Chapter 2: The Woman Who Wanted Everything
The room erupted in whispers.
Diane stood perfectly still, staring at the envelope on the table.
Her best friend, Patricia, approached her.
“Diane? What is he talking about?””
“Nothing,” Diane replied sharply.
Mr. Bennett removed a pair of reading glasses.
“I would appreciate everyone's attention for a moment.””
Diane immediately stepped toward him.
“You have no authority to turn my husband's memorial into a circus.””
“Harold asked me to address certain matters before the family dispersed.””
“He's dead.””
The words came out colder than she probably intended.
A few people exchanged uncomfortable looks.
Mr. Bennett closed his briefcase.
“Exactly. And his written instructions remain legally relevant.””
I stood beside the photograph, clutching Grandpa's letter.
My fingers had begun to ache.
I didn't understand most of the legal words on the documents. I understood even less about inheritance.
I only knew Diane was terrified.
And I wanted to know why.
“Mr. Bennett?”” I whispered.
He turned immediately.
“Yes, Maya?””
“Can I read the rest of the letter?””
“Of course.””
Diane's head snapped toward me.
“Not here.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because this is private family business.””
“You just said I wasn't family.””
Several people looked down to hide their expressions.
Diane's cheeks flushed.
Mr. Bennett gently guided me toward a small sitting area near the windows.
“Let's take a moment.””
I sat on a cream-colored sofa.
He placed a glass of water beside me.
“Your grandfather wanted you to read this without anyone pressuring you.””
I unfolded the letter again.
My dearest Maya,
I know you're probably frightened. I wish I could sit beside you and explain everything myself. Unfortunately, I waited too long to do what needed to be done.
For years, I believed keeping the peace was the same as protecting my family.
I was wrong.
I swallowed.
The next paragraph was difficult to read because my eyes kept filling with tears.
There are things your father has not told you. There are things Diane has deliberately hidden. Some of those things concern your mother.
My fingers tightened around the paper.
My mother.
I hadn't heard anyone mention her in years.
She had died when I was six.
At least, that was what my father told me.
A car accident.
A rainy night.
A hospital.
He had never explained much beyond that.
I looked up.
“Mr. Bennett, what does Grandpa mean about my mother?””
His expression changed.
He sat down opposite me.
“I think we should discuss that with the appropriate documents in front of us.””
“Was Diane involved?””
He hesitated.
“I don't want to frighten you with assumptions.””
“Then tell me what you know.””
Before he could answer, Diane appeared.
She approached us carrying two cups of coffee.
Her smile was suddenly warm.
“Maya, sweetheart. You've had a difficult day.””
I looked at the coffee.
“I don't want any.””
“Of course you don't. You're overwhelmed.””
She placed one cup on the table.
Then she reached for the letter.
“Let me keep that safe for you.””
I pulled it against my chest.
“No.””
Her smile disappeared.
“Maya, don't be difficult.””
Mr. Bennett stood.
“Mrs. Collins, the letter stays with Maya.””
Diane placed her coffee down harder than necessary.
“You're making this child suspicious of everyone.””
“No,” he replied.
“I'm allowing her to read what her grandfather wrote.””
Diane leaned closer to me.
“Listen carefully. Your grandfather was old. He was confused toward the end. You shouldn't believe everything you find in those papers.””
“Then why are you scared?””
Her mouth opened.
No answer came.
Mr. Bennett quietly asked her to step away.
Instead, she turned to the room.
“I think everyone should understand something. Harold had been unwell for months. He wasn't always himself. I spent every night caring for him while other people were nowhere to be found.””
Her voice trembled convincingly.
Patricia immediately nodded.
“Of course you did, dear.””
Diane dabbed her eyes.
“I sacrificed everything for that man.””
I stared at the cup of coffee.
I remembered Grandpa sitting at the kitchen table one evening, rubbing his wrist while Diane complained about the smell of his medicine.
I remembered her telling him to stop calling me because he was wasting money on my phone plan.
I remembered him slipping twenty dollars into my backpack and whispering that I shouldn't tell anyone.
He had never told me about sacrifices.
He had only told me he loved me.
Mr. Bennett returned to my side.
“There's something else Harold wanted me to explain.””
He opened his briefcase and removed a thick folder.
“This contains the documents concerning the family trust.””
Diane immediately moved closer.
“Those are mine.””
“No, Mrs. Collins. They belong to the estate.””
“I was his wife!””
“And you will be treated according to the law. But the trust was established long before your marriage.””
Diane looked toward the other guests.
“Harold created that trust for our future.””
Mr. Bennett shook his head.
“Not entirely.””
He placed the folder on the table.
“Harold established it to protect Maya's future.””
I blinked.
“Mine?””
“Yes.””
Diane let out a bitter laugh.
“She is twelve years old. She can't manage money.””
“No one has suggested she should.””
“Then who controls it?””
Mr. Bennett paused.
“That's the important question.””
He turned a page.
“The trust names an independent trustee. Neither you nor Richard has the authority to withdraw funds from it.””
Diane's face tightened.
“What independent trustee?””
“That's confidential until the formal notice is served.””
She stepped closer.
“You can't do this.””
“I already have.””
For a few seconds, the only sound was the quiet hum of the air conditioner.
Then Diane looked at me.
Her eyes were no longer pretending to be kind.
“You have no idea what you're doing.””
I lowered my gaze.
“I didn't do anything.””
“Exactly. You never do anything. You just stand there and let everyone else clean up after you.””
Mr. Bennett stepped forward.
“That will be enough.””
Diane grabbed her handbag.
“Fine. Read your papers. Make your announcements. But don't expect me to sit here and be humiliated.””
She walked toward the door.
This time, nobody tried to stop her.
A few minutes later, the memorial began to empty.
Patricia approached me before leaving.
“Your grandfather adored you,” she said quietly.
I nodded.
She looked as if she wanted to say something else.
Instead, she pressed my shoulder and followed Diane outside.
Mr. Bennett remained.
He waited until the room was nearly empty before kneeling in front of me.
“Maya, I need you to answer one question honestly.””
I wiped my nose.
“Okay.””
“Has Diane ever asked you to sign anything?””
I thought about it.
“Not really.””
“Think carefully.””
I remembered something from the previous winter.
Diane had placed a stack of papers on the kitchen counter.
She told me they were school documents.
She had pointed to a yellow sticker and said I needed to write my name there.
I hadn't understood why.
I had refused because my father had always told me never to sign something without reading it.
Diane had become furious.
“Do you remember what those papers were?”” Mr. Bennett asked.
“I think they had Grandpa's name on them.””
His face went still.
“Did you sign them?””
“No.””
He slowly exhaled.
“Good.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he removed a small brass key from the folder.
It was identical to the one Grandpa had placed inside the envelope.
“Your grandfather left a locked cabinet in his study. He instructed me to open it with you present.””
“What is inside?””
“A collection of original documents.””
“About my mother?””
Mr. Bennett looked toward the empty doorway.
“I believe so.””
Then he lowered his voice.
“And Maya, there's something else. Your grandfather didn't just leave instructions about his money.””
He looked directly into my eyes.
“He left instructions about who should raise you.””
My heart began pounding.
“Who?””
Mr. Bennett reached into his briefcase and removed a sealed court document.
Before he could show me, his phone rang.
He checked the screen.
His expression hardened.
“That's Richard.””
My father.
The first time I had heard his name spoken that day without someone making an excuse for him.
Mr. Bennett answered.
“Richard.””
A pause.
Then my father's voice came through the speaker.
“Tell me you haven't given the girl the letter.””
Mr. Bennett glanced at me.
“She's already read it.””
Silence.
May you like
Then my father said something that made Mr. Bennett stand abruptly.
“Then you need to keep her away from the house. Diane is on her way there to destroy the original records.””
