Chapter 8: What Happened Three Days Before She Died
When we arrived home, Vanessa was waiting in the living room.
She sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, holding a cup of tea.
Kayla was beside her, scrolling through her phone.
The moment Dad entered, Vanessa stood.
“Michael, we need to talk.””
He didn't remove his jacket.
“Where's the Sunday Chest?””
Her expression changed.
“What?””
“My wife's document box. Where is it?””
Vanessa placed her cup on the table.
“I told you. I donated it.””
“To whom?””
“I don't remember.””
“You don't remember where you donated something containing important legal documents?””
She sighed.
“Michael, this obsession with Sarah's belongings is getting unhealthy.””
I stepped forward.
“Mom's belongings aren't yours to throw away.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Don't start.””
Dad raised his hand.
“Enough. Vanessa, I want the truth. Did you take the Sunday Chest?””
She looked away.
Kayla suddenly stood.
“Mom, just tell him.””
Vanessa turned sharply.
“Stay out of this.””
Kayla's voice trembled.
“You said the box was in your wardrobe.””
The room went silent.
My father slowly turned toward his wife.
“Your wardrobe?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Kayla, go upstairs.””
“No,” Dad said.
“Nobody is going anywhere.””
He walked toward the staircase.
Vanessa hurried after him.
“Michael, you're behaving like a maniac!””
He ignored her.
I followed with Noah.
Inside the master bedroom, Dad opened Vanessa's wardrobe.
He searched the lower shelves, moved several handbags, and pulled out a large storage box.
At the bottom, beneath old photographs and Christmas decorations, sat a wooden chest.
I recognized it immediately.
The brass handle.
The faded blue flowers painted across the lid.
My mother's Sunday Chest.
My hands began shaking.
“You said you threw it away,” I whispered.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
“I was keeping it safe.””
Dad lifted the chest.
“Why did you lie?””
She crossed her arms.
“Because I didn't want Emily rummaging through things that don't concern her.””
I stepped forward.
“My mother's things concern me.””
Dad placed the chest on the bed.
The lock was still attached.
He found the small key taped beneath the lid, exactly where my mother used to keep it.
When he opened it, the smell of old paper and lavender drifted into the room.
Inside were photographs, medical records, handwritten notes, and several envelopes.
I picked up the first photograph.
My mother was sitting beside a hospital bed.
Beside her stood Vanessa.
I frowned.
“Why is there a picture of you and Mom?””
Vanessa quickly reached for it.
“Give me that.””
Dad caught her hand.
“Don't touch anything.””
I examined the photograph.
It was dated three days before my mother's death.
My mother looked weak, but she was smiling.
Vanessa stood beside her with one hand resting on the bed.
On the back, my mother had written:
The last meeting. I hope she finally understands.
I looked at Vanessa.
“What meeting?””
She said nothing.
Dad searched through the papers until he found a sealed envelope.
It contained a handwritten statement.
Daniel Carter's name appeared at the bottom.
Dad began reading.
Then his expression changed.
“What is it?”” I asked.
He handed me the paper.
My mother's handwriting was shaky.
On March 12, I met Vanessa privately to discuss the inheritance account. She insisted that the money should be used to secure her daughter's future as well as Emily's.
I looked up.
Vanessa's face had gone pale.
I continued reading.
I refused. The money belongs to Emily. It was never intended to support another household or another child.
Kayla appeared in the doorway.
“What's happening?””
Vanessa didn't look at her.
I continued.
During our conversation, Vanessa told me that Michael had already agreed to give her control over the account. I later discovered that this was untrue.
Dad stared at his wife.
“You told Sarah I had approved this?””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“I was trying to find a solution.””
“By lying to my dying wife?””
She raised her voice.
“You were never there! You spent all your time at the hospital, and I was the one keeping this house running!””
Dad's expression tightened.
“I was watching my wife die.””
“And I was taking care of your children!””
I stepped forward.
“You weren't taking care of me. You were stealing from me.””
Vanessa pointed at me.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed!””
My father placed the statement back inside the chest.
“Then explain the rest.””
He pulled out another envelope.
This one contained a photocopy of a bank transfer.
The amount was fifty thousand dollars.
The date was March 13.
The recipient was an account belonging to Peter's company.
Dad stared at the page.
“Sarah found the transfer before she died.””
Daniel's name appeared beneath the transaction details.
There was also a short handwritten note.
Peter admitted that Vanessa requested the transfer. He promised to return the money.
Dad looked at Vanessa.
“Did Peter return it?””
She remained silent.
Then Kayla spoke.
“Mom, you said the money was for us.””
Everyone turned toward her.
Vanessa grabbed her arm.
“Stop talking!””
Kayla pulled away.
“You told me Emily's mother had left enough money for everyone.””
My heart pounded.
I looked at my stepsister.
“Did you know about the account when you tried to get me thrown out?””
Kayla's eyes filled.
“Not at first.””
“When did you find out?””
She hesitated.
“Last month.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Kayla continued.
“Mom told me that if you left before your eighteenth birthday, she could finally access everything.””
Dad looked horrified.
“Vanessa, what have you been telling these children?””
Vanessa's voice broke.
“I was trying to secure Kayla's future!””
I looked at the chest again.
There was one more envelope at the bottom.
It was addressed to me.
I opened it carefully.
Inside was a small handwritten note.
Emily, if you ever find this, remember that your mother never wanted you to grow up afraid of losing your place in this world.
I pressed the paper against my chest.
Then I noticed another sentence written at the bottom.
The most important document is not in this chest. It is with the person who witnessed my final conversation.
I looked at Dad.
“Who witnessed it?””
Before he could answer, someone knocked on the front door.
Three sharp knocks.
My father walked downstairs.
A moment later, he returned with a woman standing behind him.
She was in her late fifties, wearing a gray coat and carrying a leather handbag.
I recognized her from my mother's funeral.
Her name was Margaret.
She had been my mother's closest friend.
She looked at Vanessa, then at me.
May you like
Finally, she said something that made my father grip the staircase railing.
“Sarah asked me to tell Emily the truth if anything ever happened to her.””
