Chapter 7: Mom's Last Letter
Tasha's hands shook so badly that she could barely hold the letter.
I sat beside her and read over her shoulder.
The handwriting was unmistakably Mom's.
The ink had faded in places, but every word was still clear.
*Girls, if you're reading this, your father has finally done what I feared most.*
Tasha stopped.
“Why did she call him your father?”” she whispered.
I looked at Marcus.
He stood near the wall, completely silent.
Our mother had been dead for six years.
Yet somehow, she had managed to leave a message that made the room feel as if she were standing among us.
The woman who had delivered the folder stepped inside.
“My name is Evelyn Carter,” she said.
“I was your mother's attorney.””
Tasha looked up.
“You knew her?””
Evelyn nodded.
“For twelve years.””
“Why didn't you come sooner?””
“Because your mother gave me very specific instructions.””
She looked at Marcus.
“Instructions I was legally obligated to follow.””
Marcus's face tightened.
“You have no right to be here.””
Evelyn calmly replied, “Actually, I do.””
She placed another document on the table.
“This is the amended trust agreement your mother signed three weeks before her death.””
Tasha stared at it.
“I thought Dad said the trust was already finalized.””
“It was.””
“So why was it changed?””
Evelyn looked at me.
“Because your mother discovered something.””
“What?””
“Your father had been transferring family money into a business account.””
Marcus interrupted.
“That is a lie.””
Evelyn didn't even look at him.
“Your mother believed you were using her money to finance Johnson Consulting.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“You're twisting the facts.””
“Then explain the records.””
Evelyn pushed a stack of statements toward him.
Marcus didn't touch them.
Tasha slowly turned the page of Mom's letter.
I read aloud.
*I have tried to protect you both without turning your childhood into a courtroom. I know that may sound impossible. But I wanted you to remember me as your mother, not as a woman fighting your father.*
Tasha pressed a hand over her mouth.
I continued.
*Marcus has convinced me that he can change. I have given him opportunities to prove it. He has failed every time.*
Marcus's voice came quietly from behind us.
“Stop reading.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because you don't understand.””
Tasha turned toward him.
“Then explain.””
He didn't.
She looked back at the letter.
I continued.
*The trust must remain equally divided between my daughters. No matter what Marcus says. No matter what anyone tells you. Neither girl is more deserving than the other.*
My eyes blurred.
Tasha reached for my hand.
Then came the next paragraph.
*But there is something else you need to know.*
I stopped.
Tasha whispered, “Keep going.””
I swallowed.
*Marcus has been telling people that I am sick and confused. That is not true. I am writing this while completely aware of what I am doing. If he ever claims otherwise, do not believe him.*
Marcus suddenly turned away.
Evelyn watched him carefully.
Tasha's breathing became unsteady.
“He lied about Mom being sick.””
“Yes,” Evelyn said.
“Why?””
“Because he needed people to question her credibility.””
I looked at Marcus.
“You made everyone think she was losing her mind.””
He said nothing.
I felt something inside me break.
For years, I'd remembered Mom as fragile during her final months.
Confused.
Forgetful.
Sometimes frightened.
Marcus had always said grief and illness had changed her.
But now I wondered how much of that had been manufactured.
Tasha turned another page.
Then her face changed.
“Maya.””
“What?””
She pointed.
The next section wasn't about money.
It was about us.
*Tasha, you are stronger than you think. Maya, you are kinder than you know. I worry that Marcus will use your differences to turn you against each other. Don't let him.*
Tasha started crying.
I pulled her into my arms.
“We won't.””
She held me tightly.
“I wish we'd known.””
“I know.””
Evelyn quietly said, “Your mother hoped you wouldn't need this letter.””
I looked at her.
“What changed?””
“She received a threatening message.””
Tasha pulled away.
“From Marcus?””
Evelyn nodded.
“What did it say?””
Evelyn opened another envelope.
“I can't give you the original without preserving it as evidence, but I can tell you what it contained.””
She paused.
“Your mother was told that if she changed the trust, Tasha would be cut off financially.””
Tasha whispered, “He threatened her.””
“Yes.””
Marcus finally spoke.
“She misunderstood what I said.””
Evelyn looked at him.
“Your exact words were documented.””
His face hardened.
“How?””
“Your wife kept records.””
Tasha stared at her.
“Mom knew?””
“She knew enough to protect herself.””
I looked down at the letter again.
The final paragraph was handwritten differently.
The letters were shakier.
*There is one thing I have not told Marcus.*
My heart raced.
I read on.
*Ray is not the only person I trusted.*
I looked at Evelyn.
She nodded.
“Keep reading.””
*There is another account.*
Tasha frowned.
“What account?””
I continued.
*It is not in the trust. Marcus doesn't know about it. I created it because I wanted my daughters to have something that could never be touched by a trustee.*
Tasha looked at me.
“How much?””
The next line answered her.
*$180,000.*
My mouth fell open.
Marcus suddenly moved.
“Give me that.””
Tasha pulled the letter away.
“No.””
“That's enough.””
“No!””
He stopped.
Tasha stood.
“You didn't know about this?””
For the first time, he couldn't hide his expression.
He had no idea.
That was the moment everything changed.
Because until then, Marcus had always seemed one step ahead.
But now he looked lost.
Evelyn said quietly, “The account was placed in a separate structure.””
Tasha stared at her.
“Can we access it?””
“Yes.””
Marcus whispered, “Evelyn.””
She looked at him.
“Your wife anticipated that question.””
“What did she do?””
Evelyn took out one final document.
“She named a successor trustee.””
Marcus went completely still.
Tasha looked at the document.
“Who?””
Evelyn turned it toward us.
The name was printed clearly.
*Raymond Johnson.*
Tasha exhaled.
“So Dad can't touch it.””
“Correct.””
I looked at Marcus.
He seemed suddenly much older.
But then he smiled.
It was the same cold smile he'd worn in our driveway.
“You think this ends everything?””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus looked at Tasha.
“You should ask Evelyn why your mother created that account.””
Tasha's expression changed.
“Why?””
Marcus walked toward the door.
Evelyn stepped aside.
Before leaving, he turned around.
“Because the money wasn't for college.””
Tasha froze.
Marcus opened the door.
“It was for something your mother knew was coming.””
Then he left.
The door slammed behind him.
Tasha looked at Evelyn.
“What was coming?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
She reached into her briefcase.
And pulled out a photograph.
A photograph of our mother standing outside a hospital.
May you like
With another woman.
A woman I had never seen before.
