Chapter 7: What Happened the Night My Father Died
I read Olivia's message four times before I reached the lodge.
*Ask Mom what happened the night Dad died. She hasn't told you everything.*
For a moment, I considered calling her immediately.
Then I remembered something my father used to say whenever someone tried to provoke me.
"Never let somebody else's panic become your emergency, Becca.""
So I put my phone down, drove the last mile, and parked beside the lodge.
The new locks clicked when I turned the key.
It was a small sound.
But it made me smile.
For the first time in two days, I was entering my own house without wondering whether somebody else had decided I no longer belonged there.
I put my father's folder on the kitchen island.
Then I called Laura.
She answered immediately.
"Rebecca, I received the documents from Thomas.""
"Good. There's something else. Olivia sent me a message suggesting my mother has concealed something about the night Dad died.""
Laura was quiet.
"Do you have any idea what she's referring to?""
"No.""
"Don't confront your mother yet. Let me finish reviewing the trust documents. And please forward me the message.""
I did.
Then I called Mom.
She answered after six rings.
"Becca?""
"What happened the night Dad died?""
Silence.
"Olivia told me you haven't told me everything.""
My mother began breathing unevenly.
"Your sister shouldn't have said that.""
"That's not an answer.""
"Can we talk tomorrow?""
"No. We can talk now.""
"Rebecca, I'm tired.""
"So am I, Mom. I've been tired for three years. I worked weekends to buy that lodge.
I spent my savings repairing it. And now I'm finding out you helped Olivia try to take it from me.""
She started crying.
"I know.""
"Then tell me the truth.""
For several seconds, there was nothing.
Finally, she whispered, "Your father knew Olivia was planning something with Grant.""
I sat down.
"When?""
"About six months before he died.""
"Why didn't he tell me?""
"He didn't want you involved.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Mom, what happened the night he died?""
She took a shaky breath.
"Your father had been arguing with Olivia.""
"About the lodge?""
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
"Go on.""
"She wanted him to sign something. He refused. She said he was choosing you over her.""
I remembered that Christmas.
I remembered Olivia leaving dinner early.
I remembered Dad standing by the kitchen window, looking exhausted.
I remembered him telling me to stay with Mom because he needed to make a phone call.
I had never known who he called.
"What happened after she left?"" I asked.
"Your father went into his office. He was upset. He told me he wanted to contact Thomas.""
"And?""
"He asked me to find a folder.""
"Which folder?""
"The blue one. The one with Walter's documents.""
I looked at the folder on my counter.
"Did you find it?""
"Yes.""
"What did you do with it?""
My mother began crying harder.
"I gave it to Olivia.""
My stomach tightened.
"You what?""
"She came back later that night. She said Dad had asked her to collect it.""
"Did he?""
"No.""
The answer came out like a confession.
"How do you know?""
"Because I heard him telling her not to touch it.""
I stood up.
"Mom, why would you give her something Dad specifically told her not to touch?""
"She said it was important. She said she needed it to prove that Dad had promised her the property.""
"And you believed her?""
"I wanted to believe her.""
I walked toward the fireplace.
Outside, snow was falling again.
"Where was Dad when you gave her the folder?""
My mother's voice dropped.
"At the hospital.""
I stopped.
"What?""
"He had chest pains. I called an ambulance.""
I gripped the mantle.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"You were in Denver. Your father told me not to call you until we knew what was happening.""
I remembered that night.
I'd been working late when Mom called.
She told me Dad was resting and that I shouldn't drive up in the snow.
The next morning, she called again.
Dad was gone.
I'd never questioned the details.
"What happened at the hospital?""
"He had another cardiac episode. The doctors tried everything.""
I swallowed.
"And Olivia?""
"She came to the house afterward. She wanted the folder.""
"Did she get it?""
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
My sister had taken the documents while my father was dying.
But there was something else.
"Mom, why did you say Dad died at the hospital? You told me you were with him.""
"I was.""
"Then why did you give Olivia the folder while he was there?""
She went silent.
I felt a chill move through me.
"Mom?""
She whispered, "Because Olivia came to the hospital.""
My heart began racing.
"What?""
"She arrived while your father was still conscious. They argued in the hallway.""
"What did they argue about?""
"She wanted him to sign the transfer papers.""
I couldn't breathe.
"He was in the hospital, and she asked him to sign property documents?""
"Yes.""
"What did Dad say?""
My mother started sobbing.
"He told her to leave.""
I pressed my hand against the fireplace.
"What happened next?""
"He asked me to get Thomas on the phone. He said the documents had to be protected.""
"And?""
"I was scared. Olivia was furious. She said Dad was destroying her life.""
I closed my eyes.
My sister had stood in a hospital hallway demanding that a dying man give her a property.
"What did Dad say to her?""
My mother hesitated.
Then she repeated his words.
"He said, 'Olivia, you already sold something that never belonged to you.''"
I froze.
"What did he mean?""
"I don't know.""
"Mom.""
"I swear, Rebecca. I don't know.""
I stared at the window.
Then I remembered the financial documents Thomas had shown me.
Grant Keller.
The failed investment.
The personal guarantee.
Olivia had been promising something long before I bought the lodge.
"Did Olivia take anything else that night?""
My mother hesitated.
"She took an envelope.""
"What envelope?""
"One your father had prepared for you.""
My throat tightened.
"What was in it?""
"I don't know.""
"Where is it now?""
"I think Olivia has it.""
I sat down slowly.
My father had left me a letter.
But apparently, there had been another one.
And my sister had taken it.
Before I could ask anything else, someone knocked on my front door.
Three hard knocks.
I looked through the glass.
Jason stood on the porch.
He was alone.
I ended the call.
"Mom, I'll call you later.""
I opened the door but kept the security chain engaged.
"What do you want?""
Jason looked exhausted.
His shirt was wrinkled. His hair was uncombed. There were dark circles beneath his eyes.
"I need to talk to you.""
"About what?""
"Grant.""
I stared at him.
"Where is he?""
"Back in Boulder.""
"Good.""
Jason looked over my shoulder.
"Can I come in?""
"No.""
He nodded slowly.
"Fair enough.""
He pulled a folded piece of paper from his jacket.
"I need you to see this.""
I didn't take it.
"What is it?""
"A contract.""
"Between whom?""
"Olivia and Grant.""
I stared at him.
"Why are you bringing it to me?""
"Because my wife lied to me.""
For the first time, Jason's voice cracked.
"She told me you had agreed to transfer the property. She said your father had arranged everything years ago.""
"And you believed her?""
"I wanted to.""
"Why?""
He looked down.
"Because I thought it would solve our problems.""
I folded my arms.
"What problems?""
He laughed bitterly.
"All of them. The mortgage. The loans.
The money we owe Grant. The credit cards. Everything.""
I looked at the document.
"What's in the contract?""
Jason unfolded it.
The first page contained Olivia's signature.
The second contained Grant's.
The third contained a description of the Red Mountain property.
And beneath it was a sentence that made my blood run cold.
*Upon successful transfer of ownership, the property shall be conveyed to Grant Keller or his designated holding company for the agreed purchase price of $675,000.*
I looked at Jason.
"She promised to sell my house?""
He nodded.
"When?""
"Six months ago.""
I stared at him.
"Before I even knew she was planning to move in?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Jason rubbed his face.
"Because Grant had already given her money. She used it to pay off our debts and fund the business.""
"What business?""
He looked away.
"She was supposed to help him acquire properties.""
"How much money?""
"Two hundred and ten thousand.""
I felt sick.
"Jason, that's not a business arrangement. That's fraud.""
"I know.""
"Did you sign anything?""
He shook his head.
"No. I didn't know about the contract until last week.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Olivia said you were already involved.""
I laughed without humor.
"Everyone seems to have a different story about what I supposedly agreed to.""
Jason handed me the paper.
"There's something else.""
I looked at him.
"Of course there is.""
He pulled out his phone.
"I recorded a conversation between Olivia and Grant yesterday.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"Because I realized they were planning to use me as the person who submitted the final transfer documents.""
He played the recording.
Olivia's voice came through clearly.
"Once the deed is transferred, Grant gets the property. Mom's guarantee disappears, and we can finally start over.""
Grant answered.
"And Rebecca?""
"She'll get over it.""
"She's not going to get over losing a six-hundred-thousand-dollar property.""
Olivia laughed.
"She doesn't have a choice. Mom has power of attorney.""
Then Grant said something that made me stop breathing.
"Does she know about the original trust?""
Olivia's voice became colder.
"She doesn't know what happened to the original trust documents. Dad made sure of that.""
The recording ended.
I stared at Jason.
"What did she mean?""
He shook his head.
"I don't know.""
I replayed the last sentence.
She doesn't know what happened to the original trust documents.
I looked at my father’s folder.
Then at Jason.
"Where did you get this recording?""
"From Olivia's phone. She left it in the car.""
"Why are you giving it to me?""
Jason looked up.
"Because I have two children. And I don't want them growing up thinking this is normal.""
For the first time, I believed him.
Not completely.
But enough.
I took the paper.
"Jason, I need you to give this to my attorney.""
"I will.""
"And don't contact Olivia about it.""
He nodded.
Then he turned to leave.
"Jason?""
He stopped.
"Did Olivia take an envelope from the hospital the night Dad died?""
His face changed.
"Yes.""
I stepped closer.
"What was in it?""
He swallowed.
"Something she said would prove Dad had changed his mind.""
"What did she do with it?""
Jason looked toward the road.
"She gave it to Grant.""
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"Why?""
"Because he told her it was the only way to prove she had a legitimate claim.""
I stared at him.
Then Jason said the words that would change everything.
"Rebecca, I don't think Olivia wanted the lodge for herself.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
May you like
He looked at me.
"She was never planning to live here.""
