Chapter 2: The Secret My Mother Buried
"Say that again.""
I walked toward the back door and lowered my voice.
Danielle exhaled.
"I didn't want to get involved. Mom specifically asked me not to.""
"Danielle, what property are you talking about?""
"The land Grandpa left her.""
I leaned against the kitchen counter.
My grandfather, Samuel Carter, had died when I was nineteen.
He had owned a small piece of land outside town, along with a modest rental cottage that he had spent years repairing.
I remembered visiting him there.
I remembered the smell of fresh-cut wood, the old red toolbox, and the porch swing that squeaked whenever he moved.
But I had always believed he left everything to my mother.
"What about it?"" I asked.
"Mom still owns it. She never sold the entire property.""
I frowned.
"She told me she sold something to help with our down payment.""
"She sold a different parcel. Not the cottage.""
I looked down at the closing document on my phone.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"Because she didn't want you worrying about her.""
That sounded exactly like my mother.
"How does Nia know about it?""
Danielle hesitated.
"She came to Mom's house last month.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"She said she wanted to help Mom organize her financial paperwork. She asked about the deed, property taxes, and whether Mom had ever considered selling.""
I closed my eyes.
"Mom didn't mention any of this.""
"She thought Nia was being nice.""
I looked toward the staircase.
Nia was upstairs, probably getting dressed.
"Did Nia ask her to sign anything?""
"That's what I was afraid of.""
"Danielle.""
"Marcus, Mom called me because Nia brought some papers to her house. She said they were documents to help Mom manage the property if she ever became unable to do it herself.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"Did Mom sign them?""
"I don't know. She said she needed time to read them.""
"Where are those papers now?""
"I told her to put everything in a drawer and not sign anything.""
I looked toward the living room.
My mother was sitting exactly where I'd left her.
Her brown handbag rested on her lap.
Her fingers were moving over the worn leather clasp.
I ended the call.
Then I walked over and sat beside her.
"Mom, I need to ask you something.""
She looked at me.
"Of course, baby.""
"Has Nia been asking about Grandpa's property?""
Her expression changed.
It was subtle.
But it was there.
She lowered her eyes.
"Why?""
"Because Danielle told me Nia visited you.""
Mom sighed.
"She was trying to help.""
"Help with what?""
"My paperwork.""
"What paperwork?""
She adjusted her handbag.
"Property documents. Insurance papers. Things I don't understand very well.""
I took her hand.
"Mom, did she ask you to sign anything?""
She didn't answer immediately.
Then she reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded envelope.
"I wanted to show you this.""
I opened it.
Inside were three documents.
The first was a power of attorney form.
The second was a property authorization agreement.
The third was a deed-related document bearing my mother's name.
I looked at the second page.
The language was complicated, but one paragraph stood out.
It appeared to authorize a representative to manage, lease, refinance, or sell certain property interests on Evelyn Carter's behalf.
The representative's name was Nia Carter.
I felt something twist inside my chest.
"Mom, did you sign this?""
"No.""
I exhaled.
"Thank God.""
"I told her I wanted a lawyer to look at it first.""
"Good.""
Mom touched the corner of the paper.
"But she became upset.""
"What did she say?""
My mother looked embarrassed.
"She said I was making things difficult.""
I stared at her.
"Did she threaten you?""
"No, baby.""
"Did she raise her voice?""
Mom hesitated.
"She said you were under a lot of stress and that I shouldn't make you choose between your wife and your family.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
The same words.
The same manipulation.
"Mom, listen to me. You don't sign anything unless your own lawyer explains it to you.""
"I know.""
"And you don't give Nia access to your bank accounts or property records.""
She nodded.
Then she looked at me with an expression I couldn't understand.
"Marcus, perhaps I should sell the cottage.""
"Why would you do that?""
"So there won't be anything left for people to argue about.""
I shook my head.
"Mom, that property belongs to you. Nobody gets to make you feel guilty for owning it.""
She looked down.
"I've spent my whole life trying to make sure my children never had to fight over money.""
I squeezed her hand.
"You don't have to give up everything to keep the peace.""
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she whispered:
"Your grandfather would be disappointed.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because I think I made a terrible mistake.""
"What mistake?""
She looked toward the stairs.
"I trusted Nia.""
Before I could respond, footsteps sounded above us.
Nia appeared at the bottom of the staircase.
She was wearing black trousers, a cream blouse, and the gold necklace I had bought her for our third anniversary.
Her eyes went immediately to the documents in my hands.
"What's that?""
I didn't hide them.
"Something you brought to my mother's house.""
She stopped walking.
"Excuse me?""
"Did you ask Mom to sign a power of attorney?""
Nia stared at Evelyn.
Then she laughed.
"Oh, my goodness. Is this what we're doing now?""
"Answer the question.""
"I was helping her.""
"By asking her to give you authority over her property?""
"That's not what those documents were for.""
I held up the paper.
"Then explain what they were for.""
Nia took a step toward me.
"Marcus, you have no idea what you're talking about.""
"Then educate me.""
She looked at my mother.
"Evelyn, why did you give him those papers?""
Mom's lips trembled.
"I thought he should see them.""
Nia shook her head.
"This is unbelievable. I was trying to make things easier for you.""
My mother spoke quietly.
"I didn't ask you to do that.""
Nia's face hardened.
"After everything I've done?""
I stood.
"What exactly have you done?""
"Don't start.""
"No. Let's talk.""
She dropped her purse onto the chair.
"Your mother has been struggling financially. I offered to help her manage her affairs. I thought that would be appreciated.""
"Then why did you list yourself as her representative?""
"Because somebody has to handle these things!""
"Why?""
"Because she clearly can't!""
My mother flinched.
I stepped forward.
"Don't speak about her like that.""
Nia threw her hands up.
"Here we go again. Saint Evelyn can do no wrong.""
Mom began putting the documents back into the envelope.
I noticed her hands were shaking.
"Mom, leave those with me. I'll make copies.""
Nia's expression changed.
"Why?""
"Because I want an attorney to review them.""
She stared at me.
Then she smiled in a way that made my skin crawl.
"Fine. Do whatever you want.""
She picked up her purse.
"But before you start accusing me of stealing, maybe you should ask your mother what she did with the money she gave you.""
The room went silent.
I looked at her.
"What does that mean?""
Nia shrugged.
"Nothing.""
"Don't walk away.""
"Ask her.""
She headed toward the front door.
I turned to my mother.
"Mom?""
Evelyn was looking at the floor.
"Baby, I don't want you worrying about this.""
"What money is she talking about?""
My mother swallowed.
For a moment, I thought she was going to refuse to answer.
Then she slowly reached into her handbag again.
This time, she pulled out a small blue notebook.
Its edges were frayed.
The cover had a faded picture of a flower.
"I kept records," she whispered.
"Records of what?""
"Everything I paid for.""
I opened the notebook.
There were handwritten entries dating back several years.
Some were grocery receipts.
Some were utility payments.
Others were transfers to different accounts.
I turned a page.
Then another.
And another.
My mother had been sending money to someone.
Not large amounts at first.
Two hundred dollars.
Four hundred dollars.
Six hundred dollars.
The payments continued over several months.
I looked at the name beside them.
Derek Lawson.
I stared.
"Mom, why were you sending money to Derek?""
She looked at me with wet eyes.
"I wasn't sending it to him because I wanted to.""
"What does that mean?""
She took a shaky breath.
"Last year, Nia told me she was having financial problems. She said you were already under pressure at work, and she didn't want you to know.""
I slowly closed the notebook.
"How much?""
"I don't know exactly.""
"Mom.""
She looked at me.
"I think it was about eleven thousand dollars.""
My chest tightened.
"Eleven thousand?""
She nodded.
"She said she would pay me back.""
I stared at the notebook.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because she said it would cause trouble in your marriage.""
I couldn't speak.
My mother had been struggling to pay her electric bill.
She had been skipping small comforts.
She had been worrying about medication costs.
And she had given eleven thousand dollars to my wife.
I looked at the notebook again.
There was a final entry dated just two weeks earlier.
$2,000.
Beside it, my mother had written:
Derek says this is the last time.
I felt sick.
"Mom, what did Nia tell you Derek needed the money for?""
She wiped her cheek.
"She said he was helping her invest in something.""
"Did you ever speak to Derek?""
"No.""
"Did you ever receive any paperwork?""
She shook her head.
Then she pointed to a small note tucked inside the notebook.
I unfolded it.
The handwriting wasn't my mother's.
It was Nia's.
Evelyn, please don't tell Marcus. He'll misunderstand. I promise I'll make everything right.
I read it twice.
Then my phone rang.
Danielle.
I answered immediately.
"Marcus, I just found something.""
"What?""
"Mom sent me a picture of one of the papers Nia brought to her house.""
"Okay.""
"There's a name on it.""
"Whose?""
Danielle lowered her voice.
"Derek Lawson.""
I closed my eyes.
"What does it say?""
My sister hesitated.
May you like
Then she delivered the words that made everything suddenly much worse.
"Marcus, it's a property purchase agreement. Derek is listed as the buyer, and your mother's cottage is listed as the property being sold.""
