Chapter 10: The Original Will
I read Derek's message again.
I was the last person Grandma spoke to before she died. And I was supposed to deliver something to you that night.
The original will.
For six years, I had believed my grandmother's final wishes had disappeared into a pile of legal paperwork.
Now I was beginning to understand that someone had deliberately kept them from me.
I called Derek.
He answered immediately.
"Where are you?"" I asked.
"At my apartment.""
"Can you meet me?""
"Not there. Dad knows where I live.""
I exchanged a look with Margaret.
"Where, then?""
"There's a coffee shop on Franklin Avenue. The one near Grandma's old neighborhood.""
"An hour?""
"Yes. And Avery?""
"What?""
"Come alone.""
I almost hung up.
"Absolutely not. Margaret is coming with me.""
He sighed.
"Fine. Just don't bring Dad.""
At five o'clock, Margaret, Tessa, and I entered the coffee shop.
Derek was sitting in the far corner.
He looked different.
His expensive watch was gone. His hair was uncombed, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.
A brown leather envelope sat on the table.
I pulled out the chair opposite him.
"Start talking.""
Derek looked at Margaret.
"Are you her attorney?""
"Yes.""
"Then I suppose everything I say could be used in court.""
Margaret folded her hands.
"That's correct. You should tell the truth.""
He nodded.
Then he pushed the leather envelope toward me.
"Grandma gave me this on March twenty-fourth.""
I opened it.
Inside was an original document with a blue embossed seal.
*LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JUNE ELIZABETH BENNETT.*
My name appeared in the inheritance clause.
The house.
The land.
The entire family trust.
I looked at Derek.
"Why didn't you give this to me?""
He lowered his eyes.
"Because Dad came to the hospital that night.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What happened?""
Derek rubbed his hands together.
"Grandma had asked me to come alone. She was very weak, but she was completely aware of what was happening. She told me she wanted me to make things right.""
"What did she say?""
He looked at me.
"She said she knew Dad had lied about her death date. She said he was trying to use the false date to make the property transfer look legitimate.""
Margaret leaned forward.
"Did you hear that directly from June?""
"Yes.""
"Was anyone else present?""
"No. Just me and her.""
Derek continued.
"She gave me the original will. She told me to take it straight to Margaret Ellis. She also gave me a sealed envelope for Avery.""
My throat tightened.
"Where is it?""
He pulled out another envelope.
My name was written across it.
I recognized Grandma's handwriting immediately.
I opened it.
My sweet Avery,
I know you will wonder why Derek has been asked to bring you this letter. I have not stopped loving him, despite the choices he has made.
Your father believes that he can decide who deserves my home. He cannot.
You have always been the person who came to see me without expecting anything in return. You brought groceries when I was sick. You sat beside me when I couldn't sleep. You never asked what I would leave you.
That is precisely why I chose you.
I stopped reading.
Tears blurred the page.
Derek stared at the table.
"Keep going," he whispered.
I continued.
I also want you to know that the money your father says is owed on this house does not exist. Your grandfather and I paid off the mortgage years ago.
My hands began trembling.
Then came the final paragraph.
If Derek gives you this letter, it means he has finally chosen to do what is right. Please don't let his mistakes become your hatred. But don't let anyone convince you that forgiveness means allowing them to hurt you again.
I lowered the letter.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then I turned toward my brother.
"You had this for six years.""
He nodded.
"And you let me pay the mortgage.""
His eyes filled.
"I know.""
"You watched Dad take my money.""
"I know.""
"You let him throw me out on Thanksgiving.""
Derek wiped his face.
"I know, Avery.""
I leaned forward.
"Then why are you here now?""
He swallowed.
"Because Dad told me something last night.""
"What?""
"He plans to blame everything on me.""
I stared at him.
"He thinks I'm expendable," Derek continued.
"He told me that if the investigation goes further, I'll be the only one charged.""
Margaret took a pen from her bag.
"Did your father put that in writing?""
"No. But I recorded the conversation.""
He pulled out his phone.
"I also have messages from him instructing me to transfer the loan proceeds.""
Margaret's expression sharpened.
"Have you preserved the originals?""
"Yes.""
"Do not delete anything. Do not edit the recordings.""
I looked at Derek.
"What about the original will? Why did you keep it all these years?""
His shoulders dropped.
"Because Dad threatened me. He said if I handed it over, he'd make sure I lost everything.""
I stared at my brother.
"You're thirty-five years old, Derek. You let him decide everything for you.""
"I know.""
"And what changed?""
He looked directly at me.
"Grandma's photograph.""
He reached into his wallet and removed the picture Elaine had shown us.
"Mom found out I still had it. She asked why I kept looking at it. I told her Grandma had made me promise to protect you.""
He paused.
"She started crying. She said we'd already failed her.""
I looked away.
Margaret carefully placed the original will inside her document folder.
"We'll verify this against the probate records and preserve it as evidence.""
Derek nodded.
Then his phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed immediately.
I looked over.
The message was from Dad.
*I KNOW YOU MET YOUR SISTER. BRING ME THE ORIGINAL WILL TONIGHT, OR YOU'LL BOTH REGRET IT.*
Another message followed.
*AND DON'T FORGET WHAT HAPPENED AT THE HOSPITAL.*
I looked at Derek.
"What happened at the hospital?""
He turned his phone face down.
For the first time, he looked genuinely terrified.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"There's something I haven't told you about the last night of Grandma's life.""
