Chapter 4: The Family Alliance
When I arrived home, the front door was unlocked.
That immediately bothered me.
Grandpa always locked the door three times every night.
Even when he was just stepping outside to check the garden.
I walked inside.
The house was silent.
Too silent.
“Mom?””
No answer.
I moved toward the dining room.
Then I heard voices.
Erin.
And my father.
“You promised me,” Erin said.
Dad sounded nervous.
“I didn’t promise you that.””
“You said she wouldn’t find out.””
My footsteps stopped.
They didn’t know I was there.
“What exactly did you think would happen?”” Dad asked.
“You told me Claire was emotional. You said she would back down.””
My heart sank.
I stepped into the room.
“Back down from what?””
Both of them turned.
Erin’s face went pale.
Dad looked away.
“What were you talking about?””
Nobody answered.
I walked closer.
“Answer me.””
Erin crossed her arms.
“You were listening?””
“No. I was walking into my own house.””
The words hit harder than I expected.
My own house.
For the first time, saying it didn’t feel like an argument.
It felt like the truth.
Dad rubbed his forehead.
“Claire, there are things you don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
Erin laughed.
“You really think this is about paperwork?””
“Then what is it about?””
She looked around the dining room.
“This house was supposed to stay with the family.””
“It did.””
“No. It stayed with you.””
I stared at her.
“You mean Grandma and Grandpa’s decision wasn’t acceptable because they chose me?””
Her silence answered.
Mom entered from the hallway.
“Please stop fighting.””
I looked at her.
“You knew.””
She looked down.
That was enough.
“You all knew.””
Mom’s eyes filled.
“We were trying to protect everyone.””
“No.””
My voice became quiet.
“You were protecting Erin.””
Nobody argued.
Because they knew.
I picked up my phone.
“I want the truth.””
Erin smiled.
“You can’t handle the truth.””
I almost laughed.
“After tonight? Try me.””
She walked toward the table.
“Grandma wanted me to have something too.””
“What?””
She tapped the papers.
“The trust.””
My expression changed.
“You knew about it.””
“Yes.””
“How?””
She smiled.
“Grandma told me.””
That hurt.
More than I expected.
Because for a moment, I wondered.
Had Grandma chosen Erin too?
Had I misunderstood everything?
Then Erin continued.
“She told me if you ever tried to remove us, I could challenge the transfer.””
I looked at her.
“That’s not what the trust says.””
Her smile faded.
“How would you know?””
“Because I read it.””
Silence.
I watched her confidence disappear again.
“You didn’t expect me to find out.””
She looked away.
Dad stepped forward.
“Claire, maybe everyone should calm down.””
“No.””
I looked at him.
“I’m done calming down.””
I took out the copy of the trust agreement.
“The trust does not give Erin ownership.””
Erin’s face tightened.
“It says she has rights.””
“Limited rights.””
I turned the page.
“Only if the house is sold.””
Her expression changed.
“What?””
“Yes.””
I looked at her.
“You thought you had a claim because you misunderstood one paragraph.””
Her mouth opened.
Closed.
For the first time in years, Erin looked small.
But then she suddenly reached into her purse.
And pulled out another envelope.
My confidence disappeared.
Because I recognized the handwriting.
Grandma’s.
“I think you should read this,” Erin said.
She placed it on the table.
“This changes everything.””
I stared at the envelope.
Because I knew Grandma’s handwriting.
May you like
And I knew one thing.
She had never written anything without a reason.
