I opened the envelope first.
Maggie, if you’re reading this, I’m gone. And I’m sorry.
I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I’m sorry I made you think we had less than we did. The truth is, I was scared. Scared that if Robert knew, Vanessa would take everything. Scared that you’d think I didn’t trust you. I did. I do. I just wanted to protect you from the fight I knew was coming.
Everything in this box is yours. The penthouse, the money, all of it. I bought the penthouse because I wanted us to have a place that was just ours. No memories of raising Robert. No ghosts. I wanted to take you there on our anniversary and say this is our second act, Maggie, just us. I ran out of time.
Don’t let them bully you. Don’t let Vanessa take what you’ve earned. You gave me forty years of love, and I gave you this. Use it however you want. Be free.
I love you.
Daniel.
I sat in that sterile vault room and cried for the first time since he died.
By the time I got back to the motel, it was almost four o’clock. I was exhausted, my head spinning with numbers and possibilities.
