Chapter 2
He was seventy-one, silver-haired, and had been my father's attorney for nearly thirty years. Dad used to joke that Martin charged too much for someone who still couldn't change his own oil.
Today, Martin wasn't smiling.
His eyes moved to the phone in my hand.
“You brought it.”
I nodded.
He didn't reach for it immediately.
Instead, he studied my face.
“Did you listen?”
“No.”
“Are you certain?”
“Dad told me to give it to you.”
Something shifted behind Martin’s eyes.
Not surprise.
Respect.
He extended his hand.
I placed the phone in his palm.
He held it carefully, almost reverently.
“Your father was a very thorough man,” he said.
“I know.”
“He was also frightened for you.”
My throat tightened.
“Of what?”
Martin looked toward the conference room.
“That's what we're going to discuss.”
At exactly ten o'clock, he opened the door.
Ethan stood immediately.
“There she is.”
He crossed the room and kissed my cheek.
I smelled his expensive cologne.
The same cologne I had bought him for our anniversary six months earlier.
“You look exhausted,” he whispered. “Let me do the talking.”
I stepped away.
“I can speak for myself.”
His smile tightened.
Marjorie was already seated at the long mahogany table, directly beside the chair intended for me.
She had arranged a yellow legal pad, two pens, and a folder labeled FAMILY FINANCIAL PLAN.
The sight of that folder made my stomach turn.
Dad had been dead five days.
His funeral flowers were probably still damp.
And Marjorie had prepared a financial plan.
“Lydia, darling,” she said brightly. “Sit here. We have so much to organize.”
Martin closed the door.
“Mrs. Whitmore, this is a reading of George Bennett’s will. It is not a family financial planning session.”
Marjorie blinked.
“Of course. I was simply trying to be helpful.”
Brandon leaned back in his chair.
“Can we get started? I've got a meeting with my bank at noon.”
Martin placed a thick folder on the table.
“We will begin when everyone understands one important distinction.”
Ethan folded his arms.
“Which is?”
“George Bennett's estate belongs to the beneficiaries named in his legal documents. No one else has authority over those assets merely because they are related to a beneficiary.”
Marjorie's expression cooled.
“Well, Lydia is married.”
“Yes,” Martin replied. “I'm aware.”
“And in a marriage, assets are shared.”
“Not necessarily.”
Ethan gave a small laugh.
“Martin, we're not here to argue technicalities.”