Chapter 7: My Dead Husband's Signature
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
I sat at my kitchen table with the phone pressed against my ear, staring at the photograph of Robert on the mantelpiece.
Six days after his funeral.
That was the date printed beside his signature.
My husband had been buried for six days, yet someone had used his name to guarantee a loan.
"Thomas," I finally whispered, "how is that possible?""
"It isn't possible legally. Robert couldn't have signed anything after his death.""
"Then someone forged his signature.""
"That's our working assumption. But there's another problem.""
I closed my eyes.
"What now?""
"The lender believes the guarantee is valid. Until we formally challenge it, they'll continue treating you as responsible for the debt.""
I felt a cold wave pass through me.
"Can they take my house?""
"They could attempt to enforce the guarantee. We need to move quickly.""
I looked around my kitchen.
The little breakfast table. The curtains Robert had chosen. The ceramic rooster Daniel had made in elementary school.
This wasn't a mansion.
It was simply my home.
And apparently, even that wasn't safe anymore.
"Thomas, I'll bring you the flash drive tomorrow morning.""
"Don't discuss its contents with Daniel or Richard.""
"I won't.""
After hanging up, I made myself a cup of tea.
It sat untouched for nearly an hour.
At 10:17 p.m., someone knocked on my front door.
I looked through the window.
Daniel.
He stood on the porch without his tuxedo jacket. His tie was loose, and his hair looked as though he'd been running his hands through it all evening.
I opened the door but kept the security chain attached.
"What do you want?""
"Mom, please. I need to talk.""
"It's late.""
"I know.""
He looked past me into the house.
"Can I come in?""
"No.""
He lowered his head.
"Mom, I made a terrible mistake.""
I said nothing.
"Richard told me the loan was temporary. He said the property documents were just a formality.""
"And the forged signatures?""
Daniel looked away.
"I didn't know about Dad's signature.""
"But you knew about mine?""
His silence answered.
I removed the security chain but didn't step aside.
"Come in. Five minutes.""
He entered and sat on the sofa.
For a moment, he looked like the little boy who used to fall asleep there during thunderstorms.
Then he spoke.
"Vanessa is leaving me.""
I stared at him.
"That's what brought you here?""
"No. That's not what I mean. She's saying I ruined everything.""
I folded my arms.
"Daniel, you ruined everything when you decided to use your mother's property without permission.""
He rubbed his face.
"Richard said the development would make us rich. We were supposed to pay back the loan before anyone noticed.""
"Anyone?""
"Before the lender started asking questions.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"So you planned to hide the debt.""
"It wasn't supposed to become permanent.""
"Did you sign the personal guarantee?""
He hesitated.
"Yes.""
"Did you sign my name?""
"No.""
"Did you see someone sign it?""
He looked up.
"Mom, I swear I didn't.""
I sat opposite him.
"Then who signed your father's name?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Richard handled the paperwork.""
"And the witness?""
He stared at the carpet.
"Vanessa.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"My daughter-in-law witnessed a document supposedly signed by a dead man?""
"She said it was just to complete the file.""
I shook my head.
"Daniel, do you hear yourself?""
He leaned forward.
"Mom, I can fix this. I just need the flash drive.""
I stared at him.
There it was.
The real reason for his visit.
"Why?""
"Because those recordings contain private conversations. Richard says if they get out, everything collapses.""
"Everything that should never have happened?""
Daniel stood.
"You're not listening!""
"Then tell me the truth!""
He looked at me with red eyes.
"Dad recorded Richard offering him money to sign over the mineral rights. He also recorded me.""
My breath caught.
"What did you say?""
Daniel's lips trembled.
"I told Richard I'd convince Dad to sell.""
"And when your father refused?""
He looked down.
"I got angry.""
I remembered Robert's handwritten note.
I refused. He became angry.
"Did you threaten your father?""
Daniel covered his face.
"I said things I shouldn't have said.""
"What things?""
He didn't answer.
I stood and walked toward the fireplace.
"Your father was dying, Daniel.""
"I know!""
"Did you think about that when you went into his hospital room demanding his land?""
Daniel began crying.
For the first time that night, I saw something resembling genuine shame.
"Mom, I loved Dad.""
"Then why did you hurt him?""
He wiped his cheeks.
"I was desperate.""
I turned around.
"Why?""
He looked at me.
And then he said something that changed my understanding of the entire situation.
"Because Richard told me Vanessa was pregnant.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
Daniel nodded.
"He said we needed money immediately. He said the development was our only chance to give our child a secure future.""
I sat down slowly.
"Vanessa was pregnant?""
"That's what she told me.""
"Was she?""
Daniel's face changed.
"I don't know.""
The room became very quiet.
"Daniel, what do you mean you don't know?""
He pulled out his phone.
"I found something yesterday.""
He opened a photograph and showed it to me.
It was a medical document.
A pregnancy test result.
The name on it was Vanessa Cole.
But the date was from almost a year before their wedding.
I looked up.
"Why would she hide this?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I think she lied about being pregnant again.""
"Again?""
He looked toward the window.
"Mom, I think Vanessa and her father have been planning this much longer than I realized.""
Before I could respond, his phone rang.
The screen displayed Vanessa's name.
He answered.
"Hello?""
Her voice came through loudly enough for me to hear.
"Daniel, where are you?""
"I'm at Mom's.""
A pause.
Then Vanessa screamed.
"YOU IDIOT! DID YOU TELL HER ABOUT THE BABY?""
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Daniel went completely still.
And I realized there was another secret my son had not yet told me.
