Chapter 2: The Man Who Had All the Answers
Emmett Harlan arrived at Millie's forty minutes later.
He was seventy-one, wore a charcoal suit, and carried a leather briefcase that looked older than the building.
He'd been Grandpa's attorney for nearly twenty years.
I'd met him at the funeral, where he'd stood quietly beside Grandma and helped organize the paperwork.
He slid into the booth opposite us.
“June, I brought the preliminary estate records.””
Grandma didn't touch them.
“Tell Halley what you remember about her education loan.””
Emmett turned toward me.
“Your grandfather instructed me to arrange the payment in December 2019. He was very specific. He wanted the lender paid directly, with written confirmation.””
“Did it happen?”” I asked.
“Yes.””
My fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
“Then why do I still have a balance?””
Emmett opened his briefcase.
“That's what I intend to establish.””
He removed a folder and placed several documents on the table.
One was a bank transfer confirmation.
Another was a letter from the student loan servicer.
I recognized the account number immediately.
It was mine.
Emmett tapped the document.
“Your grandfather transferred $41,200 from his personal account to an escrow account maintained by my office. The funds were designated exclusively for your student loan payoff.””
“Escrow?””
“Yes. We were instructed to verify the final balance before releasing the money.””
He turned another page.
“The lender confirmed receipt on December 23, 2019.””
I stared at the paper.
“So it was paid?””
“According to the bank record and the lender's confirmation, yes.””
Grandma leaned forward.
“Then who took it?””
Emmett adjusted his glasses.
“I don't know yet.””
I felt an uncomfortable pressure building behind my ribs.
“Could the lender have made an error?””
“It's possible,” he said.
“But I doubt it.””
He showed me the transaction confirmation.
The account had been marked paid in full.
There was a second document.
A request for a refund of an alleged overpayment.
My eyes moved across the page.
The refund had been issued in January 2020.
The amount was $41,200.
I looked up.
“Why would they refund a payoff?””
Emmett's expression became cautious.
“Someone apparently contacted the lender and disputed the payment.””
“Who?””
He rotated the page toward me.
The request contained an authorization signature.
Daniel Overstreet.
My father.
For a moment, the restaurant seemed to lose its sound.
The coffee machine hissed behind the counter.
Someone dropped a spoon.
A waitress laughed.
But all I could hear was my own breathing.
“That's Dad's signature,” I whispered.
Grandma closed her eyes.
Emmett continued.
“The lender's records indicate that the refund was sent to a bank account supplied with the dispute request.””
“Whose account?””
He studied the document.
“An account ending in 7841.””
I knew those numbers.
Not because I had memorized them, but because Dad had once asked me to help organize his business banking paperwork.
His RV repair company account ended in 7841.
I looked at Grandma.
She didn't appear surprised anymore.
That frightened me more than anything.
“Did Grandpa know?”” I asked.
Emmett shook his head.
“I have no evidence that he did.””
“Then he died believing my loans were paid.””
Nobody answered.
I pushed the document away.
“Did Dad tell the lender the payment was unauthorized?””
Emmett nodded.
“The letter states that the payer had mistakenly submitted funds intended for another account.””
Grandma's hand slammed against the table.
“Another account?””
The church ladies at the next booth fell silent.
Emmett lowered his voice.
“June, we should discuss this privately.””
“No. She has spent six years paying money her grandfather already gave her. She deserves to hear everything.””
He took a breath.
“There's one more issue.””
He opened another section of the folder.
“Your grandfather's estate records include a separate account established for family education expenses.””
I remembered what Grandma had said about Bryce.
“How much was in it?””
“Approximately $86,000 when your grandfather died.””
Grandma nodded.
“That was the amount Elwood wanted divided between the grandchildren.””
I stared.
“Both of us?””
“Yes,” Emmett said.
“You and Bryce were each supposed to receive equal educational support.””
“Did Bryce get his?””
Emmett looked down at the paperwork.
“I haven't completed the full reconciliation.””
Grandma's voice sharpened.
“Emmett.””
He sighed.
“Your brother's university payments appear to have been made through a separate account controlled by your father.””
I tried to understand.
“Was that account part of Grandpa's education fund?””
“Some transfers appear to originate from the fund. I need the bank statements to establish the complete amount.””
Grandma leaned back.
For the first time, she looked genuinely exhausted.
“Your grandfather worked those orchards for forty years,” she said quietly.
“He used to wake up before sunrise because he didn't want his grandchildren worrying about money.””
I remembered Grandpa's hands.
The thick fingers.
The small scars.
The dirt that always seemed to remain beneath his fingernails no matter how carefully he washed them.
He'd once told me that money wasn't something to worship.
It was something to use wisely so the people you loved could have choices.
I looked at Emmett.
“What happens now?””
“We request the complete banking records, contact the loan servicer, and preserve the original documents. I also need to speak with your father.””
“No,” Grandma said.
Emmett paused.
“June?””
“He'll lie.””
“That's possible.””
“He'll say it was a misunderstanding. He'll say he was protecting the family. He'll say he intended to repay everything.””
She leaned forward.
“But I want the documents first.””
Emmett nodded.
“That's sensible.””
I looked down at the refund request again.
Dad's signature seemed darker than the printed words surrounding it.
For years, I'd watched him struggle.
I'd seen him postpone repairs on his own truck, wear the same work boots until the soles separated, and skip meals when the business was short on cash.
I'd never considered that he might have taken money meant for me.
I wanted to call him.
I wanted to ask him why.
But I also wanted to hear his answer when he couldn't prepare one.
Grandma reached for her phone.
“I'm calling Daniel.””
“Grandma, wait.””
She looked at me.
“I want to talk to him myself.””
She hesitated, then nodded.
I pulled out my phone.
My father's name appeared near the top of my contacts.
I pressed call.
He answered on the fourth ring.
“Hey, sweetheart.””
His voice sounded exactly as it always had.
Warm.
Casual.
Unconcerned.
“Hi, Dad.””
“Everything okay?””
I looked at the document.
“Grandma and I are having lunch.””
“Oh, good. Tell her I said hello.””
“She asked me about my student loans.””
There was a pause.
Not a long one.
Just long enough.
Then he laughed.
“Why? Is she trying to give you money again?””
I swallowed.
“She says Grandpa paid them off in 2019.””
Another pause.
Then Dad sighed.
“Halley, we talked about this.””
“No, Dad. We didn't.””
“Your grandfather wanted to help, but the payment got complicated. There was a banking issue.””
“Why did the lender send the money back?””
His voice changed.
“What?””
“Why did they refund the $41,200 to your business account?””
Silence.
Grandma watched me.
Emmett slowly closed his briefcase.
Finally, Dad spoke.
“Where did you get that information?””
“From the bank records.””
“Who gave you those?””
“Grandma's attorney.””
He exhaled sharply.
“Halley, listen to me. This isn't something you understand.””
“Then explain it.””
“I was trying to keep the family business alive.””
I stared at the phone.
“So you took my student loan payment?””
“I borrowed it.””
“You told Grandpa it was paid.””
“I intended to replace it.””
“When?””
“Things were difficult.””
I could hear tools clattering in the background.
He was probably at the repair shop.
“Dad, I've been paying $412 every month for years.””
“I know.””
Those two words hurt more than the admission.
He knew.
He knew I'd been working weekends.
He knew I'd been postponing veterinary school.
He knew I'd been watching every dollar.
And he'd known the entire time that the money meant to free me had gone into his business.
I pressed my free hand against my forehead.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because you would've panicked.””
“I was already panicking! I just didn't know why.””
He lowered his voice.
“Halley, I was going to fix it.””
“When?””
“Soon.””
“Dad, that's not an answer.””
He said nothing.
Then another voice came through the background.
Bryce.
“Dad, who's calling?””
I recognized my brother immediately.
Dad covered the phone, but not quickly enough.
“Your sister.””
A few seconds passed.
Then Bryce spoke again.
“Is this about the money?””
My stomach dropped.
Dad returned to the call.
“Halley, we'll talk later.””
“No. I want to know what Bryce knows.””
“Don't drag your brother into this.””
I looked at Grandma.
Her face had gone pale.
“Why would Bryce know anything?””
Dad's voice hardened.
“Because he was there when we discussed it.””
“When?””
“After the orchard sale.””
I blinked.
“What orchard sale?””
Grandma slowly turned toward Emmett.
He opened his briefcase again.
Dad continued.
“Halley, there are things you don't know about your grandfather's estate.””
I looked at the papers.
“What things?””
He hesitated.
Then he said something that made Grandma stand up.
“Your grandfather left instructions that I was supposed to manage the education money. He didn't want you handling it yourself.””
Grandma grabbed the edge of the table.
“Daniel, that's a lie.””
Dad heard her.
His voice rose.
“June, stay out of this.””
Grandma leaned toward my phone.
“Your father has no authority to rewrite Elwood's wishes.””
Dad hung up.
I stared at the screen.
Then Emmett reached into his briefcase and removed a sealed envelope.
“Halley,” he said quietly, “I think you should read this.””
My name was written across the front in Grandpa's handwriting.
May you like
And beneath it were six words:
Open only if Daniel has failed her.
