The Day My Sister-in-Law Destroyed Our Family Heirloom—and Exposed Her Own Secrets

: The Secret Beneath the Brass

By midnight, the weddingBy midnight, the wedding guests had gone home, the musicians had packed their instruments, and the Carter guests had gone home, the musicians had packed their instruments, and the Carter family had gathered in Evelyn's living room.

Nobody was family had gathered in Evelyn's living room.

Nobody was celebrating anymore.

The restored wine tower stood beside celebrating anymore.

The restored wine tower stood beside the windows, its green shelves catching the warm glow of the lamps. A few white the windows, its green shelves catching the warm glow of the lamps. A few white roses remained on the tables, and the faint scent of champagne lingered in the air.

roses remained on the tables, and the faint scent of champagne lingered in the air. Celina had changed out of her wedding gown into a simple cream dress, while Zebulon loosen Celina had changed out of her wedding gown into a simple cream dress, while Zebulon loosened his tie and stood near the fireplace.

Saylor sat on the edge of an upholstereded his tie and stood near the fireplace.

Saylor sat on the edge of an upholstered chair, still wearing the plain blue blouse she had worn while working the reception.

chair, still wearing the plain blue blouse she had worn while working the reception.

She had been told to stay.

That alone frightened her.

EvelShe had been told to stay.

That alone frightened her.

Evelyn placed the cream-colored box on the coffee table.

"Before anyone opens this,"yn placed the cream-colored box on the coffee table.

"Before anyone opens this," she said, "I want to know exactly how she said, "I want to know exactly how it ended up at it ended up at the wedding venue.""

Saylor raised both hands slightly.

"I found it beneath the service table. I didn't open it.""

"Did you recognize it?""

"I the wedding venue.""

Saylor raised both hands slightly.

"I found it beneath the service table. I didn't open it.""

"Did you recognize it?""

"I recognized the symbol. I've seen it on some of your old documents.""

recognized the symbol. I've seen it on some of your old documents.""

Evelyn's eyes narrowed.

"Which documents?""

"The ones in your study. IEvelyn's eyes narrowed.

"Which documents?""

"The ones in your study. I saw them once when I came over with Zeb.""

Z saw them once when I came over with Zeb.""

Zebulon turned toward her.

"When was that?""

"Last Christmas.""

"Youebulon turned toward her.

"When was that?""

"Last Christmas.""

"You told me you spent that afternoon helping your mother with her told me you spent that afternoon helping your mother with her shopping.""

Saylor's face tightened.

"I did. I stopped here first.""

Zeb shopping.""

Saylor's face tightened.

"I did. I stopped here first.""

Zebulon looked as though he wanted to ask more questions, but Celina stepped forward.

"Grandulon looked as though he wanted to ask more questions, but Celina stepped forward.

"Grandma, why did you say Dad had spent years protecting whatever is in that box?""

Ema, why did you say Dad had spent years protecting whatever is in that box?""

Evelyn sat down slowly.

"Because your father discovered something about thisvelyn sat down slowly.

"Because your father discovered something about this family shortly before he died.""

Celina stared at her.

"What kind of something?""

Evelyn family shortly before he died.""

Celina stared at her.

"What kind of something?""

Evelyn rested both hands on her knees.

"Your grandfather, Arthur Carter, built his rested both hands on her knees.

"Your grandfather, Arthur Carter, built his business from almost nothing. He bought old properties, restored them, and eventually developed several commercial buildings around business from almost nothing. He bought old properties, restored them, and eventually developed several commercial buildings around Atlanta. People admired him because he made the family wealthy.""

Zebulon nodded.

Atlanta. People admired him because he made the family wealthy.""

Zebulon nodded.

"That's what Dad always told us.""

"Your father told you what he"That's what Dad always told us.""

"Your father told you what he believed you were ready to hear," Evelyn replied.

"Arthur wasn't always honest about how he acquired those properties.""

The room fell silent.

E believed you were ready to hear," Evelyn replied.

"Arthur wasn't always honest about how he acquired those properties.""

The room fell silent.

Evelyn continued.

"Decades ago, Arthurvelyn continued.

"Decades ago, Arthur entered into a business partnership with a carpenter named Samuel Price. Samuel designed custom furniture and restored entered into a business partnership with a carpenter named Samuel Price. Samuel designed custom furniture and restored antique fixtures for Arthur's properties. He was talented, but he didn't have the money to expand his workshop.""

Cel antique fixtures for Arthur's properties. He was talented, but he didn't have the money to expand his workshop.""

Celina glanced at the wine tower.

"Was Samuel the person who made this?""

"He restoredina glanced at the wine tower.

"Was Samuel the person who made this?""

"He restored the original frame. Arthur bought the tower at an estate the original frame. Arthur bought the tower at an estate sale, and Samuel rebuilt it for him. They worked together for years.""

"What happened to sale, and Samuel rebuilt it for him. They worked together for years.""

"What happened to him?"" Zebulon asked.

"Arthur took credit for several of Samuel's designs him?"" Zebulon asked.

"Arthur took credit for several of Samuel's designs. He also used Samuel's financial difficulties to force him out. He also used Samuel's financial difficulties to force him out of their partnership.""

Saylor sat straighter.

"That's awful.""

"It was worse of their partnership.""

Saylor sat straighter.

"That's awful.""

"It was worse than that," Evelyn said.

"Arthur retained control of properties than that," Evelyn said.

"Arthur retained control of properties Samuel had helped finance. When Samuel tried to challenge the arrangement, the legal documents favored Samuel had helped finance. When Samuel tried to challenge the arrangement, the legal documents favored Arthur.""

Celina looked toward the old tower.

"Why didn't Dad Arthur.""

Celina looked toward the old tower.

"Why didn't Dad tell us?""

"He tried to uncover what had happened. He found correspondence tell us?""

"He tried to uncover what had happened. He found correspondence, financial records, and a signed agreement that Arthur had hidden away, financial records, and a signed agreement that Arthur had hidden away. Your father believed Samuel's family had been cheated out of what. Your father believed Samuel's family had been cheated out of what they were owed.""

Evelyn touched the lid of the box.

"He they were owed.""

Evelyn touched the lid of the box.

"He spent years trying to determine what the agreement was worth and whether the spent years trying to determine what the agreement was worth and whether the records could support a claim. He intended to correct the injustice before records could support a claim. He intended to correct the injustice before he died.""

Zebulon rubbed his forehead.

"How much money he died.""

Zebulon rubbed his forehead.

"How much money are we talking about?""

"I don't know the exact amount. The properties changed hands, some are we talking about?""

"I don't know the exact amount. The properties changed hands, some were sold, and others were redeveloped. But the agreement could establish that Samuel's family were sold, and others were redeveloped. But the agreement could establish that Samuel's family had a legitimate financial interest in the original business.""

Celina's voice trembled.

"Then why didn't you tell had a legitimate financial interest in the original business.""

Celina's voice trembled.

"Then why didn't you tell us when Dad died?""

"Because the documents were incomplete. I didn't want to make accusations I couldn't prove, us when Dad died?""

"Because the documents were incomplete. I didn't want to make accusations I couldn't prove, and I didn't want to expose people who might have been wrongly implicated.""

"Who?"" and I didn't want to expose people who might have been wrongly implicated.""

"Who?"" Saylor asked.

Evelyn looked directly at her.

"Your mother Saylor asked.

Evelyn looked directly at her.

"Your mother.""

Saylor stopped moving.

"My mother?""

"Rosalind's father, Thomas Fairbanks, became.""

Saylor stopped moving.

"My mother?""

"Rosalind's father, Thomas Fairbanks, became Arthur's attorney near the end of the partnership. He handled some of the transfers. Your mother inherited his private papers Arthur's attorney near the end of the partnership.

He handled some of the transfers. Your mother inherited his private papers when he died.""

Saylor stared at the box.

"You're saying my when he died.""

Saylor stared at the box.

"You're saying my grandfather helped Arthur take that man's money?""

"I'm saying I don't grandfather helped Arthur take that man's money?""

"I'm saying I don't know exactly what he did. Your father suspected Thomas had information about the original agreement. Rosalind may know exactly what he did.

Your father suspected Thomas had information about the original agreement. Rosalind may have inherited documents that could explain what happened.""

Saylor shook her head.

"Mom never have inherited documents that could explain what happened.""

Saylor shook her head.

"Mom never mentioned anything like that.""

"Perhaps she didn't know. Perhaps she did. I won't accuse her without evidence.""

Celina walked to mentioned anything like that.""

"Perhaps she didn't know. Perhaps she did. I won't accuse her without evidence.""

Celina walked to the window.

The garden outside was dark, but the reflection of the room was clear in the window.

The garden outside was dark, but the reflection of the room was clear in the glass. She could see herself standing beside the restored tower, her wedding flowers the glass. She could see herself standing beside the restored tower, her wedding flowers scattered across the tables, her family gathered around a secret that had shaped their scattered across the tables, her family gathered around a secret that had shaped their lives without their knowledge.

"Dad wanted to make lives without their knowledge.

"Dad wanted to make things right," she said.

"Yes," Evelyn replied.

"And now we're talking about money.""

"We're talking about the truth things right," she said.

"Yes," Evelyn replied.

"And now we're talking about money.""

"We're talking about the truth.""

Celina turned.

"Those things aren't always the same.""

"No," Evelyn.""

Celina turned.

"Those things aren't always the same.""

"No," Evelyn agreed.

"But sometimes the truth is the only way to know what agreed.

"But sometimes the truth is the only way to know what we owe.""

Saylor stared at her hands.

For the first time, she we owe.""

Saylor stared at her hands.

For the first time, she understood why her mother had reacted so sharply when she heard about the wine understood why her mother had reacted so sharply when she heard about the wine tower's destruction. Rosalind had watched the accident happen, but perhaps she had also recognized the symbol on tower's destruction. Rosalind had watched the accident happen, but perhaps she had also recognized the symbol on the box.

Perhaps the tower meant more to her than Saylor had the box.

Perhaps the tower meant more to her than Saylor had ever realized.

"I need to call Mom," Saylor said.

Evelyn shook her head.

" ever realized.

"I need to call Mom," Saylor said.

Evelyn shook her head.

"Not tonight.""

"She might know what's inside.""

"ThenNot tonight.""

"She might know what's inside.""

"Then we'll ask her when we're prepared to hear the answer.""

Saylor stood we'll ask her when we're prepared to hear the answer.""

Saylor stood.

"With respect, Grandma, you don't get to decide when I talk to my.

"With respect, Grandma, you don't get to decide when I talk to my own mother.""

Zebulon looked at her sharply, expecting another argument.

But own mother.""

Zebulon looked at her sharply, expecting another argument.

But Evelyn did not raise her voice.

"You're right. I don't. However, if you call Evelyn did not raise her voice.

"You're right. I don't. However, if you call her now, you may warn her that we have something she believed her now, you may warn her that we have something she believed was lost.""

Saylor froze.

"Lost?""

Evelyn opened the box.

Inside lay a was lost.""

Saylor froze.

"Lost?""

Evelyn opened the box.

Inside lay a bundle of yellowed papers, a small brass key, and a photograph of bundle of yellowed papers, a small brass key, and a photograph of two men standing beside an unfinished piece of furniture.

One was Arthur Carter.

The other was a younger Black two men standing beside an unfinished piece of furniture.

One was Arthur Carter.

The other was a younger Black man with a broad smile and sawdust on his shirt.

On man with a broad smile and sawdust on his shirt.

On the back of the photograph, someone had written a name.

Samuel Price.

Saylor the back of the photograph, someone had written a name.

Samuel Price.

Saylor leaned closer.

Beneath the photograph was a folded legal document leaned closer.

Beneath the photograph was a folded legal document, its edges brittle with age. Evelyn carefully opened it, revealing a series of handwritten signatures and an embossed seal.

Celina, its edges brittle with age. Evelyn carefully opened it, revealing a series of handwritten signatures and an embossed seal.

Celina recognized her father's handwriting on a note tucked recognized her father's handwriting on a note tucked into the fold.

Her knees weakened.

" into the fold.

Her knees weakened.

"That's Dad's writing.""

Evelyn nodded.

"He found the agreementThat's Dad's writing.""

Evelyn nodded.

"He found the agreement six months before he died. He believed it could change everything.""

Z six months before he died. He believed it could change everything.""

Zebulon reached for the note, but Evelyn placed her hand over it.

"Wait.""

Sheebulon reached for the note, but Evelyn placed her hand over it.

"Wait.""

She unfolded the paper completely.

The first paragraph described a partnership between Arthur unfolded the paper completely.

The first paragraph described a partnership between Arthur Carter and Samuel Price. The second outlined the distribution of assets if either partner Carter and Samuel Price. The second outlined the distribution of assets if either partner withdrew from the business.

The final paragraph referred to a sealed schedule containing the names of properties and the percentage of ownership assigned withdrew from the business. The final paragraph referred to a sealed schedule containing the names of properties and the percentage of ownership assigned to each man.

That schedule was missing.

Without it, the document to each man.

That schedule was missing.

Without it, the document was incomplete.

Celina looked at her grandmother.

"Where is the rest?""

Evelyn turned the box upside down, checking was incomplete.

Celina looked at her grandmother.

"Where is the rest?""

Evelyn turned the box upside down, checking the lining.

Nothing.

Saylor examined the photograph the lining.

Nothing.

Saylor examined the photograph, then the brass key.

"Could the missing schedule be somewhere else?""

"Possibly," Evelyn said, then the brass key.

"Could the missing schedule be somewhere else?""

"Possibly," Evelyn said.

"Your father believed there was another copy.""

"Where?""

Evelyn looked toward.

"Your father believed there was another copy.""

"Where?""

Evelyn looked toward the wine tower.

"He suspected Arthur had hidden it inside something the wine tower.

"He suspected Arthur had hidden it inside something Samuel restored.""

Celina's breath caught.

The antique tower.

D Samuel restored.""

Celina's breath caught.

The antique tower.

Dorian had dismantled parts of the brass frame during the restoration.orian had dismantled parts of the brass frame during the restoration. If anything had been hidden inside, it might have been discovered.

"I If anything had been hidden inside, it might have been discovered.

"I'll call him," Celina said.

She reached for her phone.

Before'll call him," Celina said.

She reached for her phone.

Before she could dial, Zebulon's phone began vibrating.

He glanced at she could dial, Zebulon's phone began vibrating.

He glanced at the screen.

His expression changed.

"What's wrong?"" Celina asked.

Zebulon the screen.

His expression changed.

"What's wrong?"" Celina asked.

Zebulon turned the phone so they could see the message.

It came turned the phone so they could see the message.

It came from Rosalind.

*Do not open the sealed compartment in the tower from Rosalind.

Do not open the sealed compartment in the tower. If you already have, nobody is to remove anything from. If you already have, nobody is to remove anything from the house until I arrive.

Evelyn slowly lifted her eyes.

the house until I arrive.*

Evelyn slowly lifted her eyes.

Saylor whispered, "How does she know about the compartment?""

NobodySaylor whispered, "How does she know about the compartment?""

Nobody answered.

Then Celina noticed the brass key lying in the open box.

Its shape answered.

Then Celina noticed the brass key lying in the open box.

Its shape matched the tiny keyhole hidden beneath the tower's lowest shelf matched the tiny keyhole hidden beneath the tower's lowest shelf.

And suddenly, the restoration no longer looked like the end of a.

And suddenly, the restoration no longer looked like the end of a family tragedy.