Chapter 4: The Letter From the Dead## Chapter 4: The Letter From the Dead
Marcus couldn't take his
Marcus couldn't take his eyes off the envelope.
His name was written across the front in Olivia's handwriting, the same delicate handwriting eyes off the envelope.
His name was written across the front in Olivia's handwriting, the same delicate handwriting that used to appear on grocery lists, birthday cards, and the little notes she that used to appear on grocery lists, birthday cards, and the little notes she tucked into his lunchbox when they were younger and broke enough to share one car.
He reached for it.
Elaine pulled tucked into his lunchbox when they were younger and broke enough to share one car.
He reached for it.
Elaine pulled it back.
"Before you read that, you need to understand something.""
Marcus stared at her.
"Why do you have a letter addressed to me from my dead wife?""
Vanessa stood beside the sofa, twisting it back.
"Before you read that, you need to understand something.""
Marcus stared at her.
"Why do you have a letter addressed to me from my dead wife?""
Vanessa stood beside the sofa, twisting her wedding ring around her finger.
Elaine lowered her voice.
"Vanessa found it in a box of Olivia's belongings in the garage. She asked me to help her sort through some things. We found several financial documents, and then this.""
Marcus her wedding ring around her finger.
Elaine lowered her voice.
"Vanessa found it in a box of Olivia's belongings in the garage. She asked me to help her sort through some things. We found several financial documents, and then this.""
Marcus looked at his wife.
"You went through Olivia's things?""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"They've been sitting in boxes for years. Nobody was doing anything with them.""
"Those looked at his wife.
"You went through Olivia's things?""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"They've been sitting in boxes for years. Nobody was doing anything with them.""
"Those boxes were private.""
"They're in our house, Marcus.""
"They belonged to my wife.""
"Your former wife," Vanessa corrected boxes were private.""
"They're in our house, Marcus.""
"They belonged to my wife.""
"Your former wife," Vanessa corrected.
The room fell silent.
Ethan appeared at the top of the stairs.
He looked down, noticed the adults, and immediately disappeared again.
The room fell silent.
Ethan appeared at the top of the stairs.
He looked down, noticed the adults, and immediately disappeared again.
Marcus took a slow breath.
"Give me the envelope.""
Elaine finally handed it over.
The seal was still intact.
Marcus carefully opened it,.
Marcus took a slow breath.
"Give me the envelope.""
Elaine finally handed it over.
The seal was still intact.
Marcus carefully opened it, almost afraid the paper would tear beneath his fingers.
Inside were three sheets of handwritten paper, a copy of an insurance policy, and a small white card with almost afraid the paper would tear beneath his fingers.
Inside were three sheets of handwritten paper, a copy of an insurance policy, and a small white card with the name of a law firm printed across it.
He unfolded the first page.
Marcus,
*If you're reading this, I probably didn't the name of a law firm printed across it.
He unfolded the first page.
Marcus,
If you're reading this, I probably didn't get the chance to explain everything myself. I know you will be scared, and I know you will want to fix everything immediately. Please don't. Read this first.
His vision blurred get the chance to explain everything myself. I know you will be scared, and I know you will want to fix everything immediately. Please don't. Read this first.*
His vision blurred.
He sat down.
Vanessa took one step closer.
"What does it say?""
Marcus ignored her.
He continued.
*The life insurance money was never meant to become household money.
He sat down.
Vanessa took one step closer.
"What does it say?""
Marcus ignored her.
He continued.
*The life insurance money was never meant to become household money. I arranged for Lily's portion to be protected in a separate trust. You are her father, and I trust you more than anyone, but.
I arranged for Lily's portion to be protected in a separate trust. You are her father, and I trust you more than anyone, but I wanted to make sure her future would never depend on who you married or what happened to the house.*
Marcus stopped reading.
He looked at the attached policy.
The policy had a substantial I wanted to make sure her future would never depend on who you married or what happened to the house.*
Marcus stopped reading.
He looked at the attached policy.
The policy had a substantial benefit. The documents identified Lily as the sole beneficiary of a separate trust established through Olivia's estate plan.
Marcus remembered the insurance payment.
He had assumed that benefit. The documents identified Lily as the sole beneficiary of a separate trust established through Olivia's estate plan.
Marcus remembered the insurance payment.
He had assumed that everything had been handled through their original financial adviser. He had never realized Olivia had created a separate arrangement for Lily.
He turned to everything had been handled through their original financial adviser. He had never realized Olivia had created a separate arrangement for Lily.
He turned to the second page.
*There are people who will tell you that money intended for a child can be used for the family's needs. Sometimes that sounds reasonable the second page.
There are people who will tell you that money intended for a child can be used for the family's needs. Sometimes that sounds reasonable. Sometimes it sounds like love. But Lily deserves something that belongs only to her.
Marcus lowered the page.
Elaine was watching him.
"What does it mean. Sometimes it sounds like love. But Lily deserves something that belongs only to her.*
Marcus lowered the page.
Elaine was watching him.
"What does it mean?"" he asked.
She clasped her hands.
"It means Olivia was careful.""
"How do you know about the policy?""
"Vanessa explained the paperwork.""
Marcus turned toward his wife.
"What paperwork?""
Vanessa folded?"" he asked.
She clasped her hands.
"It means Olivia was careful.""
"How do you know about the policy?""
"Vanessa explained the paperwork.""
Marcus turned toward his wife.
"What paperwork?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"I was trying to understand the household finances.""
"Why?""
"Because you never explain anything to me.""
"The trust belongs to Lily.""
Vanessa gave a short, humorless laugh.
" her arms.
"I was trying to understand the household finances.""
"Why?""
"Because you never explain anything to me.""
"The trust belongs to Lily.""
Vanessa gave a short, humorless laugh.
"Nobody said otherwise.""
Marcus held up the document.
"Then why did your application list theNobody said otherwise.""
Marcus held up the document.
"Then why did your application list the insurance proceeds as available household assets?""
Vanessa's expression changed.
Elaine looked at her daughter.
Marcus saw it.
The quick exchange of eyes.
The tiny movement of insurance proceeds as available household assets?""
Vanessa's expression changed.
Elaine looked at her daughter.
Marcus saw it.
The quick exchange of eyes.
The tiny movement of Vanessa's jaw.
He knew the answer before she spoke.
"That was an administrative mistake," Vanessa said.
"An administrative mistake?""
"Yes.""
"You listed my daughter's protected money as part of your financial application.""
"It was just a preliminary assessment.""
"You also requested a Vanessa's jaw.
He knew the answer before she spoke.
"That was an administrative mistake," Vanessa said.
"An administrative mistake?""
"Yes.""
"You listed my daughter's protected money as part of your financial application.""
"It was just a preliminary assessment.""
"You also requested a loan against the house and prepared papers to move Lily out.""
Vanessa threw her hands up.
"Everything I do becomes loan against the house and prepared papers to move Lily out.""
Vanessa threw her hands up.
"Everything I do becomes evidence against me!""
Marcus looked back at Olivia's letter.
There was one final paragraph on the second page.
*I have given the original trust documents to Nora Bennett at Bennett evidence against me!""
Marcus looked back at Olivia's letter.
There was one final paragraph on the second page.
I have given the original trust documents to Nora Bennett at Bennett and Cole. If anyone tries to change the beneficiary, move the money, or use Lily's name to obtain credit, call her immediately. She knows what I wanted.
At the bottom was a date.
Three and Cole. If anyone tries to change the beneficiary, move the money, or use Lily's name to obtain credit, call her immediately. She knows what I wanted.*
At the bottom was a date.
Three weeks before Olivia died.
Marcus stared at the law firm's name.
Then he picked up the white card.
"Nora Bennett.""
Elaine looked uncomfortable.
"She's a lawyer?""
"Apparently weeks before Olivia died.
Marcus stared at the law firm's name.
Then he picked up the white card.
"Nora Bennett.""
Elaine looked uncomfortable.
"She's a lawyer?""
"Apparently.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Marcus, listen to me. We don't need to involve more lawyers.""
He looked at her.
"Why not?""
"Because we can.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Marcus, listen to me. We don't need to involve more lawyers.""
He looked at her.
"Why not?""
"Because we can work this out.""
"Did you know about the trust?""
Vanessa didn't respond.
"Did you know Lily had money that couldn't be used for your business?""
"I work this out.""
"Did you know about the trust?""
Vanessa didn't respond.
"Did you know Lily had money that couldn't be used for your business?""
"I didn't know the exact terms.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Vanessa took a breath.
"Your wife left a lot of money behind. I thought it was reasonable for us to understand what was available.""
Marcus stood.
"Your understanding isn't didn't know the exact terms.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Vanessa took a breath.
"Your wife left a lot of money behind. I thought it was reasonable for us to understand what was available.""
Marcus stood.
"Your understanding isn't ownership.""
Elaine suddenly spoke.
"You're missing the bigger picture.""
Marcus turned toward her.
"Then explain it.""
"Vanessa's business is struggling. She has two children ownership.""
Elaine suddenly spoke.
"You're missing the bigger picture.""
Marcus turned toward her.
"Then explain it.""
"Vanessa's business is struggling. She has two children to support. She needs stability, just like Lily.""
"Then why is Lily's money on your daughter's financial application?""
Elaine looked to support. She needs stability, just like Lily.""
"Then why is Lily's money on your daughter's financial application?""
Elaine looked down.
Vanessa stepped in front of her.
"Because I was trying to save something that matters to me.""
"Your boutique?""
"Our family down.
Vanessa stepped in front of her.
"Because I was trying to save something that matters to me.""
"Your boutique?""
"Our family!""
Marcus shook his head.
"You don't save a family by making one child disappear.""
Vanessa's!""
Marcus shook his head.
"You don't save a family by making one child disappear.""
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
"You make it sound so cruel.""
"Because it is.""
She walked toward him.
"Do you know how much pressure I've been under? My business is behind on payments. My mother has helped me. I've been eyes filled with tears.
"You make it sound so cruel.""
"Because it is.""
She walked toward him.
"Do you know how much pressure I've been under? My business is behind on payments. My mother has helped me. I've been trying to keep everything together while you spend all your time worrying about Lily.""
Marcus looked at her.
"How much does your business owe?""
She trying to keep everything together while you spend all your time worrying about Lily.""
Marcus looked at her.
"How much does your business owe?""
She looked away.
"That's not important.""
"How much?""
Vanessa's lips trembled.
"Just under two hundred thousand.""
Marcus stared at her.
He had thought she was struggling with perhaps twenty looked away.
"That's not important.""
"How much?""
Vanessa's lips trembled.
"Just under two hundred thousand.""
Marcus stared at her.
He had thought she was struggling with perhaps twenty or thirty thousand.
Two hundred thousand dollars was a different problem altogether.
"Where did that debt come from?""
"I expanded too quickly.""
"How much did you borrow?""
"Marcus—"
"How or thirty thousand.
Two hundred thousand dollars was a different problem altogether.
"Where did that debt come from?""
"I expanded too quickly.""
"How much did you borrow?""
"Marcus—"
"How much?""
She finally whispered, "One hundred and eighty-six thousand.""
Elaine intervened.
"She was trying to grow something. much?""
She finally whispered, "One hundred and eighty-six thousand.""
Elaine intervened.
"She was trying to grow something. That's not a crime.""
"No," Marcus said.
"But hiding debt, forging financial documents, and trying to use a child's trust money are serious matters.""
Vanessa suddenly pointed at him.
"You benefited from That's not a crime.""
"No," Marcus said.
"But hiding debt, forging financial documents, and trying to use a child's trust money are serious matters.""
Vanessa suddenly pointed at him.
"You benefited from that insurance money too! We live in the house it helped pay for!""
Marcus looked at the letter.
Olivia had warned him.
Sometimes it sounds like love.
He folded the papers that insurance money too! We live in the house it helped pay for!""
Marcus looked at the letter.
Olivia had warned him.
Sometimes it sounds like love.
He folded the papers carefully.
"The house was purchased before I married you. Lily's trust is separate. And your business debts are yours to explain.""
Vanessa's face flushed.
"You think you're carefully.
"The house was purchased before I married you. Lily's trust is separate. And your business debts are yours to explain.""
Vanessa's face flushed.
"You think you're better than me because your first wife left you money?""
"No. I think I'm responsible for protecting my daughter.""
He put the letter and documents into a folder.
Elaine stood.
"Marcus, you don't understand what we've been trying to do.""
"Then tell better than me because your first wife left you money?""
"No. I think I'm responsible for protecting my daughter.""
He put the letter and documents into a folder.
Elaine stood.
"Marcus, you don't understand what we've been trying to do.""
"Then tell me.""
Her mouth opened.
But no words came.
Marcus headed for the hallway.
Vanessa followed him.
"Where are you going?""
"To make copies me.""
Her mouth opened.
But no words came.
Marcus headed for the hallway.
Vanessa followed him.
"Where are you going?""
"To make copies of these documents and call the attorney Olivia named.""
"You're going to destroy our marriage over this?""
Marcus stopped near the staircase.
"No, Vanessa. You of these documents and call the attorney Olivia named.""
"You're going to destroy our marriage over this?""
Marcus stopped near the staircase.
"No, Vanessa. You started destroying it when you decided my daughter was an obstacle.""
He walked upstairs.
As he passed Lily's bedroom, he heard her laughing started destroying it when you decided my daughter was an obstacle.""
He walked upstairs.
As he passed Lily's bedroom, he heard her laughing softly at something on her tablet.
The sound stopped him.
He opened the door.
She was sitting on the carpet with her rabbit beside her, watching a cartoon.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
She looked up.
"Hi, Daddy.""
Marcus smiled.
"Can I softly at something on her tablet.
The sound stopped him.
He opened the door.
She was sitting on the carpet with her rabbit beside her, watching a cartoon.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
She looked up.
"Hi, Daddy.""
Marcus smiled.
"Can I ask you something?""
She nodded.
"Do you remember the box with Mommy's old photographs?""
"The blue one?""
"Yes.""
"Vanessa moved it.""
ask you something?""
She nodded.
"Do you remember the box with Mommy's old photographs?""
"The blue one?""
"Yes.""
"Vanessa moved it.""
Marcus felt his smile disappear.
"When?""
"Last week. She put it in the garage.""
"Did she open it?""
Lily nodded.
"She said theMarcus felt his smile disappear.
"When?""
"Last week. She put it in the garage.""
"Did she open it?""
Lily nodded.
"She said the pictures were making the house messy.""
Marcus sat beside her.
"What happened to the pictures?""
"I don't know. But I saw one with Mommy holding me when I was a baby.""
"Where?""
Lily pointed toward the closet pictures were making the house messy.""
Marcus sat beside her.
"What happened to the pictures?""
"I don't know. But I saw one with Mommy holding me when I was a baby.""
"Where?""
Lily pointed toward the closet.
"Vanessa put it in a black bag.""
Marcus looked at the closet.
He found the bag behind two storage boxes.
Inside were several photographs.
"Vanessa put it in a black bag.""
Marcus looked at the closet.
He found the bag behind two storage boxes.
Inside were several photographs, an old baby blanket, and a small wooden keepsake box.
He lifted the lid.
There was a tiny silver hair clip, a hospital bracelet, and an, an old baby blanket, and a small wooden keepsake box.
He lifted the lid.
There was a tiny silver hair clip, a hospital bracelet, and an old USB drive.
A label was attached.
For Lily. When she's old enough.
Marcus felt a lump form in his throat.
Olivia had made a video.
He old USB drive.
A label was attached.
For Lily. When she's old enough.
Marcus felt a lump form in his throat.
Olivia had made a video.
He carefully placed the drive back inside.
He wasn't going to open it without knowing what she had intended.
Then his phone vibrated.
A new email had arrived.
The sender was Nora Bennett.
The subject line read:
**Ol carefully placed the drive back inside.
He wasn't going to open it without knowing what she had intended.
Then his phone vibrated.
A new email had arrived.
The sender was Nora Bennett.
The subject line read:
*Olivia Reed Trust — Urgent Verification Required.*
Marcus opened it.
Mr. Reed,
I was informed this afternoon that a third party may have attempted toivia Reed Trust — Urgent Verification Required.*
Marcus opened it.
Mr. Reed,
I was informed this afternoon that a third party may have attempted to obtain information about the trust established for your daughter. Please call me before taking any further action.
There is something about the original beneficiary documentation that I believe you need to see in person.
Marcus looked obtain information about the trust established for your daughter. Please call me before taking any further action.*
There is something about the original beneficiary documentation that I believe you need to see in person.
Marcus looked at the letter in his hand.
Then he read the final sentence again.
Please do not bring your wife to the meeting.
He looked toward the hallway.
Van at the letter in his hand.
Then he read the final sentence again.
Please do not bring your wife to the meeting.
He looked toward the hallway.
Vanessa was standing outside Lily's bedroom.
She was watching him.
And when she saw the email on his phone, her face went completely still.
essa was standing outside Lily's bedroom.
She was watching him.
And when she saw the email on his phone, her face went completely still.
VanessaVanessa stepped stepped into the bedroom.
"Who emailed you?""
Marcus locked his phone.
"An attorney.""
"Which attorney?""
"The one Olivia trusted.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"You can't seriously believe Olivia's old paperwork has anything to do with our marriage.""
"Apparently, it has quite a lot to do with what you've into the bedroom.
"Who emailed you?""
Marcus locked his phone.
"An attorney.""
"Which attorney?""
"The one Olivia trusted.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"You can't seriously believe Olivia's old paperwork has anything to do with our marriage.""
"Apparently, it has quite a lot to do with what you've been doing.""
"Marcus, I was trying to protect our household.""
"Then been doing.""
"Marcus, I was trying to protect our household.""
"Then you should have told me about the loan.""
"I knew you'd say no.""
"That doesn't give you permission to use my name.""
She glanced you should have told me about the loan.""
"I knew you'd say no.""
"That doesn't give you permission to use my name.""
She glanced toward Lily, who was still sitting on the carpet.
"Can we talk downstairs?""
"No.""
Vanessa gave a frustrated laugh.
"You're making me look like some kind of criminal.""
Marcus stepped between her toward Lily, who was still sitting on the carpet.
"Can we talk downstairs?""
"No.""
Vanessa gave a frustrated laugh.
"You're making me look like some kind of criminal.""
Marcus stepped between her and the bedroom.
"I'm not making you look like anything. I'm reading documents with your signature on them.""
For a moment, Vanessa and the bedroom.
"I'm not making you look like anything. I'm reading documents with your signature on them.""
For a moment, Vanessa seemed ready to argue.
Instead, she looked at Lily.
"Sweetheart, why don't you go play in the other room?""
Lily instinctively moved seemed ready to argue.
Instead, she looked at Lily.
"Sweetheart, why don't you go play in the other room?""
Lily instinctively moved closer to her father.
Marcus noticed.
"She can stay here.""
Vanessa pressed her lips together.
"Fine.""
She walked away.
Marcus waited until her footsteps disappeared before closing Lily closer to her father.
Marcus noticed.
"She can stay here.""
Vanessa pressed her lips together.
"Fine.""
She walked away.
Marcus waited until her footsteps disappeared before closing Lily's bedroom door.
Then he looked at his daughter.
"Do you remember the promise I made about talking about Mommy?""
Lily nodded.
"'s bedroom door.
Then he looked at his daughter.
"Do you remember the promise I made about talking about Mommy?""
Lily nodded.
"Good. We're going to keep that promise.""
He picked up the little wooden box and placed it on the shelf.
There wereGood. We're going to keep that promise.""
He picked up the little wooden box and placed it on the shelf.
There were things Olivia had left behind that belonged to Lily. Things nobody had the right to throw away, hide, or use as bargaining chips.
And Marcus was beginning things Olivia had left behind that belonged to Lily. Things nobody had the right to throw away, hide, or use as bargaining chips.
And Marcus was beginning to understand that protecting those things would require more than simply walking away from a birthday party.
It to understand that protecting those things would require more than simply walking away from a birthday party.
May you like
It would require finding out exactly what his wife had been doing behind his back.
would require finding out exactly what his wife had been doing behind his back.
