Chapter 5 - The Will Was Almost Funny
Natalie asked if I wanted to know about my parents’ estate plan.
“No.”
Three seconds passed.
“Yes.”
The house:
Lauren and Eric.
Business interests:
mostly Eric.
Jewelry:
Lauren.
Personal property divided heavily toward both of them.
My inheritance:
$10,000.
And Dad’s watch.
An accompanying memorandum explained why.
RACHEL IS FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT AND HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH SUCCESS.
I laughed so hard Natalie stopped talking.
My reward for financing the family was written proof that I did not need anything from the family.
Then the forged subordination metadata came back.
The signature packet had been opened from two devices.
One connection associated with Lauren and Derek’s house.
Another device identified as Diane’s tablet.
Lauren called me that evening.
“I didn’t sign your name.”
“I didn’t say you did.”
“Derek said it was just paperwork.”
I stayed silent.
“He said you had already agreed.”
“Did I tell you that?”
“No.”
“Did you ask me?”
“No.”
“Then you didn’t think I agreed.”
She started crying.
“I thought Mom talked to you.”
“You hoped somebody had.”
Silence.
“That is different.”
Then Lauren whispered:
“I didn’t know they were taking that much money.”
I almost laughed.
“You knew enough to expect some.”
She had no answer.
The lender’s investigation continued.
So did the title company’s.
I did not accuse anyone publicly.
Natalie kept repeating the same rule.
May you like
“Evidence first.”
For once in my life, I stopped fixing the family emergency before the adults who created it had to explain themselves.
