PART 4
The next morning, I called James Porter.
He remembered me immediately.
Probably because clients did not usually flip conference tables.
“Rachel.”
“James.”
“I assume this is about your mother.”
That surprised me.
“How do you know?”
“Daniel called yesterday.”
I sat straighter.
“What did he want?”
“He asked whether your father’s instruction could be enforced.”
I laughed.
“Of course he did.”
James continued.
“I told him no.”
“Good.”
“Then he asked whether he could compel you to contribute financially to Margaret’s care.”
“And?”
“No.”
I smiled for the first time since Mom arrived.
James became serious.
“Rachel, there’s something else.”
“What?”
“Your father’s estate file contains a letter.”
“What letter?”
“A private memorandum.”
I frowned.
“I thought we received everything.”
“You received the will.”
“This was not part of the will.”
“Who was it for?”
“Technically, me.”
“Why?”
James paused.
“Your father gave instructions about what should happen if your mother’s care became disputed.”
I went still.
“You’re telling me Dad anticipated this?”
“To some extent.”
My anger returned.
“What does the letter say?”
“I think you should come in.”
An hour later, Mom and I drove to James’s office.
The same office.
The same conference room.
The table had been replaced.
I noticed.
James noticed me noticing.
Neither of us commented.
He placed a sealed envelope in front of us.
Dad’s handwriting was on the front.
For James, if the children fight over Margaret.
I stared at it.
Mom looked shocked.
“You never told me about this.”
James nodded.
“Frank asked me not to unless necessary.”
He opened the envelope.
Then he read.
The letter began with Dad admitting he believed I would be the most reliable person to care for Mom.
That part irritated me.
Then came something unexpected.
He wrote that Daniel and Eric had repeatedly told him they would “step up” if needed.
James looked at me.
“Your father specifically mentions both of them.”
I crossed my arms.
“Keep reading.”
Dad wrote that Daniel had promised Mom could live in the Cleveland house if she ever needed to.
Eric had promised to contribute financially after selling or refinancing his inherited property.
I turned toward Mom.
Her face had gone pale.
“You knew about this?”
“No.”
James continued.
Dad wrote that the $200,000 given to Tyler was partly intended to establish the landscaping company.
But $50,000 of that money was described privately as “family reserve support.”
Not legally restricted.
But morally intended to help Margaret if necessary.
I almost laughed.
“So everyone got money with an understanding they might help.”
James nodded.
“And I got the instruction as if nobody else existed.”
“Essentially.”
I leaned back.
“Dad was unbelievable.”
Mom whispered,
“He thought everyone would cooperate.”
I looked at her.
“That was his first mistake.”
