I looked at my father.
“Why?”
He didn’t answer.
“Why did you do this to Grandma?”
He looked away.
Then he said something so quietly that I almost missed it.
“Because she was going to change the trust.”
Mr. Grant’s expression hardened.
“She had every right to.”
Dad looked at him.
“She was going to leave everything to charity.”
That surprised me.
Grandma had never mentioned that.
Mr. Grant nodded.
“She was considering it.”
Dad laughed bitterly.
“So you see?”
“No.”
Mr. Grant shook his head.
“I see a son who believed his mother’s money belonged to him before she was even dead.”
Dad’s face turned red.
“She promised me.”
“Your mother promised you nothing.”
The terminal seemed suddenly silent.
Mr. Grant picked up the folder.
“Tomorrow morning, the trustee will file the formal notice.”
Dad stepped toward him.
“You’re destroying my life.”
Mr. Grant answered quietly.
“No, Richard.”
He looked toward the exit.
“Your choices are doing that.”
Then he walked away.
I followed him.
Behind us, I heard my mother crying.
I heard Aunt Monica arguing with my father.
And I heard one sentence that stayed with me.
“I thought you said Mom would never find out.”
