Chapter 5 - Eleven Days
Money explained a lot of ugly behavior.
It didn’t explain all of it.
“How much?” I asked.
Daniel hesitated.
“How much money is tied to Ellie?”
“About eighteen million.”
I stared at him.
My daughter had been slapped over a spilled drink while adults around the table quietly arranged themselves around eighteen million dollars.
“Who becomes guardian?”
“Originally, you and me jointly.”
“Originally?”
“My mother challenged the trust language after Dad died.”
“On what grounds?”
Daniel’s eyes shifted.
“Claire, don’t—”
“Say it.”
“She claims you’re unstable.”
I almost smiled.
There it was. The family story they had been writing about me behind closed doors.
The working mother. The emotional woman. The outsider.
“What evidence does she have?”
Daniel said nothing.
“What evidence, Daniel?”
“She has recordings.”
“Of what?”
“Arguments. You yelling. One night you threw a glass.”
“You mean the night I found messages between you and your ex?”
He winced.
“They cut out what happened before.”
“I know.”
“Do you?” I asked. “Because you still let her keep them.”
He sank onto the porch chair.
“She threatened to use them unless I cooperated.”
“With what?”
“Temporary guardianship paperwork. School access. Medical access.”
My hands went cold.
“You signed papers giving your mother authority over Ellie?”
“I thought it was administrative.”
“You thought?”
“I was trying to keep the peace.”
“No. You were trying to keep your inheritance.”
He stood. “That’s not fair.”
“Neither is letting your sister hit our daughter.”
He flinched again.
I opened the door.
“We’re done for tonight.”
“Claire, wait.”
I turned.
He looked scared now. Truly scared.
“Do not let Ellie eat anything Vanessa gives her.”
Every part of me went still.
“Why?”
Daniel looked at the dark street, then back at me.
“Because two weeks ago I found pills in Vanessa’s purse.”
May you like
“What kind of pills?”
He whispered, “The same sedative that showed up in Ellie’s blood after the birthday party last spring.”
