Chapter 5: The Letter for Greg
Nobody moved.
The wind lifted the corner of Daniel's folder.
Marissa stared at him as though he'd spoken another language.
“A letter to Greg?””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
Greg swallowed.
“From her?””
“From your mother-in-law.””
Marissa stepped closer.
“Why would Mom write to Greg?””
“I don't know,” Daniel said.
“You're lying.””
“No.””
“Then give it to me.””
Daniel shook his head.
“It is addressed to Greg.””
Marissa reached for it.
He pulled it away.
“I can't give it to you.””
“I'm his wife.””
“That doesn't change the addressee.””
Greg looked uncomfortable.
“Just give it to me.””
Daniel handed him the envelope.
It was yellowed around the edges.
My mother's handwriting covered the front.
*Greg. Open only after my death.*
Greg stared at it.
Then looked at me.
“Did you know about this?””
“No.””
Marissa grabbed his arm.
“Open it.””
Greg hesitated.
“Here?””
“Yes.””
Everyone was watching.
He broke the seal.
The envelope made a soft tearing sound.
He unfolded the letter.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
His mouth tightened.
Marissa noticed.
“What?””
He didn't answer.
“Greg?””
He kept reading.
“What's wrong?””
He finally looked up.
“Marissa…”
“What?””
“I think you should read this.””
He handed it to her.
She read the first paragraph.
Her eyebrows pulled together.
Then she reached the second.
Her hand began shaking.
“What is this?””
I stepped closer.
“What does it say?””
Marissa looked at me.
“Mom knew.””
“Knew what?””
“She knew you would buy the house.””
I frowned.
“That doesn't make sense.””
She shoved the letter toward me.
I took it.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Greg, if you are reading this, then Marissa has probably convinced herself that she is entitled to things simply because she can make other people feel guilty.
My chest tightened.
I kept reading.
Do not help her turn my daughters against each other.
I looked at Greg.
He stared at the ground.
Marissa whispered:
“She didn't trust me.””
I didn't answer.
The letter continued.
Marissa has always been generous with promises and careless with consequences. I have watched her borrow money, make plans, and expect someone else to clean up afterward.
Marissa's face reddened.
“That's cruel.””
I continued.
If she ever tells you that family requires sacrifice, ask her whose sacrifice she means.
Nobody spoke.
A wave crashed against the shore.
Then another.
I reached the final paragraph.
If Marissa brings people to the beach house without permission, do not let her stay there. If she has already made promises, allow her to face the consequences herself. That may be the only lesson she will remember.
I lowered the letter.
Marissa stared at me.
“You knew.””
“I didn't.””
“You had this.””
“I just read it.””
“You're enjoying this.””
“No.””
“Yes, you are.””
Her voice cracked.
“You finally got what you wanted.””
I looked at her.
“What did I want?””
“To prove you were the good daughter.””
I shook my head.
“I never wanted this.””
“Then why did Mom choose you?””
“I don't know.””
“You do.””
She stepped closer.
“You always knew how to make Mom feel sorry for you.””
I felt something inside me go cold.
“That's enough.””
“No. It's not.””
Greg caught her arm.
“Marissa, stop.””
She pulled away.
“You stay out of this.””
He looked at her.
“I've been trying to stay out of it for years.””
That silenced her.
Greg looked at the family.
“I need everyone to go to the hotel.””
Marissa stared at him.
“What?””
“We're not staying here.””
“You're taking her side?””
“No.””
“Then whose side are you on?””
He rubbed his face.
“I'm on the side of not dragging our children into this.””
The youngest child was sitting on a suitcase near the driveway.
She had stopped crying.
She was simply watching her parents.
Greg's expression softened.
Then he looked at me.
“I'm sorry.””
I nodded.
“Thank you.””
He picked up his suitcase.
Marissa didn't move.
I expected another argument.
Instead, she whispered:
“Where's the money?””
Daniel answered.
“The investment account is being held by the trustee.””
“How do I access it?””
“You don't.””
She stared at him.
“Why?””
“Because your mother's condition hasn't been satisfied.””
“What condition?””
Daniel closed the folder.
“You must demonstrate financial independence and responsible management.””
“I am financially independent.””
“Your credit records suggest otherwise.””
Marissa's face went white.
“What?””
Daniel looked at me.
I shook my head.
“This has nothing to do with me.””
He continued.
“The trustee has documentation showing approximately thirty-eight thousand dollars in outstanding personal debt, several recent cash advances, and two unpaid judgments.””
Greg turned.
“Marissa?””
She looked at him.
“It's not what it sounds like.””
“What judgments?””
“Nothing.””
“How much debt?””
“Greg, please.””
He stared at her.
“How much?””
She looked away.
Daniel quietly said, “That's why the account remains frozen.””
Marissa's eyes filled with tears.
“You're doing this.””
Daniel frowned.
“I have never met you before today.””
“You're her lawyer.””
“Yes.””
“So you're protecting her.””
“No. I'm enforcing your mother's documents.””
Marissa looked at me.
“I need that money.””
“I know.””
“I need it now.””
“I can't give you money that isn't mine.””
“You could.””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because Mom made the condition.””
She wiped her face.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
She looked at Greg.
He looked back at her.
For the first time since I could remember, he didn't rescue her.
She took a shaky breath.
“I'm in trouble.””
Greg's expression changed.
“What kind of trouble?””
She didn't answer.
“Marissa.””
“I said I'm in trouble.””
“How much?””
She closed her eyes.
“More than thirty-eight thousand.””
Daniel looked at her.
“How much more?””
She whispered:
“Two hundred and ten.””
Greg stepped backward.
The family fell silent.
“Two hundred and ten thousand dollars?””
Marissa nodded.
“What did you do?””
“I invested.””
“In what?””
She said nothing.
“Marissa.””
“I thought I could fix it.””
Greg stared at her.
“With what?””
“The beach house.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“I told them we'd sell it.””
“Who?””
She didn't answer.
“Who did you tell?””
Her eyes filled again.
“People I owe.””
The silence became absolute.
I suddenly understood why she had been so determined to bring twenty-two people here.
Why she had needed the house.
Why she had told everyone it was hers to use.
Why she had refused the hotel.
This wasn't a family vacation.
It was collateral.
I stepped closer.
“You promised them my house?””
“I thought I could get access to it.””
“You thought you could sell it?””
“Not sell it.””
“Then what?””
“Borrow against it.””
I stared at her.
“You planned to put a lien on my house.””
“I was going to pay it back.””
“With what?””
“I don't know.””
I laughed once, but there was no humor in it.
“You didn't even have a plan.””
“I had a plan.””
“You had a fantasy.””
She flinched.
Greg looked devastated.
“Who are these people?””
Marissa wouldn't answer.
Daniel's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
“That's interesting.””
“What?”” I asked.
He held up the phone.
“I've just received an alert from the county records office.””
He turned the screen toward me.
Someone had filed a document against my property.
A preliminary lien notice.
Filed that morning.
I looked at Marissa.
She whispered:
“I didn't do it.””
Daniel's face hardened.
“Then someone did it using your authorization.””
Marissa's eyes widened.
“My authorization?””
Daniel nodded.
“And there's something else.””
He turned the screen around.
The name on the filing wasn't Marissa.
It was a company.
A company I'd never heard of.
Daniel looked at me.
“That company has filed claims against three other properties in the last six months.””
My stomach dropped.
“Whose properties?””
He hesitated.
Then answered.
“Your mother's former properties.””
I looked at Marissa.
She was crying now.
And for the first time, I wasn't sure she was the person I needed to fear.
May you like
Because someone else had been waiting for this house.
And apparently, they had been waiting for five years.
