Chapter 13: The Beneficiary My Mother Tried to Hide
Rachel arrived at our house the following morning carrying a thick folder and an expression I hadn't seen before.
She looked worried.
Not confused. Not uncertain.
Worried.
"Have you spoken to your father?""
"Not yet. Why?""
"Because we need to establish exactly what your grandmother intended before anyone makes another move.""
Ben brought her coffee.
She opened the folder and placed several documents on the kitchen table.
"The will we have been reviewing is not the complete estate file. Your grandmother signed a later amendment approximately four months before she died.""
I stared at her.
"What amendment?""
"That's what we're trying to locate. The original attorney's office closed years ago, and some of its archived records were transferred to another firm.""
"Does the amendment name another beneficiary?""
Rachel nodded.
"Possibly.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
"Your grandmother's estate records mention a protected educational fund for a child who was not yet born when the original trust was established.""
I frowned.
"That's Sienna.""
"Possibly. But we need the actual document.""
I looked at Ben.
He squeezed my hand.
For the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to imagine that Grandma had anticipated some of this.
Rachel continued.
"Your mother appears to have known about the amendment. She may have been trying to prevent it from being located.""
"Why would she?""
"Because if the amendment changed the distribution instructions, it could undermine the arrangements she attempted to make through Martin Hale.""
I looked at the documents again.
"Can she actually take the trust away from me?""
"Not simply because she wants to. The court and the relevant financial institutions will need to determine the validity of each document. But we need to move carefully.""
Rachel asked me to contact Thomas Reed.
I called him immediately.
He answered after the fourth ring.
"Ms. Bennett, I was expecting your call.""
"Did my grandmother change her will before she died?""
He went quiet.
Then he said, "Yes.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why wasn't I told?""
"Because the amendment was never included in the copies your mother provided when she requested the estate records.""
"What's in it?""
Thomas took a breath.
"Your grandmother created an additional protected fund for Sienna. She specifically wanted her great-granddaughter to receive educational support.""
My eyes filled.
"How much?""
"At the time, she transferred another $85,000 into the arrangement.""
I covered my mouth.
Ben stared at me.
Another eighty-five thousand dollars.
Money that was supposed to belong to Sienna.
"Where is it now?"" I whispered.
"That's what I've been trying to establish. The original fund was administered through a separate institution. Your mother requested information about it several times, but she was never listed as a beneficiary.""
"Did she have access?""
"No. She had no authority to withdraw from it.""
I closed my eyes.
"Can you send the amendment to Rachel?""
"I've already located the archived copy. I'll send it through the proper legal channel.""
After the call, I sat silently.
Grandma had left something for Sienna.
Something my mother couldn't touch.
At least, not legally.
But I knew Linda wouldn't stop trying.
That afternoon, Dad called.
"Your mother has left the house.""
I sat up.
"What?""
"She packed a suitcase and said she needed a few days away.""
"Do you know where she went?""
"She won't tell me.""
I felt uneasy.
"Did she take any documents?""
Dad paused.
"She took the old filing cabinet key.""
I looked at Rachel.
She immediately understood.
"Tell your father not to confront her. He should document what's missing and secure any remaining financial records.""
I repeated the instructions.
Dad sighed.
"Nora, I think she's frightened.""
"She should be.""
He was quiet.
Then he said, "There's something else. Katie came over this morning. She wanted me to sign a document.""
"What document?""
"Something transferring my interest in the house to her.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"Did you sign?""
"Absolutely not.""
"Good.""
He lowered his voice.
"She said Mom told her I had already agreed.""
I shook my head.
"Neither of them seems to understand that you have a say in your own property.""
"I understand that now.""
That evening, Sienna came downstairs holding a school envelope.
"Mom, we have to write about someone who inspires us.""
I smiled.
"Who are you writing about?""
She looked at me.
"Great-Grandma Evelyn.""
My throat tightened.
"Why her?""
Sienna shrugged.
"Because you said she always believed girls should be able to do things for themselves.""
I pulled her into a hug.
"She did.""
Sienna returned to her homework.
I looked at the photograph of Grandma on the bookshelf.
For the first time in years, I felt close to her again.
Then my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice spoke.
"Ms. Bennett, my name is Daniel Price. I'm calling from the firm that now maintains your grandmother's archived estate records.""
I sat straighter.
"Yes?""
"We located the original amendment.""
"Thomas told me.""
"There's an additional document attached to it that I think you should see.""
"What document?""
"A sealed letter written by your grandmother. It was marked to be delivered directly to you when you reached the age of thirty-five.""
I frowned.
"I'm thirty-six.""
"Exactly. The letter should have been delivered last year.""
I felt my heart race.
"Why wasn't it?""
There was a pause.
"Because someone submitted a request to redirect it to another address.""
"Whose address?""
He read it aloud.
Linda's address.
My mother's home.
I gripped the phone.
"Did she receive it?""
"We cannot confirm that. But the delivery request was approved by someone using the estate's former administrative credentials.""
I looked at Rachel.
She had stopped writing.
"Can you send the letter to my attorney?""
"Yes. I'll arrange secure delivery.""
Before hanging up, Daniel added:
"There's one more thing, Ms. Bennett. Your grandmother wrote a specific instruction on the outside of the envelope.""
"What instruction?""
He read it slowly.
"If my daughter tries to take this letter, do not give it to her. My granddaughter must hear the truth directly from me.""
I couldn't speak.
My mother hadn't just hidden financial documents.
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She had apparently tried to intercept a final message from the woman who knew her best.
And whatever Grandma had written, she had been determined that I would eventually discover it.
