Chapter 5 - My Sister Wanted Everything I Had
By noon, the moving truck was still sitting in the driveway.
Its driver had started eating a sandwich.
One of the movers was scrolling through his phone.
My family, meanwhile, had decided that Grandpa's will was some kind of personal attack that required immediate retaliation.
I found Brianna in the upstairs hallway, standing beside the master bedroom.
She had apparently ignored Mr. Whitmore's instructions and begun photographing furniture.
"What are you doing?"
She didn't turn around.
"Taking measurements."
"Why?"
"For when this ridiculous misunderstanding gets sorted out."
I leaned against the doorway.
"You're not moving into Grandpa's bedroom."
She finally looked at me.
"Oh, come on, Emily."
"What?"
"You're seriously going to keep this entire house for yourself?"
I looked around.
The master bedroom still contained Grandpa's books, slippers, and a framed photograph of Grandma on their wedding day.
I couldn't even imagine sleeping in it yet.
"This isn't about wanting a bigger bedroom, Brianna."
She rolled her eyes.
"Of course it isn't. You want everyone to feel sorry for you because Mom and Dad left you here."
I stared at her.
"Is that what you think?"
"What am I supposed to think? Grandpa gave you everything."
"He helped pay for your life too."
Her expression tightened.
"That's different."
"How?"
"Because I didn't spend seventeen years making him feel guilty!"
The words struck harder than I'd expected.
I stepped away from the doorway.
Brianna followed.
"Look, I'm willing to be reasonable. Tyler and I could take the upstairs wing. You can keep your room and whatever weird sentimental things you want."
I laughed.
I couldn't help it.
"How generous."
"I'm serious."
"So am I. No."
Her eyes narrowed.
"You've changed."
"You haven't seen me since I was five."
"Exactly. And I can already tell Grandpa spoiled you."
I felt something unpleasant rise in my chest.
"Grandpa worked overtime at a hardware store when his pension wasn't enough. He drove a twenty-year-old car. He skipped vacations so I could go to summer camp."
Brianna crossed her arms.
"And?"
"And you think he spoiled me because he loved me."
Her face hardened.
"You think you're better than me."
"No."
"Yes, you do!"
She stepped closer.
"You have absolutely no idea what it was like growing up in our house."
I almost answered with something cruel.
Something about skiing trips and expensive birthdays.
But her expression stopped me.
There was anger in it.
And something else.
A strange, tightly buried resentment.
"What do you mean?"
"Forget it."
She turned away.
"Brianna."
"I said forget it!"
She walked into the guest room and slammed the door.
I stood in the hallway for several seconds.
Then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
Emily, this is Tyler. Brianna's fiancé. I hope it's okay that I got your number from the funeral guestbook.
I frowned.
Another message appeared.
Could we speak privately? There are some things about your sister's plans that I think you should know.
I stared at the screen.
Wonderful.
Apparently, Grandpa's death had also come with family espionage.
Downstairs, I found my mother standing beside the front window.
She was watching the moving truck.
When she noticed me, she softened her expression.
"Emily, sweetheart."
I stopped walking.
"Don't."
Her smile disappeared.
"Don't what?"
"Call me sweetheart when you're trying to get something."
For a moment, her face twisted.
Then she sighed.
"You're grieving. I understand."
"Do you?"
"I lost my father yesterday."
"And I lost the only parent I ever had."
Her eyes flashed.
"That was unnecessary."
I wanted to say something devastating.
Instead, I remembered Grandpa's final instruction.
Let them speak.
Mom approached.
"Daniel has made this situation unnecessarily complicated. But we can resolve everything privately."
"How?"
"Your father and I would be willing to help you find a lovely apartment. Something modern, close to downtown."
I waited.
"In exchange," she continued, "you would transfer the house into a family property company."
I stared at her.
She actually smiled.
"You'd still receive a financial allowance."
"An allowance?"
"Until you're established."
"I'm twenty-two. I have a job."
"Yes, that little office position."
I looked at her for a long moment.
"You don't know where I work."
She waved a hand.
"That's not the point."
"What degree I studied?"
"Emily—"
"When my birthday is?"
Her mouth opened.
Then closed.
The silence answered for her.
I stepped around her.
"Get your truck off Grandpa's driveway."
She grabbed my wrist.
"Don't you dare speak to me like that!"
I looked down at her hand.
Then back at her face.
"Let go."
Something in my expression made her release me.
Dad appeared from the dining room.
"What's going on?"
"Your daughter is being unreasonable."
He sighed.
"Emily, we have lawyers too."
"Then call them."
His expression darkened.
"You really want to do this?"
I looked at the two people who had once promised to return for me after a weekend.
"No," I said. "I wanted parents."
Neither answered.
Mr. Whitmore emerged from the study.
"Emily, I've prepared a notice for the moving company confirming they have no authorization to remove property."
Dad looked furious.
"This is humiliating."
The attorney adjusted his glasses.
"Richard, I assure you, the movers are the least complicated part of your afternoon."
He handed my father a sealed envelope.
Dad glanced at the front.
His entire expression changed.
"What is this?"
"A copy of Arthur's request for an independent accounting."
Mom turned sharply.
"Accounting of what?"
Mr. Whitmore looked at her.
"Certain transactions involving Bennett Family Holdings."
My father shoved the envelope into his coat.
"That's ancient history."
"Financial records don't disappear simply because someone stops discussing them."
Dad stared at him.
Then he looked at me.
For the first time that day, his expression wasn't contemptuous.
It was calculating.
And I suddenly understood that my parents hadn't returned merely because Grandpa owned a beautiful house.
Something much bigger was buried inside his estate.
That evening, after the movers finally left, I received another message from Tyler.
Brianna told me your grandfather left her nothing.
A pause.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
Emily, did you know your parents promised us this house six months ago?
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