Chapter 3: The Missing Envelope
Jeff stepped between Grant and Susan.
“Back away from her,” he said.
Grant stopped, but his hand remained stretched toward the phone.
“This is a private family matter.”
“You made it public when you humiliated your wife in front of thirty people,” Susan replied.
Claire looked at Madison’s pale friend.
“What’s your name?”
“Ava.”
“What did Madison tell you?”
Ava glanced at Madison, who shook her head sharply.
“Ava, don’t.”
“Tell me,” Claire said.
Ava clasped both hands in front of her.
“She said you were signing papers tonight.
She said after you signed, the house would belong to her and her dad.”
Grant laughed once.
“Teenagers exaggerate.”
Madison looked at him.
“You said the papers would fix everything.”
“Be quiet.”
Claire’s eyes stayed on Grant.
“What papers?”
“Estate documents.
Nothing more.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was going to explain after the guests left.”
Susan lowered her phone slightly.
“Why wait until Claire was exhausted?”
Grant pointed toward the gate.
“You need to leave my property.”
Claire stepped between them.
“This was my mother’s property before I ever met you.”
“Claire, don’t start.”
“I asked you a question.
What was I supposed to sign?”
Grant’s jaw tightened.
“A family trust.”
Ava pulled out her own phone.
“That isn’t what Madison called it.”
Madison grabbed for the phone, but Ava moved back.
“Give me that!”
“No,” Ava said.
“You told us Claire would be gone by Monday.”
The yard went silent again.
Claire turned to Madison.
“Gone where?”
Madison folded her arms, but her voice had lost its confidence.
“Dad said you wanted your own place.”
Grant spun toward her.
“That is enough.”
“You told me she agreed!”
“I told you to stop talking.”
Claire took one step toward Grant.
“You told your daughter I was leaving my own home?”
Grant lowered his voice.
“You’re confused.”
Claire flinched as though the words had touched an old bruise.
Susan moved beside her.
“She isn’t confused.”
Grant gave Susan a thin smile.
“You have always enjoyed interfering.”
“And you have always mistaken silence for permission.”
Jeff looked toward the house.
“Grant, are these the papers Martin Vale prepared?”
Grant’s head snapped around.
“Stay out of this, Jeff.”
“Martin called the office twice asking for your income records.”
“That had nothing to do with Claire.”
Jeff’s hands curled at his sides.
“Then why did he ask whether her house had a mortgage?”
Grant said nothing.
Claire walked toward the patio door.
“The envelope.”
Grant followed her.
“Claire, wait.”
“You left a large envelope in the study yesterday.
You said it was insurance paperwork.”
“It is.”
“Then we’ll open it in front of everyone.”
She entered the house with Susan and Jeff behind her.
Grant pushed past them and reached the study first.
Claire opened the desk drawer.
It was empty.
She checked the cabinet, then the shelf where Grant kept tax records.
“Where is it?”
Grant leaned against the desk.
“Somewhere safe.”
Susan lifted her phone again.
“Play the recording, Claire.”
Grant’s smile returned.
May you like
“You’re too late,” he said.
“The documents were filed yesterday.”
