Chapter 10: The Uncle My Mother Tried to Erase
My phone kept ringing.
UNCLE ROBERT.
For several seconds, I simply stared at the screen.
I hadn't spoken to my father's younger brother in nearly fifteen years. When I was a teenager, he had visited us every Christmas, bringing ridiculous presents and telling stories about the adventures he and Dad had shared.
Then, one summer, he disappeared.
My mother told us he had stolen money from my father and moved to England to escape the consequences.
Daniel and I had believed her.
I'd even spent years thinking my uncle was a terrible man.
Now his name was appearing on my phone while my mother stood ten feet away, looking as though she'd seen a corpse.
"Answer it," James Porter said quietly.
Margaret immediately shook her head.
"Emily, don't.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because he's going to manipulate you.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Mom, you've had plenty of opportunities to explain yourself. Let her answer.""
I pressed the green button.
"Hello?""
A familiar voice came through.
"Emily?""
My throat tightened.
"Uncle Robert?""
There was a long pause.
Then he said something that made my eyes fill.
"Your father would be heartbroken if he knew what your mother had done.""
I turned away from Margaret.
"Where are you?""
"I'm in Dallas. I've been trying to reach you for three weeks.""
"Why didn't you call sooner?""
"I did. Your mother intercepted the letters I sent to your house. I finally found your office number through an old business contact.""
I looked at my mother.
She was shaking her head.
Robert continued.
"James told me what's happening. Is your brother there?""
"Yes.""
"Put me on speaker.""
I did.
Daniel leaned toward the phone.
"Uncle Robert?""
"Daniel. My boy.""
Daniel's voice broke slightly.
"It's been a long time.""
"Too long. But we have something important to discuss.""
James pulled out a chair.
"Mr. Hayes, we're reviewing the trust documents now. Can you confirm that you were named as the successor trustee?""
"Yes. Your father appointed me after Margaret began making unauthorized changes to the estate.""
My mother suddenly shouted.
"That's a lie!""
Robert sighed.
"Margaret, I wondered how long it would take before you started shouting.""
Daniel stared at her.
"Mom, let him speak.""
Robert continued.
"Your father discovered several irregularities before he died. He suspected money was disappearing from the family accounts. He confronted your mother, but she convinced him that everything was being handled properly.""
I felt a chill.
"How much did Dad know?""
"He knew about the investment account. He knew the building was being used as collateral without his approval. But he didn't know the full extent.""
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"I tried.""
Robert paused.
"Your mother told me that you and Daniel had chosen to cut contact with me. She said you blamed me for your father's financial troubles.""
I remembered the Christmas cards that had stopped arriving.
The birthday presents that never came.
The calls my mother told us were from strangers.
She had isolated us from him.
Margaret folded her arms.
"Robert, don't pretend you were innocent. You wanted control of the estate.""
Robert's voice hardened.
"I wanted to protect the children your husband loved.""
Daniel looked at James.
"Can we verify everything?""
James nodded.
"Absolutely. We have the original trust documents.""
Robert continued.
"There's another reason I needed to speak with Emily.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"What is it?""
"Your father left you a letter.""
My eyes widened.
"A letter?""
"Yes. It was sealed and placed with the original estate records. It was supposed to be delivered to you when you turned thirty.""
I had turned thirty-two two years earlier.
"Why didn't I receive it?""
Robert didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "Because your mother collected the documents before I could deliver them.""
Margaret suddenly rushed toward the phone.
"That letter is private!""
Daniel moved between us.
"Stop!""
Robert continued.
"Your father wrote that he wanted you to understand why he created the trust. He wanted you to have financial independence. He knew you would probably spend your life taking care of other people, and he wanted to make sure you always had something that belonged to you.""
I began crying.
That sounded exactly like my father.
"He also left a separate instruction regarding the property," Robert added.
James leaned forward.
"What instruction?""
"The building was never supposed to be sold without Emily's approval. If Margaret attempted to transfer it, the successor trustee was authorized to challenge the transaction.""
James nodded.
"That matches the clause in the documents.""
Margaret looked furious.
"You cannot take my husband's property away from me!""
Robert's reply was quiet.
"It was never yours to take.""
For the first time, my mother had nothing to say.
Then Robert asked a question.
"Emily, is there a baby with you?""
I looked toward Rachel.
"Yes. His name is Noah.""
Robert paused.
"Is he the child Daniel was expecting?""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Yes, Uncle Robert.""
Robert's voice softened.
"Then I need to tell you something. Your father always believed family was created by love and responsibility, not by blood alone.""
Daniel looked down at Noah.
Robert continued.
"If you're still willing to become that child's father, I will help you make sure nobody uses him as a bargaining chip.""
Daniel's eyes filled.
"Thank you.""
Then Robert said something else.
"However, there's one issue we haven't discussed.""
James looked up.
"What issue?""
"The company that bought the building.""
He paused.
"Northbridge Holdings wasn't created by Margaret alone.""
I looked at my mother.
She had gone completely still.
Robert finished.
"One of its original directors was Claire.""
Daniel slowly turned toward his wife.
"Claire?""
She began shaking her head.
"No. That's not what it looks like.""
Robert's voice came through the speaker again.
"Daniel, I think you need to ask your wife why she was listed as a director of the company that purchased your sister's inheritance.""
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And Claire finally whispered the words that changed everything.
"Because Margaret promised me half of it.""
