Chapter 4: ## Chapter 4: The Deed Hidden in the Safe
I: The Deed Hidden in the Safe
I called my father eleven times that night.
He didn't called my father eleven times that night.
He didn't answer once.
By midnight, I was sitting on the edge of the guest bed with my phone in one hand and the photocopy of his answer once.
By midnight, I was sitting on the edge of the guest bed with my phone in one hand and the photocopy of his will in the other, trying to make sense of two things that shouldn't have been connected.
My mother's house.
The deed.
And Vanessa's sudden panic when she'd realized will in the other, trying to make sense of two things that shouldn't have been connected.
My mother's house.
The deed.
And Vanessa's sudden panic when she'd realized I might discover the truth.
At 12:17 a.m., a message finally appeared on my screen.
*Dad: I'm I might discover the truth.
At 12:17 a.m., a message finally appeared on my screen.
*Dad: I'm sorry about the call. We'll talk in the morning. Please don't confront Vanessa tonight.*
I read it twice.
Then I typed a reply.
sorry about the call. We'll talk in the morning. Please don't confront Vanessa tonight.
I read it twice.
Then I typed a reply.
Dad, did Vanessa have anything to do with what happened to Mom's house?
The message showed as delivered.
No answer followed.
I stared at the screen untilDad, did Vanessa have anything to do with what happened to Mom's house?*
The message showed as delivered.
No answer followed.
I stared at the screen until it dimmed.
Outside my window, rain tapped against the glass. Somewhere downstairs, a cabinet slammed shut, followed by it dimmed.
Outside my window, rain tapped against the glass. Somewhere downstairs, a cabinet slammed shut, followed by the unmistakable sound of Vanessa's heels crossing the kitchen floor.
I should have gone to sleep.
Instead, I opened my laptop the unmistakable sound of Vanessa's heels crossing the kitchen floor.
I should have gone to sleep.
Instead, I opened my laptop and began searching through the few old photographs and documents I'd saved from my childhood.
My mother, Evelyn Carter, had been and began searching through the few old photographs and documents I'd saved from my childhood.
My mother, Evelyn Carter, had been a careful woman. She labeled everything. Birthday cards, school certificates, recipes, even the envelopes containing photographs she'd taken before I was born.
When a careful woman. She labeled everything. Birthday cards, school certificates, recipes, even the envelopes containing photographs she'd taken before I was born.
When I was fourteen, she'd given me a small wooden box filled with keepsakes and told me to keep it safe.
After her death, my father had taken the box to his office for I was fourteen, she'd given me a small wooden box filled with keepsakes and told me to keep it safe.
After her death, my father had taken the box to his office for safekeeping. He eventually returned it, but several documents that had once been inside were missing.
At the time, grief had safekeeping. He eventually returned it, but several documents that had once been inside were missing.
At the time, grief had made me too exhausted to ask questions.
Now, I wished I'd asked a thousand of them.
I opened the photograph folder.
There was made me too exhausted to ask questions.
Now, I wished I'd asked a thousand of them.
I opened the photograph folder.
There was my mother standing on the front porch of her little blue house, one arm wrapped around my shoulders. Her dark my mother standing on the front porch of her little blue house, one arm wrapped around my shoulders. Her dark curls blew across her face, and she was laughing at something outside the frame.
On the back, she'd written a sentence in curls blew across her face, and she was laughing at something outside the frame.
On the back, she'd written a sentence in her looping handwriting.
For Nia, so you'll always remember where your story began.
I pressed the photograph against my chest.
“Where her looping handwriting.
For Nia, so you'll always remember where your story began.
I pressed the photograph against my chest.
“Where did your story go, Mom?”” I whispered.
A floorboard creaked outside my room.
I quickly slid the photograph into my bedside did your story go, Mom?”” I whispered.
A floorboard creaked outside my room.
I quickly slid the photograph into my bedside drawer.
The door opened a few inches.
Vanessa stood in the gap wearing a silk robe. Her hair was drawer.
The door opened a few inches.
Vanessa stood in the gap wearing a silk robe. Her hair was tied back, and she held a glass of water.
“Still awake?””
I looked at her.
“Yes.””
“Your father is tied back, and she held a glass of water.
“Still awake?””
I looked at her.
“Yes.””
“Your father is worried about you.””
“Then he can answer his phone.””
Her mouth tightened.
“Don't take that tone with me.””
“Don't come worried about you.””
“Then he can answer his phone.””
Her mouth tightened.
“Don't take that tone with me.””
“Don't come into my room at midnight and tell me how to speak.””
Vanessa glanced at my desk, where the will into my room at midnight and tell me how to speak.””
Vanessa glanced at my desk, where the will's photocopy lay beneath a notebook.
“You've become very interested in documents lately.””
I stood.
“Did you sell my's photocopy lay beneath a notebook.
“You've become very interested in documents lately.””
I stood.
“Did you sell my mother's house?””
Her eyes narrowed.
“I didn't sell anything.””
“Then why did you panic when Dad mentioned the deed?””
“I didn't panic.””
“You mother's house?””
Her eyes narrowed.
“I didn't sell anything.””
“Then why did you panic when Dad mentioned the deed?””
“I didn't panic.””
“You practically shouted the word.””
Vanessa set her glass on the dresser.
“Your father has spent years practically shouted the word.””
Vanessa set her glass on the dresser.
“Your father has spent years carrying guilt over decisions that were necessary at the time. I won't have you reopening old wounds because you suddenly believe you're entitled to answers carrying guilt over decisions that were necessary at the time. I won't have you reopening old wounds because you suddenly believe you're entitled to answers.””
“Necessary for whom?””
She stared at me.
Then she said something that made the hairs rise on my arms.
“Your mother wasn't the.””
“Necessary for whom?””
She stared at me.
Then she said something that made the hairs rise on my arms.
“Your mother wasn't the saint you seem to remember.””
I stepped toward her.
“Don't you dare talk about her like that.””
“I'm simply saint you seem to remember.””
I stepped toward her.
“Don't you dare talk about her like that.””
“I'm simply telling you that people are complicated.””
“You didn't even know her well.””
“I knew enough.””
“No. You knew what Dad told you.””
telling you that people are complicated.””
“You didn't even know her well.””
“I knew enough.””
“No. You knew what Dad told you.””
For the first time, Vanessa looked genuinely offended.
“You have no idea what your father and I have sacrificed to keep this family together.””
“Then explainFor the first time, Vanessa looked genuinely offended.
“You have no idea what your father and I have sacrificed to keep this family together.””
“Then explain it.””
She picked up her glass.
“I don't owe you an explanation.””
She turned to leave.
I stopped it.””
She picked up her glass.
“I don't owe you an explanation.””
She turned to leave.
I stopped her with one question.
“Did you know my mother's house was supposed to belong to me?””
Vanessa's hand froze on the doorknob.
She didn't turn her with one question.
“Did you know my mother's house was supposed to belong to me?””
Vanessa's hand froze on the doorknob.
She didn't turn around.
When she finally spoke, her voice was so quiet I almost missed it.
“Go to sleep, Nia.””
Then she left.
I locked the door behind her.
For the rest of the night, I kept the light around.
When she finally spoke, her voice was so quiet I almost missed it.
“Go to sleep, Nia.””
Then she left.
I locked the door behind her.
For the rest of the night, I kept the light on.
At seven the next morning, I found my father in the garage.
He was standing beside an old workbench, holding a screwdriver on.
At seven the next morning, I found my father in the garage.
He was standing beside an old workbench, holding a screwdriver he wasn't using. A small radio played softly near the window, but he had turned the volume so low that I he wasn't using. A small radio played softly near the window, but he had turned the volume so low that I could barely hear the music.
“Dad.””
He looked up.
“Morning, sweetheart.””
“We need to talk.””
He set down could barely hear the music.
“Dad.””
He looked up.
“Morning, sweetheart.””
“We need to talk.””
He set down the screwdriver.
“I know.””
“Then please stop telling me we'll talk later.””
His shoulders slumped.
I pulled a chair away from the workbench and sat down.
“You told me Mom's house was sold to the screwdriver.
“I know.””
“Then please stop telling me we'll talk later.””
His shoulders slumped.
I pulled a chair away from the workbench and sat down.
“You told me Mom's house was sold to settle debts. Now you're saying it should have belonged to me. Which is it?””
Marcus rubbed both hands over his face.
“Both statements are connected, but I didn't tell you everything.””
“Why not?””
“Because you were fourteen. You'd just lost your mother. settle debts.
Now you're saying it should have belonged to me. Which is it?””
Marcus rubbed both hands over his face.
“Both statements are connected, but I didn't tell you everything.””
“Why not?””
“Because you were fourteen. You'd just lost your mother. I thought I was protecting you.””
“From what?””
He looked toward the garage door, as though he expected Vanessa to appear.
“From a fight I thought I was protecting you.””
“From what?””
He looked toward the garage door, as though he expected Vanessa to appear.
“From a fight you didn't deserve to be part of.””
I felt anger rise in my chest.
“I've spent ten years believing there you didn't deserve to be part of.””
I felt anger rise in my chest.
“I've spent ten years believing there was nothing left of Mom's life except her photographs and a few boxes. If someone took something that was nothing left of Mom's life except her photographs and a few boxes. If someone took something that was supposed to be mine, I deserve to know.””
He nodded slowly.
“You do.””
The admission surprised me.
My father reached into the pocket of his jeans and was supposed to be mine, I deserve to know.””
He nodded slowly.
“You do.””
The admission surprised me.
My father reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a small brass key.
“I kept something from your mother.””
He placed it on the workbench.
It was attached to a faded blue tag with the number pulled out a small brass key.
“I kept something from your mother.””
He placed it on the workbench.
It was attached to a faded blue tag with the number 17 written on it.
“What is that?””
“A key to a storage unit.””
I stared at him.
“Where?””
“Westbrook Storage, on the north side of town. 17 written on it.
“What is that?””
“A key to a storage unit.””
I stared at him.
“Where?””
“Westbrook Storage, on the north side of town. Your mother rented it years ago. After she died, I moved some of her things there.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I wasn't ready to go through them. And then life became Your mother rented it years ago. After she died, I moved some of her things there.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I wasn't ready to go through them. And then life became complicated.””
“Dad, it's been ten years.””
His eyes filled with regret.
“I know.””
I picked up the key.
“What's inside?””
“ complicated.””
“Dad, it's been ten years.””
His eyes filled with regret.
“I know.””
I picked up the key.
“What's inside?””
“Documents. Some personal things. I never looked through everything.””
“Does it have anything to do with the house?””
He hesitated.
“I believe your mother put copies of the propertyDocuments. Some personal things. I never looked through everything.””
“Does it have anything to do with the house?””
He hesitated.
“I believe your mother put copies of the property records in there.””
I stared at him.
“You believe?””
“I never found the original deed after she died.””
My grip tightened around the key records in there.””
I stared at him.
“You believe?””
“I never found the original deed after she died.””
My grip tightened around the key.
“Then how do you know she put copies in the storage unit?””
“Because she told me she had.””
“Before she.
“Then how do you know she put copies in the storage unit?””
“Because she told me she had.””
“Before she died?””
He nodded.
“What exactly did she say?””
Marcus looked down at the workbench.
“She told me that if anything happened to her, I needed died?””
He nodded.
“What exactly did she say?””
Marcus looked down at the workbench.
“She told me that if anything happened to her, I needed to make sure you were protected. She said the house was your security, and no one should ever be allowed to take it from you.””
My throat tightened.
“Did you promise to make sure you were protected. She said the house was your security, and no one should ever be allowed to take it from you.””
My throat tightened.
“Did you promise her?””
He closed his eyes briefly.
“Yes.””
The word hung between us.
“Then what happened?””
He opened his eyes.
“I made a her?””
He closed his eyes briefly.
“Yes.””
The word hung between us.
“Then what happened?””
He opened his eyes.
“I made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“After your mother died, there were bills. Legal expenses. I was trying to keep everything running while raising you mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“After your mother died, there were bills. Legal expenses. I was trying to keep everything running while raising you. Someone offered to help me manage the property paperwork.””
“Who?””
My father looked at me.
“Vanessa.””
I felt as if. Someone offered to help me manage the property paperwork.””
“Who?””
My father looked at me.
“Vanessa.””
I felt as if someone had pulled the floor from beneath my feet.
“Vanessa was involved with Mom's house before you married her?””
“She someone had pulled the floor from beneath my feet.
“Vanessa was involved with Mom's house before you married her?””
“She wasn't my wife then. We'd been dating for a while. She said she knew someone who could help with the estate wasn't my wife then.
We'd been dating for a while. She said she knew someone who could help with the estate.””
“And you trusted her?””
“I thought I was doing the right thing.””
“What did she do?””
“I signed documents.””
“And you trusted her?””
“I thought I was doing the right thing.””
“What did she do?””
“I signed documents I didn't fully understand.””
I stared at him.
“You signed away Mom's house?””
“I don't know exactly what happened to the title. That's the I didn't fully understand.””
I stared at him.
“You signed away Mom's house?””
“I don't know exactly what happened to the title. That's the truth. I thought I was authorizing a temporary arrangement while the estate was settled.
Later, when I asked about it, Vanessa told me the truth. I thought I was authorizing a temporary arrangement while the estate was settled. Later, when I asked about it, Vanessa told me the property had been transferred to cover outstanding debts.””
“Did you see proof?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
The answer was property had been transferred to cover outstanding debts.””
“Did you see proof?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
The answer was so quiet that it hurt more than a shout.
“You didn't see proof?””
“I was grieving. I was trying to be a father. I believed the woman who was helping me.””
“And when did so quiet that it hurt more than a shout.
“You didn't see proof?””
“I was grieving. I was trying to be a father. I believed the woman who was helping me.””
“And when did you realize something was wrong?””
My father looked at the key in my hand.
“Several years later. By then, the paperwork was difficult to trace, and Vanessa insisted everything had been handled legally.””
you realize something was wrong?””
My father looked at the key in my hand.
“Several years later. By then, the paperwork was difficult to trace, and Vanessa insisted everything had been handled legally.””
“Did you ask a lawyer?””
“Yes.””
“What did the lawyer say?””
He swallowed.
“That“Did you ask a lawyer?””
“Yes.””
“What did the lawyer say?””
He swallowed.
“That we needed the original documents to establish exactly what had happened.””
I stood so abruptly that the chair scraped against the concrete floor.
“Then why haven't you done anything?””
“Because I was afraid.””
I looked we needed the original documents to establish exactly what had happened.””
I stood so abruptly that the chair scraped against the concrete floor.
“Then why haven't you done anything?””
“Because I was afraid.””
I looked at him in disbelief.
“Afraid of what?””
“Losing my marriage. Losing the life I'd rebuilt. Finding out that I'd at him in disbelief.
“Afraid of what?””
“Losing my marriage. Losing the life I'd rebuilt. Finding out that I'd allowed someone to take something your mother had trusted me to protect.””
His voice cracked on the last word.
For a moment, I saw the man who had allowed someone to take something your mother had trusted me to protect.””
His voice cracked on the last word.
For a moment, I saw the man who had held me through my mother's funeral, who had sat beside my bed when nightmares woke me, who had taught me to ride a bicycle and run after me when I fell.
He held me through my mother's funeral, who had sat beside my bed when nightmares woke me, who had taught me to ride a bicycle and run after me when I fell.
He wasn't a cruel man.
But he had made a choice.
And his silence had allowed that choice to hurt me for ten years.
“I love wasn't a cruel man.
But he had made a choice.
And his silence had allowed that choice to hurt me for ten years.
“I love you, Dad,” I said quietly.
“But you don't get to call silence protection anymore.””
He bowed his head.
“You're right.””
I slipped you, Dad,” I said quietly.
“But you don't get to call silence protection anymore.””
He bowed his head.
“You're right.””
I slipped the key into my pocket.
“I'm going to the storage unit.””
“I'll come with you.””
“No.””
He looked up.
“Nia— the key into my pocket.
“I'm going to the storage unit.””
“I'll come with you.””
“No.””
He looked up.
“Nia—”
“I need to see what's there for myself.””
He seemed ready to argue, but then he stopped.
Finally, he nodded.
“Call me if you find”
“I need to see what's there for myself.””
He seemed ready to argue, but then he stopped.
Finally, he nodded.
“Call me if you find anything.””
I walked toward the garage door.
Behind me, my father spoke again.
“Sweetheart?””
I turned.
“Whatever you discover, please remember that your anything.””
I walked toward the garage door.
Behind me, my father spoke again.
“Sweetheart?””
I turned.
“Whatever you discover, please remember that your mother loved you more than anything in this world.””
My eyes burned.
“I know.””
Then I left.
Westbrook Storage was a row of low concrete buildings mother loved you more than anything in this world.””
My eyes burned.
“I know.””
Then I left.
Westbrook Storage was a row of low concrete buildings surrounded by chain-link fencing. The air smelled of wet pavement and old cardboard.
An employee checked my identification before directing me to Unit 17.
The lock resisted surrounded by chain-link fencing. The air smelled of wet pavement and old cardboard.
An employee checked my identification before directing me to Unit 17.
The lock resisted at first.
Then it clicked.
Inside, the unit was crowded with boxes, a disassembled bookshelf, two at first.
Then it clicked.
Inside, the unit was crowded with boxes, a disassembled bookshelf, two lamps, and several pieces of furniture covered with white sheets.
Dust floated through the thin strip of sunlight entering beneath lamps, and several pieces of furniture covered with white sheets.
Dust floated through the thin strip of sunlight entering beneath the door.
I moved carefully, lifting the lids of boxes and sorting through my mother's belongings.
There were winter coats, kitchen utensils, birthday decorations, the door.
I moved carefully, lifting the lids of boxes and sorting through my mother's belongings.
There were winter coats, kitchen utensils, birthday decorations, and a stack of old school projects I'd made as a child.
One cardboard box contained dozens of photographs.
Another held my mother's handwritten recipes.
At the bottom of a plastic storage bin and a stack of old school projects I'd made as a child.
One cardboard box contained dozens of photographs.
Another held my mother's handwritten recipes.
At the bottom of a plastic storage bin, I found a blue folder.
Inside were bank statements, insurance documents, and a thick envelope bearing the name of a law firm.
I sat on the floor and opened it.
The first page was, I found a blue folder.
Inside were bank statements, insurance documents, and a thick envelope bearing the name of a law firm.
I sat on the floor and opened it.
The first page was a property record.
My mother's name appeared at the top.
Beneath it was the address of the little blue house.
I turned the page.
There was a transfer document.
The signature at the bottom looked like my a property record.
My mother's name appeared at the top.
Beneath it was the address of the little blue house.
I turned the page.
There was a transfer document.
The signature at the bottom looked like my father's.
But the date was wrong.
It was dated six months after my mother had died.
I read the page again, struggling to understand the legal father's.
But the date was wrong.
It was dated six months after my mother had died.
I read the page again, struggling to understand the legal language.
Then I saw a second signature.
Vanessa Reed.
She hadn't been married to my father at the time.
But she'd signed as a witness.
My hands began to language.
Then I saw a second signature.
Vanessa Reed.
She hadn't been married to my father at the time.
But she'd signed as a witness.
My hands began to shake.
I turned another page and found a letter from my mother's attorney.
It was dated two weeks before her death.
The letter stated that the property had been placed in a trust intended to benefit me, with Marcus shake.
I turned another page and found a letter from my mother's attorney.
It was dated two weeks before her death.
The letter stated that the property had been placed in a trust intended to benefit me, with Marcus appointed to manage it until I reached adulthood.
The house could not be sold or transferred without appointed to manage it until I reached adulthood.
The house could not be sold or transferred without satisfying specific legal conditions.
I read the paragraph three times.
Then I looked at the transfer document again.
If the satisfying specific legal conditions.
I read the paragraph three times.
Then I looked at the transfer document again.
If the trust had been established as the letter described, my father might not have had the authority to sign away the property on his own.
And Vanessa trust had been established as the letter described, my father might not have had the authority to sign away the property on his own.
And Vanessa had known about the trust.
I was still trying to understand the implications when my phone rang.
My father's name appeared on the screen had known about the trust.
I was still trying to understand the implications when my phone rang.
My father's name appeared on the screen.
I answered immediately.
“Dad, I found the trust documents.””
His voice was urgent.
“Listen to me carefully. Don't leave the.
I answered immediately.
“Dad, I found the trust documents.””
His voice was urgent.
“Listen to me carefully. Don't leave the storage unit yet.””
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa just called me.””
I stood.
“What did she say?””
He took a shaky breath.
“She knows you've gone there.””
I looked toward the open door.
“How storage unit yet.””
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa just called me.””
I stood.
“What did she say?””
He took a shaky breath.
“She knows you've gone there.””
I looked toward the open door.
“How?””
“I don't know. But she said if you found the blue folder, I needed to stop you before you made a?””
“I don't know. But she said if you found the blue folder, I needed to stop you before you made a terrible mistake.””
My blood ran cold.
I clutched the documents to my chest.
“Dad, what does she think I'm going to find?””
He terrible mistake.””
My blood ran cold.
I clutched the documents to my chest.
“Dad, what does she think I'm going to find?””
He was silent for a moment.
Then he answered.
“The name of the person who bought your mother's house.””
I stared at the pages was silent for a moment.
Then he answered.
“The name of the person who bought your mother's house.””
I stared at the pages.
A name had been written beside the transfer details.
I hadn't noticed it before.
Now I read it.
And my stomach dropped.
The.
A name had been written beside the transfer details.
I hadn't noticed it before.
Now I read it.
And my stomach dropped.
The buyer's name wasn't a stranger's.
It was Ethan Reed.
Vanessa's son.
buyer's name wasn't a stranger's.
May you like
It was Ethan Reed.
Vanessa's son.
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