ever since we were kids, Dad paid more attention to Ella. You always made sure she had everything. I had to fight for everything I got.””
I almost couldn't believe what. You always made sure she had everything. I had to fight for everything I got.””
I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing.
“Kindra, I paid your rent for eleven months.””
“So?””
“I paid your car insurance. Your medical bills. Your groceries. I paid I was hearing.
“Kindra, I paid your rent for eleven months.””
“So?””
“I paid your car insurance. Your medical bills. Your groceries. I paid for the furniture in your apartment.””
“You offered!””
“And now you're telling me I never helped you?””
She for the furniture in your apartment.””
“You offered!””
“And now you're telling me I never helped you?””
She began crying.
“I never asked you to make me feel like I owed you.””
I closed my eyes.
That was the problem.
began crying.
“I never asked you to make me feel like I owed you.””
I closed my eyes.
That was the problem.
She had never felt she owed me anything.
“KindShe had never felt she owed me anything.
“Kindra, did you write the letter?””
She hung up.
I stared at the screen.
Then I called David back.
“She denied it.””
“That's not surprising.””
“Can we get the original?””
“We're working on it.””
At ten, I drovera, did you write the letter?””
She hung up.
I stared at the screen.
Then I called David back.
“She denied it.””
“That's not surprising.””
“Can we get the original?””
“We're working on it.””
At ten, I drove to my mother's house.
I found Kindra's car in the driveway.
My mother opened the door before I knocked.
“You need to my mother's house.
I found Kindra's car in the driveway.
My mother opened the door before I knocked.
“You need to leave.””
“Where's Kindra?””
“She's resting.””
“Then I'll wait.””
Patricia folded her arms.
“You have no right to come to leave.””
“Where's Kindra?””
“She's resting.””
“Then I'll wait.””
Patricia folded her arms.
“You have no right to come here and interrogate us.””
I looked past her.
“I'm not here to interrogate you. I want the original letter.””
She here and interrogate us.””
I looked past her.
“I'm not here to interrogate you. I want the original letter.””
She stepped into the doorway.
“You're becoming obsessed.””
“Someone used Ella's identity, Mom. Someone created a stepped into the doorway.
“You're becoming obsessed.””
“Someone used Ella's identity, Mom. Someone created a fake letter from Dad. Someone attempted to refinance a property using my company's documents.””
Her face hardened.
“Lower your voice.””
“Why? fake letter from Dad. Someone attempted to refinance a property using my company's documents.””
Her face hardened.
“Lower your voice.””
“Why? Are the neighbors going to hear what you've done?””
She glanced toward the street.
Then lowered her voice.
“ Are the neighbors going to hear what you've done?””
She glanced toward the street.
Then lowered her voice.
“Your sister is pregnant. She doesn't need this stress.””
I shook my head.
“You use that sentence every time you want someoneYour sister is pregnant. She doesn't need this stress.””
I shook my head.
“You use that sentence every time you want someone to stop asking to stop asking questions.””
Kindra appeared behind her.
She wore a loose gray sweater and held a mug of tea.
“Just give him the questions.””
Kindra appeared behind her.
She wore a loose gray sweater and held a mug of tea.
“Just give him the letter, Mom.””
Patricia spun around.
“What?””
Kindra looked exhausted.
“Give it to him.””
I stared letter, Mom.””
Patricia spun around.
“What?””
Kindra looked exhausted.
“Give it to him.””
I stared at my sister.
“Where is it?””
She looked at the stairs.
“Upstairs. In Mom's bedroom.””
Patricia grabbed her arm.
“Kindra, don't.””
Kindra pulled away.
“You told me he would never find out.””
My stomach tightened.
“What exactly wouldn't at my sister.
“Where is it?””
She looked at the stairs.
“Upstairs. In Mom's bedroom.””
Patricia grabbed her arm.
“Kindra, don't.””
Kindra pulled away.
“You told me he would never find out.””
My stomach tightened.
“What exactly wouldn't I find out?””
Kindra looked at me.
Then at our mother.
“Everything.””
We went upstairs.
Patricia followed, protesting I find out?””
Kindra looked at me.
Then at our mother.
“Everything.””
We went upstairs.
Patricia followed, protesting the entire way.
Kindra opened a drawer in the bedroom dresser and removed a brown folder.
Inside were several documents the entire way.
Kindra opened a drawer in the bedroom dresser and removed a brown folder.
Inside were several documents.
The fake letter.
A copy of Ella's driver's license.
An old company letterhead.
And a printed copy of my father's original.
The fake letter.
A copy of Ella's driver's license.
An old company letterhead.
And a printed copy of my father's original trust agreement.
I picked up the trust document.
There was a yellow sticky note attached to the front.
trust agreement.
I picked up the trust document.
There was a yellow sticky note attached to the front.
It read:
*Transfer before the baby arrives. Marcus must believe the original agreement was changed.*
I turned towardIt read:
*Transfer before the baby arrives. Marcus must believe the original agreement was changed.*
I turned toward Kindra.
“Who wrote this?””
She looked at our mother.
Patricia said nothing.
Kindra swallowed.
“Mom did.””
My Kindra.
“Who wrote this?””
She looked at our mother.
Patricia said nothing.
Kindra swallowed.
“Mom did.””
My mother slapped the folder out of my hand.
“Enough!””
Papers scattered across the carpet.
I bent down to collect them.
Among the documents was a mother slapped the folder out of my hand.
“Enough!””
Papers scattered across the carpet.
I bent down to collect them.
Among the documents was a handwritten financial breakdown.
The figures made no sense at first.
Then I recognized the amounts handwritten financial breakdown.
The figures made no sense at first.
Then I recognized the amounts.
My monthly payments.
My mother's mortgage assistance.
Kindra's rent.
The $1,850 property payment.
Every amount had been listed in.
My monthly payments.
My mother's mortgage assistance.
Kindra's rent.
The $1,850 property payment.
Every amount had been listed in a column.
Beside several payments were notes.
*Marcus — automatic.*
*Marcus — no questions.*
**Marcus — likely to a column.
Beside several payments were notes.
*Marcus — automatic.*
*Marcus — no questions.*
*Marcus — likely to continue after baby announcement.*
I felt sick.
This wasn't a desperate attempt to manage a difficult situation.
It was a plan built continue after baby announcement.**
I felt sick.
This wasn't a desperate attempt to manage a difficult situation.
It was a plan built around my willingness to help.
I looked at my mother.
“Did you keep records of how much you thought you could get from me?””
She around my willingness to help.
I looked at my mother.
“Did you keep records of how much you thought you could get from me?””
She snatched the paper.
“You're taking things out of context.””
“What's the context?””
“Your father left this family with snatched the paper.
“You're taking things out of context.””
“What's the context?””
“Your father left this family with responsibilities!””
“My father left a trust for Ella.””
“He left me with nothing!””
I stared at her.
“You own your responsibilities!””
“My father left a trust for Ella.””
“He left me with nothing!””
I stared at her.
“You own your house.””
“It's mortgaged!””
“You have savings.””
“Not enough!””
“You receive money from house.””
“It's mortgaged!””
“You have savings.””
“Not enough!””
“You receive money from me every month.””
She pointed at me.
“You have no idea what it costs to maintain this family!””
I looked at Kindra me every month.””
She pointed at me.
“You have no idea what it costs to maintain this family!””
I looked at Kindra.
“Did you know about the birthday venue?””
Kindra's eyes filled.
“Mom said you had agreed to move the.
“Did you know about the birthday venue?””
Kindra's eyes filled.
“Mom said you had agreed to move the party.””
“Did you believe her?””
She hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“Did you know she had redirected the deposit?””
Kindra looked down.
That was my answer.
I took out party.””
“Did you believe her?””
She hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“Did you know she had redirected the deposit?””
Kindra looked down.
That was my answer.
I took out my phone.
“I want photographs of every document.””
Patricia stepped toward me.
“Absolutely not.””
“Then David can my phone.
“I want photographs of every document.””
Patricia stepped toward me.
“Absolutely not.””
“Then David can request them formally.””
Kindra suddenly sat on the edge of the bed.
“Marcus, please.””
I looked at her.
request them formally.””
Kindra suddenly sat on the edge of the bed.
“Marcus, please.””
I looked at her.
“Please what?””
“Don't destroy everything.””
I shook my head.
“You and Mom destroyed it when you decided Ella's future“Please what?””
“Don't destroy everything.””
I shook my head.
“You and Mom destroyed it when you decided Ella's future was something you could take.””
Kindra wiped her cheeks.
“I just wanted my baby to have a home.””
“And was something you could take.””
Kindra wiped her cheeks.
“I just wanted my baby to have a home.””
“And Ella didn't deserve one?””
“That's not what I meant.””
“Then what did you mean?””
She couldn't answer.
I gathered the documents and placed Ella didn't deserve one?””
“That's not what I meant.””
“Then what did you mean?””
She couldn't answer.
I gathered the documents and placed them back in the folder.
My mother stood near the dresser, breathing heavily.
“You're going to regret this.””
I looked at her.
“No, Mom them back in the folder.
My mother stood near the dresser, breathing heavily.
“You're going to regret this.””
I looked at her.
“No, Mom. I regret every year I spent confusing your demands with family obligations.””
I. I regret every year I spent confusing your demands with family obligations.””
I left with the documents after David confirmed that the preservation request had been approved and the originals could be delivered left with the documents after David confirmed that the preservation request had been approved and the originals could be delivered to his office.
But there was one thing I still didn't understand.
Why had my mother been so desperate to make sure the house belonged to Kindra's baby?
The property was worth nearly to his office.
But there was one thing I still didn't understand.
Why had my mother been so desperate to make sure the house belonged to Kindra's baby?
The property was worth nearly half a million dollars.
The trust already protected Ella's interest.
And the mortgage half a million dollars.
The trust already protected Ella's interest.
And the mortgage was dangerously overdue.
There had to be another reason.
I found it that afternoon.
David called me into his office and was dangerously overdue.
There had to be another reason.
I found it that afternoon.
David called me into his office and placed a bank statement on the desk.
“Marcus, the mortgage isn't the only debt attached to Willow Creek.””
He turned the page.
There were three additional placed a bank statement on the desk.
“Marcus, the mortgage isn't the only debt attached to Willow Creek.””
He turned the page.
There were three additional loans.
One for $42,000.
Another for $18,500.
And a third for $76,000.
I stared at the figures loans.
One for $42,000.
Another for $18,500.
And a third for $76,000.
I stared at the figures.
“Who borrowed this money?””
David pointed to the borrower information.
“Your mother.””
“And what did she use it for?””
He slid another document toward me.
The transactions were listed.
“Who borrowed this money?””
David pointed to the borrower information.
“Your mother.””
“And what did she use it for?””
He slid another document toward me.
The transactions were listed in chronological order.
Several transfers went to Kindra.
Others went to an online account registered to a business I didn't recognize.
Then in chronological order.
Several transfers went to Kindra.
Others went to an online account registered to a business I didn't recognize.
Then I saw the largest transfer.
$51,000.
The recipient was Daniel Harper.
I looked up.
“Why would my mother I saw the largest transfer.
$51,000.
The recipient was Daniel Harper.
I looked up.
“Why would my mother send my uncle fifty-one thousand dollars?””
David shook his head.
“That's what we need to ask him.””
Before I send my uncle fifty-one thousand dollars?””
David shook his head.
“That's what we need to ask him.””
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
It was Daniel.
His voice was tense.
“Marcus, I just received a letter from your mother.””
could respond, my phone rang.
It was Daniel.
His voice was tense.
“Marcus, I just received a letter from your mother.””
“What does it say?””
“She says if I don't sign a new property agreement by Friday, she'll“What does it say?””
“She says if I don't sign a new property agreement by Friday, she'll tell the family what I did with your father's inheritance.””
I looked at David.
Then back at the phone.
“What did you do, Uncle Daniel?””
There was a long silence.
Finally tell the family what I did with your father's inheritance.””
I looked at David.
Then back at the phone.
“What did you do, Uncle Daniel?””
There was a long silence.
Finally, he whispered:
“Something your father never knew about.””
May you like
, he whispered:
“Something your father never knew about.””
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