Chapter 2: Something a Six-Year-Old Couldn't Have Made Up
Henry set the leather folder on the table between us.
"Richard, this is a property transfer agreement.
Brianna asked us to handle it tonight.
She said you'd already discussed it."
I hadn't discussed anything.
"I've never seen this document before," I said.
Henry glanced toward Brianna.
Something passed between them.
"She said you were planning to sign the house over to her.
As a wedding gift."
My house.
The one I'd lived in for twenty-two years.
The one I'd planned to retire in.
Brianna stepped closer and lowered her voice.
"Dad, you said you wanted to do something meaningful for us.
This is meaningful."
"I never said that."
"You did.
Last Christmas.
You said whatever I needed."
I looked at her.
Really looked at her.
The dress I paid for.
The flowers I paid for.
The orchestra still playing behind us.
Then Evan appeared at her shoulder.
"Richard, it's just paperwork.
It'll take two minutes."
Two minutes to sign away everything I had left.
I reached for the folder.
My hand was shaking.
That's when I heard a voice behind me — one I hadn't expected to hear tonight.
May you like
What Richard found inside that folder — and who stepped forward to stop it — is something no one at that wedding saw coming.
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