PART 6
By the time we arrived at Richard and Evelyn’s home, the family had already begun splitting apart.
Their house stood on a peaceful street in Newton. Warm yellow light glowed from the windows, and wet leaves shone along the walkway. Evelyn guided me inside as though I might break. The guest suite was on the ground floor. A bassinet had already been positioned beside the bed. Diapers were stacked across the dresser. Fresh towels waited in the bathroom, and a rocking chair stood near the window.
“You had all this?” I asked.
Evelyn’s face softened.
“We hoped one day someone in the family might need us again.”
That night, she fed Noah while Richard helped arrange pillows so I could sleep without my injured arm throbbing. I woke twice when Noah cried, but each time Evelyn was already beside him, speaking softly.
“You rest, Claire,” she said. “Healing is work too.”
The following morning, my grandmother called.
My heart pounded as I answered.
“Claire Elizabeth,” she said.
Her voice was faint but unmistakable.
“Hi, Grandma.”
“Laura showed me the pictures.”
I swallowed. “I didn’t want to upset you.”
“Do not start protecting people who did not protect you.”
My eyes filled with tears.
Then she asked, “Your uncle is there?”
“Yes.”
“Put me on speaker.”
I did.
Richard stood near the kitchen island pouring coffee. The moment he heard her voice, he froze.
“Richard,” Grandma said.
“Mom,” he answered quietly.
Nine years of silence existed inside that single word.
“I owe you an apology,” she said.
Richard lowered his eyes. “No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do. Daniel told me you tried to cheat the estate. Marianne told me Evelyn insulted me. I believed them because I was grieving and tired. Laura sent me the documents you gave her years ago. I read them this morning.”
My chest tightened.
“What documents?” I asked.
Richard rubbed one hand over his face.
Evelyn moved to stand beside him.
Grandma answered. “The trust records after your grandfather died. Richard found withdrawals Daniel had made from my account before the estate was settled. Large ones. Daniel said Richard was trying to steal from the family to cover his own business debts. It was the opposite.”
The kitchen fell silent apart from Noah’s soft breathing in his bassinet.
May you like
I looked at Richard. “Dad took money from Grandma?”
Richard did not answer immediately.
