Chapter 5 - THE LAWN
After Dad threw the box, several relatives stepped backward.
Mom did the opposite.
She walked toward me smiling.
Not warmly.
Triumphantly.
I stared at my father.
“What did you just say?”
He pointed toward the driveway.
“You heard me.”
“You want Wyatt to marry Madison?”
Madison whispered:
“Dad, stop.”
He ignored her.
“I want someone in this family to make a sensible decision.”
Wyatt moved beside me and placed one arm around my shoulders.
Dad looked at him.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Wyatt’s expression did not change.
“No, sir.”
Mom laughed.
Then she pointed directly at me.
“Let’s see how long he wants you when the money disappears.”
The words landed strangely.
“What money?”
Mom’s face shifted.
Tiny.
Almost invisible.
Dad turned toward her.
Too late.
“What money?” I repeated.
“Nobody owes you anything,” Dad said.
“I didn’t say anyone did.”
“You walked around this family for years expecting Arthur to reward you.”
“That’s not true.”
Dad stepped closer.
“You rejected the company. You embarrassed us. You chose strangers over family.”
“I chose my own career.”
“And now you chose a man your sister wanted.”
Madison finally shouted:
“I never asked for this!”
Everyone turned.
She looked terrified.
Not jealous.
Terrified.
That was when I realized Madison knew something I did not.
Before I could question her, Marian suddenly bent near the scattered box.
She picked up the sealed cream envelope.
My father saw it.
His entire expression changed.
“Marian.”
She turned the envelope over.
Saw Grandpa’s handwriting.
Then looked at me.
“Claire.”
Dad moved toward her.
“Give me that.”
Marian stepped away.
“No.”
“Marian.”
She examined the notation on the back.
Then her eyes widened.
“Richard…”
“What?”
“That’s Arthur’s will.”
The lawn went silent.
She looked directly at my sister.
May you like
Then back at me.
“It names Claire.”
