Chapter 4 - The Man Who Wanted a Fresh Start
The day before the funeral, Arthur gathered the girls in the living room.
Charles stood behind them.
Arthur did not sit down.
“I have made arrangements for you,” he said.
Lucy gripped Rachel’s hand.
“What arrangements?”
“There are families trained to care for children after a parent dies.”
April looked confused.
“Are we visiting them?”
Arthur avoided her eyes.
“You may live with them for a while.”
Rachel began shaking her head.
“We live here.”
“This house will be sold.”
Charles stepped forward.
“No one is selling anything until Emily’s estate is reviewed.”
Arthur smiled coldly.
“I am her husband. The house belongs to me.”
Charles knew that was not entirely true. His name had originally been included in the property agreement because of the money he contributed, but Arthur might have altered the documents.
“You are sending your daughters away so you can sell their home?”
“I am acknowledging reality. I travel for work. I cannot provide the attention three grieving children require.”
“You have not provided them attention while their mother was alive,” Charles replied.
Arthur’s face reddened.
Lucy stood.
“We can live with Grandpa.”
“That is not possible,” Arthur said.
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
Charles moved beside Lucy.
“I am willing to become their guardian.”
Arthur opened a folder from the coffee table.
“I have already contacted an agency. A representative will meet us after the funeral.”
Charles took the papers.
The forms contained temporary placement requests for all three girls.
Emily’s signature appeared at the bottom.
Charles recognized immediately that it was false.
The letters were too narrow. Emily always formed the final stroke of her name with a long curve.
“This is forged.”
Arthur snatched the documents back.
“Emily signed them two months ago.”
“She planned to leave you three weeks ago. She would never have sent her children away.”
Arthur’s expression became dangerously still.
“What did she tell you?”
“Enough.”
For one second, panic entered Arthur’s eyes.
Then it disappeared.
“She was under extreme stress. She imagined things.”
“Did she imagine the woman waiting outside two nights ago?”
Lucy inhaled sharply.
Arthur looked at the girls.
“Go upstairs.”
No one moved.
“Now.”
Charles nodded to Lucy. She led her sisters away, but stopped near the staircase where she could still hear.
Arthur lowered his voice.
“You are interfering in matters you do not understand.”
“I understand that you were preparing to abandon your daughters before their mother’s funeral.”
“I have a life.”
“So do they.”
“I spent fifteen years trapped in Emily’s constant suspicion and emotional demands. I will not spend the rest of my life trapped by her children.”
Charles felt the words like a physical blow.
“They are your children.”
“Biologically, yes.”
Charles stared at him.
Arthur picked up the folder and walked toward his study.
“You will attend the funeral tomorrow,” he said. “After that, you will go home. The agency will handle the girls.”
Charles followed him.
“If you attempt to take them anywhere, I will stop you.”
Arthur turned at the study door.
“With what evidence?”
The door closed and locked.
Upstairs, Lucy entered the bedroom she shared with Rachel.
April was sitting on the bed holding the framed photograph of Emily.
Lucy gently took it from her.
On the night before the accident, Emily had entered Lucy’s room while Arthur was downstairs.
She had removed the cardboard backing and hidden the sealed envelope behind the photograph.
“Keep this with you,” Emily had whispered.
“What is it?”
“The truth.”
“Why can’t Grandpa have it now?”
“Because your father watches him. Wait until Dad proves what he plans to do.”
“How will I know?”
Emily had kissed her forehead.
“You will know.”
Now Lucy heard Arthur speaking on the phone behind his locked office door.
“The funeral ends at noon,” he said. “The girls will be transferred by one. After that, nothing can stop us.”
Lucy held the photograph tighter.
May you like
Her mother had been right.
She knew.
