Chapter 3: The Closing Schedule
Three days after Christmas, Vanessa called me.
I was in the grocery store, standing in front of the produce section, trying to decide whether to buy oranges or apples.
"Eleanor, darling!""
Her voice was unusually cheerful.
"Hello, Vanessa.""
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything.""
"Just shopping.""
"Oh, wonderful. Listen, I've been thinking about what happened on Christmas.""
I picked up an orange and examined it.
"Have you?""
"Yes. And I really think we should sit down and talk.""
"About what?""
"Madison, of course.""
I placed the orange in my basket.
"What about her?""
Vanessa gave a small sigh.
"She's been devastated.""
I almost asked whether Madison was devastated about losing the money or about throwing it away.
Instead, I said nothing.
Vanessa continued.
"She's been crying. She barely slept on Christmas night.""
"That's unfortunate.""
"I know you're upset with her, but she's still your granddaughter.""
"I haven't forgotten.""
"Then perhaps we could meet for lunch tomorrow?""
I looked at the shopping cart.
I had a feeling this wasn't going to be about lunch.
"All right," I said.
"Tomorrow.""
"Wonderful. There's a little restaurant near the shopping center. I'll send you the address.""
When I returned home, I found a missed call from an unfamiliar number.
I listened to the voicemail.
"Mrs. Whitmore, this is Robert Ellis from Whitmore Financial Services. I'm calling to confirm the appointment you requested regarding the transfer of your family gift funds. Please return my call.""
I frowned.
I hadn't requested any appointment.
I called the number back.
A receptionist answered.
"Whitmore Financial Services. How may I help you?""
"This is Eleanor Whitmore. I received a voicemail from Robert Ellis.""
"Of course, Mrs. Whitmore. One moment.""
A few seconds later, a man came on the line.
"Mrs. Whitmore! Thank you for returning my call.""
"Mr. Ellis, I believe there has been a misunderstanding. I didn't request an appointment.""
There was a pause.
"That's strange.""
"Why?""
"Our office received an inquiry concerning a planned family gift of approximately one hundred thousand dollars.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"Who made the inquiry?""
"Your daughter-in-law, Mrs. Vanessa Whitmore.""
I closed my eyes.
"She contacted you?""
"Yes. She explained that you were considering a financial gift to your granddaughter and wanted advice about structuring it.""
I was silent.
Mr. Ellis continued carefully.
"She also mentioned that there was a time-sensitive property transaction involved.""
My stomach tightened.
"What property transaction?""
"I don't have the complete details. She said your granddaughter was involved in a purchase and that the funds would be needed before the closing date.""
I sat down.
"Did she tell you I had agreed to provide the money?""
Another pause.
"She said the family had discussed it.""
"That's not an answer.""
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Whitmore. I can only tell you what was communicated to our office.""
I thanked him and ended the call.
For several minutes, I sat at my kitchen table staring at the telephone.
A property transaction.
A closing date.
A hundred thousand dollars.
Suddenly, Noah's comment about the deposit made sense.
But I still didn't know why Vanessa had contacted a financial adviser before Madison had even opened her Christmas gift.
The next morning, I met Vanessa at a restaurant called The Copper Spoon.
She was already there when I arrived.
She wore a cream-colored coat, gold earrings, and the kind of smile that made strangers assume she was a particularly kind woman.
"Eleanor!""
She stood and kissed my cheek.
"You look wonderful.""
"Thank you.""
She pulled out my chair.
We ordered lunch.
For the first fifteen minutes, Vanessa discussed the weather, her holiday decorations, and a neighbor who had recently moved.
Then she placed her napkin on the table.
"So, about Madison...""
I looked at her.
"Yes?""
"She's been under tremendous pressure.""
"Why?""
Vanessa looked surprised.
"Well, she's trying to buy a property.""
I put down my fork.
"What property?""
"A condominium.""
"She's buying a condominium?""
"Yes. A beautiful one downtown.""
I hadn't heard anything about it.
"When did she decide to do that?""
"Several months ago.""
"And she can afford it?""
Vanessa smiled.
"She has been saving.""
I waited.
Then she added, "The down payment is the difficult part.""
There it was.
"How much does she need?""
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"One hundred thousand dollars.""
I stared at her.
"Exactly one hundred thousand?""
"Yes.""
I took a sip of water.
"Interesting.""
She leaned closer.
"That's why the Christmas incident was so unfortunate.""
"Why?""
"Because Madison was expecting to use your gift toward the purchase.""
I put my glass down.
"She was expecting it?""
Vanessa's expression changed slightly.
"Well, we had discussed the possibility.""
"With whom?""
"With Daniel and me.""
"Not with me.""
She gave a nervous laugh.
"Eleanor, surely you understand. We didn't want to pressure you.""
"You contacted a financial adviser in my name.""
Her smile vanished.
For the first time that afternoon, Vanessa looked genuinely uncomfortable.
"Who told you that?""
"Mr. Ellis.""
She leaned back.
"That was simply an inquiry.""
"Did you tell him I had agreed to provide the money?""
"I explained the family situation.""
"Did you?""
She picked up her glass.
"Madison had already made arrangements based on the understanding that she would receive the gift.""
I felt a chill move through me.
"What arrangements?""
Vanessa glanced toward the other tables.
Then she lowered her voice.
"She's under contract.""
I stared at her.
"She's under contract to purchase a condominium?""
"Yes.""
"Without having the down payment?""
"She was expecting the Christmas money.""
"From me?""
Vanessa nodded.
I looked at her for a long moment.
"Vanessa, I never told Madison I would give her one hundred thousand dollars.""
"But you were planning to.""
"I was planning to give her a gift. She threw it into my fireplace.""
"Because she didn't know!""
"That was her decision.""
Vanessa sighed.
"Eleanor, I don't think you're understanding the situation.""
"Then explain it to me.""
She opened her handbag and pulled out her phone.
"Madison has already signed the purchase agreement. The closing is scheduled for January fifth.""
I felt my fingers tighten around the edge of the table.
"That's less than two weeks away.""
"Exactly.""
"And she has no money for the down payment?""
Vanessa looked down.
"Not enough.""
I sat back.
Something was becoming painfully clear.
Madison hadn't thrown away a gift because she believed it was worthless.
She had thrown it away because she thought she deserved something better.
And Vanessa had somehow convinced herself that I would simply replace it.
"Why didn't Madison ask me for help?"" I asked.
Vanessa looked offended.
"Because she didn't want to seem desperate.""
"Yet she had no problem insulting me.""
"She's young, Eleanor.""
I looked at her.
"Please stop using her age as an excuse.""
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
"You're making this unnecessarily difficult.""
I almost smiled.
There it was.
The real Vanessa.
Not the cheerful daughter-in-law who brought leftover turkey.
Not the concerned mother who wanted to protect her daughter.
The woman sitting across from me believed my money was already part of her family's financial plan.
"Let me ask you something," I said.
"What?""
"If Madison hadn't thrown the envelope into the fireplace, what would have happened?""
Vanessa blinked.
"She would have received the money.""
"And then?""
"She would have completed the purchase.""
"And the condominium would belong to her?""
"Of course.""
"Would I have any ownership interest?""
Vanessa looked genuinely offended.
"Eleanor, why would you need one?""
I nodded slowly.
"I see.""
She reached across the table.
"Listen. I know Christmas was emotional. But we are family. We should be helping each other.""
"Family doesn't mean I have to finance every decision someone makes.""
Her hand withdrew.
"You're being very harsh.""
I picked up my handbag.
"I think we're finished.""
She stood quickly.
"Wait. What am I supposed to tell Madison?""
I looked at her.
"The truth.""
"Which is?""
"That I never promised her the money.""
Vanessa's face hardened.
"She could lose the condominium.""
I looked directly at her.
"Then perhaps she shouldn't have bought one she couldn't afford.""
I walked out.
The cold January air hit my face as I stepped onto the sidewalk.
I sat in my Buick for several minutes before starting the engine.
Then I called my attorney.
His name was Thomas Reed.
Frank and I had worked with him for nearly twenty years.
"Thomas," I said when he answered.
"I need your help.""
"Of course, Eleanor. What's happened?""
"I want to review every document connected to my estate, the family gifts, and the sale of our storage properties.""
He became quiet.
"Is this about Madison?""
I was surprised.
"How did you know?""
"Daniel called my office yesterday.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did he want?""
"He asked whether you could be required to replace a destroyed gift.""
I gripped the steering wheel.
"And what did you tell him?""
"That a voluntary gift that was never accepted cannot be forced upon you.""
I closed my eyes.
"Good.""
But Thomas wasn't finished.
"There's something else, Eleanor.""
"What?""
"Daniel also asked whether your late husband's business holdings included any property that could be transferred to a family member.""
I stared through the windshield.
"What did you tell him?""
"Nothing. Those properties were sold years ago.""
"Exactly.""
There was a pause.
Then Thomas said, "Eleanor, I think you should come to my office tomorrow. There's a matter we need to discuss.""
"What matter?""
"I received an email this morning from a property attorney representing Madison.""
My heart began beating faster.
"What did the email say?""
Thomas hesitated.
"It requested confirmation that you would be providing the funds for her January fifth closing.""
I sat motionless.
Then he added one sentence.
"And attached to that email was a document bearing what appears to be your signature.""
I stopped breathing for a moment.
"My signature?""
"Yes, Eleanor.""
"On what document?""
Thomas's voice became very serious.
"An agreement promising Madison an additional two hundred and fifty thousand dollars if you failed to provide the original Christmas gift.""
I stared at the phone.
Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
I had never signed such an agreement.
I had never promised such an amount.
And suddenly, the burned envelope wasn't the most frightening thing about that Christmas afternoon.
May you like
Someone had been making promises with my money.
And apparently, someone had been signing my name.
