Chapter 6: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
“Absolutely not.””
Grandma Pearl took my phone and placed it face down on the conference table.
I stared at her.
“But what if she destroys the star?””
“She won't.””
“How can you be sure?””
Grandma looked at the photograph again.
“Because Vanessa wants something. People who want something usually make mistakes.””
My father was pacing beside the window.
“I'll call her.””
Michael raised a hand.
“Daniel, I strongly recommend against confronting her directly. We need to establish where the property is and make sure Emily is protected.””
I looked at Grandma.
“She said to meet her alone.””
“And you will not.””
“But—”
“Emily.””
Her voice was gentle but firm.
“Your mother left us instructions for a reason. We will not let Vanessa turn this into another game.””
Michael arranged for a formal written demand for the return of the ornaments and other trust property.
Meanwhile, Grandma called Mrs. Whitmore and asked her to preserve all auction records.
By late afternoon, we had confirmation that Vanessa had booked a room at the Grand Regent Hotel.
My father looked at the message again.
“She wants to meet Emily at the hotel?””
Grandma nodded.
“Apparently.””
“I'm going.””
“No,” Grandma said.
Daniel looked furious.
“I'm not letting that woman manipulate my daughter.””
Grandma studied him.
“Then for once, Daniel, let the people who know what they're doing handle it.””
At seven that evening, we arrived at the hotel.
Emily was not alone.
Grandma had contacted Michael, who arranged for an attorney to accompany us. My father waited in the lobby with the hotel manager while Grandma and I entered the private meeting room Vanessa had requested.
She was already there.
Her hair was pulled into a tight bun. Her cream-colored coat hung over the back of a chair.
The silver star sat on the table.
Vanessa looked up.
“You brought Pearl.””
Grandma removed her gloves.
“Of course.””
“I said Emily alone.””
“And I decided that wasn't appropriate.””
Vanessa gave a bitter laugh.
“Still controlling everything, aren't you?””
Grandma sat down.
“Let's discuss the star.””
Vanessa leaned back.
“First, I want Daniel to agree to something.””
I folded my hands.
“What?””
“I want the trust reviewed.””
Grandma's expression didn't change.
“Why?””
“Because the arrangement is unfair.””
“Unfair to whom?””
“To me! I've lived in that house for three years. I've invested money in it. I've helped maintain it.””
Grandma nodded.
“Then produce your receipts.””
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
“You know perfectly well that's not what I mean.””
“Then perhaps you should explain.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Emily, you're nearly an adult. You don't need that enormous house. You could sell it and have enough money to start your life.””
I stared at her.
“It's my home.””
“It's an expensive property that requires maintenance.””
“My mom left it to me.””
Vanessa leaned forward.
“And your father has spent years paying for everything while you sit in your bedroom surrounded by memories. Don't you think he deserves something?””
I looked toward the door.
My father had been waiting outside.
“Dad can speak for himself.””
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
Grandma reached for the silver star.
Vanessa immediately covered it with her hand.
“Not so fast.””
“What do you want?”” Grandma asked.
Vanessa looked directly at me.
“I want the red box.””
I froze.
“You already took it?””
Vanessa's eyes flickered.
Grandma noticed.
“Interesting. So you know where it is.””
Vanessa sat back.
“Rachel left something inside that box that could change everything.””
“What?”” I asked.
She smiled faintly.
“Your mother wasn't as innocent as you think.””
Grandma's eyes hardened.
“Be very careful.””
Vanessa laughed.
“You all act like Rachel was some perfect angel. She wasn't.””
I felt my face grow hot.
“Don't talk about my mom.””
Vanessa ignored me.
“She knew things about Daniel. Things about his business. Things she never told him.””
My father entered the room.
“That's enough.””
Vanessa flinched.
“Daniel.””
He walked toward the table.
“What did you do with the red box?””
“I don't have it.””
Grandma folded her arms.
“Then why did you demand it?””
Vanessa glanced at the door.
For the first time, she seemed unsure of herself.
“I only want the paperwork.””
“What paperwork?”” Michael asked.
He had entered behind my father.
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“Why is the lawyer here?””
“Because the property belongs to Emily,” he answered.
“And you have made several unauthorized attempts to dispose of it.””
Vanessa stood.
“You can't prove anything.””
Michael placed a copy of the antique dealer's email on the table.
“We have the correspondence.””
He placed another document beside it.
“We have the church auction registration.””
Then another.
“And we have your written request for information concerning the transfer of the property into joint ownership.””
Vanessa stared at the papers.
Her face had lost its color.
Daniel looked at her.
“You contacted Rachel before we got married?””
Vanessa's lips parted.
“I was trying to understand the family finances.””
“You told me you'd never spoken to her.””
“I didn't want to upset you!””
“Why would speaking to my dying wife upset me?””
The room went silent.
Vanessa looked away.
Grandma slowly pushed the silver star toward me.
“Emily, take it.””
Vanessa didn't move.
I reached for it.
But just before my fingers touched the metal, Vanessa grabbed the star and stood.
“No!””
My father stepped forward.
“Put it down!””
Vanessa backed toward the wall.
“You don't understand. That star contains something I need!””
Grandma remained seated.
“Then you should have left it alone.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Your mother hid a letter inside it. A letter that proves she knew about the money.””
I stared at her.
“What money?””
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“Ask your father.””
Daniel went pale.
Grandma stood.
“Daniel?””
He looked at the star.
Then at Vanessa.
“I don't know what she's talking about.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You know exactly what I'm talking about. The money from the sale of the old property.””
My father stared at her.
“That money was never yours.””
“Exactly!”” Vanessa shouted.
“And Rachel knew where it went!””
Grandma took one step forward.
“Where did it go, Vanessa?””
Vanessa's grip tightened around the star.
Then she made a mistake.
A terrible one.
She looked at my father and said:
“Because if Emily finds that letter, she'll discover who really paid for this house.””
My father went completely still.
Grandma's expression turned cold.
“Vanessa, I suggest you put the star down.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No. Not until I get what I came for.””
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
My mother's.
Vanessa held it above the star.
“Your mother wrote this after she discovered the truth. And if you want to know why she never told you…”
She looked at my father.
“…ask Daniel what happened to the money your grandfather left him.””
My father stepped toward her.
“Where did you get that letter?””
Vanessa smiled.
For the first time, she looked confident again.
“From the one person your mother trusted enough to tell everything.””
Grandma Pearl's face turned white.
Because she recognized the handwriting on the paper.
And she knew exactly who had written the message that Vanessa was holding.
*It wasn't Rachel.*
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It was someone who had been dead for nearly twenty years.
And whatever that letter contained, Grandma Pearl clearly knew it could destroy far more than a marriage.
