Chapter 2: The Envelope With Robert's Handwriting
Lauren snatched the document off the counter and read it twice.
Then the color drained from her face.
"This can't be right," she said.
"This has to be a mistake."
Thomas Bennett didn't flinch.
"There is no mistake, Mrs.
Calloway.
Every page has been notarized and filed with the county.
Robert completed this arrangement four years ago."
"Four years?" Lauren spun toward Daniel.
"You knew about this?"
Daniel said nothing.
He was still staring at the papers, one hand gripping the counter like he needed it to stay upright.
Thomas turned to me and spoke quietly.
"Margaret, the property on Hawthorne Lane was placed into a protected trust before Robert passed.
It cannot be sold, transferred, or borrowed against without your written consent.
Not now.
Not ever."
Lauren slammed the document back onto the island.
"She manipulated him.
She must have pressured him into this when he was sick."
"My client was of sound mind," Thomas said.
"I have the medical evaluation on file."
Sophie had stopped crying.
She was watching Lauren with wide, careful eyes.
Then Thomas reached into his portfolio and removed a second envelope — smaller, sealed with Robert's handwriting across the front.
He placed it gently in front of me.
"Robert asked that this be opened only when the time was right," he said.
"I believe that time is now."
Lauren took one step forward.
"What is that?
May you like
What else has she been hiding?"
My hands were trembling as I touched the envelope.
