Chapter 4: The Waiver With My Name
The judge studied the waiver while Elaine settled back into her chair.
Her smile returned slowly.
My lawyer whispered, “Have you ever seen this?”
“Never.”
“Is that your driver’s license number beneath the signature?”
I leaned closer.
Every number matched.
“Yes, but I didn’t put it there.”
Elaine folded her hands.
“Perhaps Connor forgets more than he admits.”
“I didn’t sign away my daughters’ inheritance.”
“You signed it six months after Richard passed.”
“Where?”
“At my attorney’s office.”
Her attorney cleared his throat.
“Not my current office, Your Honor.
Prior counsel prepared the document.”
The judge looked at the seal.
“The notary is Ruth Keller.”
My lawyer checked his tablet.
“Ruth Keller surrendered her commission two years ago and moved out of state.”
“The document predates that,” Elaine said.
Victor leaned toward me.
“Ask for the date of the seal.”
My lawyer was already on his feet.
“Your Honor, may we inspect the original?”
The clerk carried it over.
My lawyer held it beneath the desk lamp, then pointed to the embossed circle.
“This seal shows a commission expiration date three years after Ms.
Keller surrendered it.”
Elaine’s attorney went still.
Elaine shook her head.
“That proves nothing.
Notaries renew commissions.”
“Not after moving across the country,” my lawyer said.
The judge called a recess and ordered both original documents held by the clerk.
Elaine passed me in the hallway without looking over.
Then she stopped beside the drinking fountain.
“You should take the deal before this becomes ugly.”
Paige stepped between us.
“Stay away from him.”
Elaine looked past her.
“I can restore a few thousand dollars.
Connor withdraws the petition, and everyone goes home.”
“Every dollar,” I said.
“Every record.
And you step down as trustee.”
“You don’t make demands of me.”
“I just did.”
Her voice dropped.
“Keep pushing, and your daughters will learn why Richard never treated you like Melissa.”
My chest tightened.
“What are you talking about?”
“You always wondered why he missed your games.”
“Richard worked nights.”
“He missed them because looking at you reminded him of something.”
Paige took my hand.
“Connor, don’t let her do this.”
Elaine leaned close enough that I could smell her perfume.
“Richard wasn’t your biological father.”
The hallway seemed to tilt.
My shoulder struck the wall.
Paige caught my arm.
“Look at me.”
Elaine gave a small shrug.
“There.
Now you understand why Melissa’s children came first.”
“You’re lying,” I said.
“Ask Victor.”
Emma’s voice came from behind us.
“Grandma?”
We turned.
Emma and Riley stood with Paige’s sister, who had brought them from school after the hearing ran late.
Emma’s backpack slipped from one shoulder.
“You said Grandpa loved us.”
Elaine looked annoyed rather than ashamed.
“He was kind to you.
That isn’t the same thing.”
Riley moved behind Emma.
Paige pointed toward the courtroom doors.
“You will never speak to our children that way again.”
Elaine’s attorney hurried into the hallway.
“Elaine, stop talking.”
“She wanted the truth,” Elaine said.
“No,” Emma whispered.
“You wanted it to hurt.”
Her words landed harder than anything Elaine had said to me.
I bent down, but my knees nearly gave way.
Paige lowered herself beside me and kept one hand on my back.
Emma touched my face.
“Dad, are we still Grandpa’s family?”
I tried to answer.
Nothing came out.
Victor approached with red-rimmed eyes.
In his hand was a smaller envelope, yellowed at the edges.
“Yes,” he said to Emma.
“Your grandfather answered that question himself.”
Elaine stared at the envelope.
May you like
Victor held it against his chest.
“Richard knew the truth for thirty-eight years.”
