The Daughter Who Had Never Abandoned Them
Chapter 03 - The Daughter Who Had Never Abandoned Them
Rebecca arrived before sunrise with Caleb beside her. Eleanor recognized her daughter immediately, despite the years between them. She also recognized Henry in the boy’s careful smile and nervous habit of rubbing his thumb across his palm.
Their reunion was not graceful. There were tears, apologies, and long pauses filled with everything they had lost. Rebecca showed Eleanor copies of dozens of letters she had sent home. Each had been returned with a note claiming Henry and Eleanor wanted no contact. The handwriting belonged to Grant.
Caleb had grown up believing his grandparents were ashamed of him.
Eleanor held his face between her hands. “We did not know you existed.”
Grant entered the kitchen and froze.
He quickly regained control, called Rebecca a liar, and placed a new will on the table. It gave him full authority over the estate and reduced Eleanor to a monthly allowance.
Rebecca noticed the date. Henry had supposedly signed it during his final hospital stay.
Eleanor remembered sitting beside him that entire day. Grant had visited alone for twenty minutes while she met with the cardiologist.
Grant claimed two nurses had witnessed the signature and accused Rebecca of stealing company records. When police arrived, he presented himself as a grieving executor protecting his elderly mother.
The officers could not decide a probate dispute and advised Eleanor to contact the estate attorney.
Henry’s longtime lawyer, Samuel Price, arrived at nine. He examined the new will and admitted that the signatures appeared valid. Unless Eleanor could prove coercion or forgery, Grant would control the company and most family assets.
Eleanor played Henry’s recording.
Grant said the voice had been digitally created. Samuel explained that the recording supported an investigation but might not defeat a properly witnessed will by itself.
Then Caleb noticed a series of numbers written inside the back cover of Henry’s ledger. They matched neither an account nor a telephone number. Rebecca recognized the first six digits as the date her son was born.
The remaining numbers identified a storage locker at Union Station.
Henry had rented it two days before entering the hospital.
Grant heard them discussing the code. He grabbed his coat and rushed outside.
Rebecca looked through the window as his car disappeared down the street.
“He knows what Dad put there,” she said.
May you like
Eleanor picked up the Mustang keys.
“Then we get there first.”
