Chapter 8: The Man Who Came Looking for My Inheritance
Dad didn't sleep that night.
Neither did I.
The photograph lay on the kitchen table between us.
My mother was smiling in it.
She looked younger than I remembered, with her dark hair falling over one shoulder.
The man beside her had his arm around her.
Daniel Reed.
My biological father.
I studied his face.
"Does he know about me?""
Dad nodded.
"He knew your mother was pregnant. But he never contacted her after she gave birth.""
"Then why is he involved now?""
Dad picked up the notebook.
"Money.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Did Mom ever tell you why they separated?""
"She said Daniel wasn't ready for responsibility. He was moving between jobs and had a serious gambling problem.""
"Did he hurt her?""
Dad hesitated.
"She never told me he physically hurt her. But she was afraid of him.""
I looked down.
"Is that why she made the trust?""
"Partly. She wanted to make sure you were protected.""
The next morning, Eleanor called.
She had reviewed the latest documents and discovered that Leonard had submitted a claim using information from an old insurance file.
The claim suggested Daniel had contributed financially to my mother's medical expenses before her death.
If accepted, Leonard argued, Daniel should have some influence over the inheritance.
Eleanor had already rejected the argument.
But she wanted to understand where the documents came from.
Dad decided we needed to speak with Daniel directly.
Eleanor arranged a meeting at her office.
At two o'clock, a man entered.
He was in his early forties, with thinning brown hair and a gray jacket.
He looked at me immediately.
"Maya?""
I nodded.
He smiled awkwardly.
"You look just like your mother.""
I didn't know what to say.
Dad stood beside me.
"Daniel.""
Daniel offered his hand.
Dad didn't take it.
"Why are you suddenly interested in my daughter?""
Daniel lowered his hand.
"I didn't know about the trust until recently.""
"Who told you?""
"Leonard Carter.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"What did he tell you?""
Daniel sat down.
"He said Maya had money coming to her. He said Evelyn had promised me a portion of it before she died.""
Eleanor opened her file.
"Do you have evidence of that promise?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No.""
"Then why did you sign the statement Leonard provided?""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"He said it was just a declaration of my relationship with Evelyn.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Did you know he was using it to challenge Maya's inheritance?""
"No.""
I looked at him.
"Why didn't you come looking for me before?""
Daniel's expression changed.
He stared at the table.
"Because I was ashamed.""
"Of what?""
"Of leaving your mother. Of not being there.""
I felt my anger rising.
"You knew I existed.""
"Yes.""
"You knew she was raising me alone.""
"Yes.""
"And you never called?""
He looked at me.
"No.""
I swallowed.
"Then why now?""
Daniel rubbed his hands together.
"Leonard said he could help me reconnect with you. He said the inheritance could give us a chance to start over.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You thought money would make me want a father?""
He looked down.
"No. I thought maybe I could finally do something right.""
Dad shook his head.
"You don't get to use her inheritance as an introduction.""
Daniel nodded.
"I understand.""
Eleanor placed a document in front of him.
"This is the statement you signed. It contains claims about Evelyn's wishes that you have now admitted you cannot verify.""
Daniel read it.
His face darkened.
"I didn't write this.""
"Who did?""
"Leonard.""
"Did you sign it willingly?""
"Yes, but he told me it was only confirming that I was Maya's biological father.""
Eleanor folded her hands.
"Then I recommend you provide a corrected statement immediately.""
Daniel agreed.
Before leaving, he approached me.
"Maya, I know I have no right to ask anything from you.""
I crossed my arms.
"Then don't.""
He nodded.
"Fair enough.""
He walked out.
I watched him leave.
Dad placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You don't owe him anything.""
I nodded.
For once, I didn't feel confused.
I didn't need to decide whether I wanted a relationship with Daniel.
I didn't need to forgive him.
He was simply a man who had left my mother alone and appeared again when he heard there was money.
That evening, Eleanor called with another update.
Daniel had provided a corrected statement.
Leonard's claim was now in serious trouble.
But the attorney had discovered something else.
A payment had been made from Denise's account to Leonard shortly before he submitted the documents.
The amount was $4,500.
The memo line read:
*Attorney expenses — Maya trust.*
Dad looked at me.
"She paid him to do this.""
The next morning, two officers arrived at our house.
They wanted to speak with Denise about the suspected financial fraud and forged documents.
She wasn't there.
But Jordan answered the door.
When he saw the officers, he went pale.
"Is my mom in trouble?""
One officer spoke calmly.
"We're trying to locate her and ask some questions.""
Jordan stepped aside.
I watched from the staircase.
Dad came downstairs.
"Is there a problem?""
The officer explained that Denise had been contacted several times.
She had not responded.
Then he asked whether we knew where she was staying.
Dad shook his head.
"Her brother's house, probably.""
The officer wrote something down.
After they left, Jordan sat at the kitchen table.
He looked frightened.
"Is she going to jail?""
Dad didn't answer immediately.
"That depends on the evidence and the investigation.""
Jordan put his head in his hands.
"I didn't think she'd go this far.""
I sat across from him.
"You knew she was taking my money.""
"I know.""
"You knew she was giving you things she couldn't afford.""
He nodded.
"I thought Dad was paying for everything.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you ever ask?""
He looked up.
"Because I didn't want the answer.""
That was the first honest thing he'd said to me.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then Jordan reached into his pocket.
"I found something in Mom's car.""
He placed a small USB drive on the table.
Dad frowned.
"What's that?""
"She told me to keep it safe. She said if anyone asked, I should say I didn't know anything.""
My heart began racing.
"What's on it?""
Jordan shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Dad took the drive.
He looked at me.
May you like
Then he said:
"Let's find out.""
