Chapter 5: The Night Before
I called Dad at 6:03 the next morning.
He didn't answer.
I called again.
Nothing.
At 6:27, he finally picked up.
“Emily?””
“Where are you?””
A pause.
“Why?””
“Because we need to talk.””
“About the house?””
“About Mom.””
Silence.
His breathing became audible.
“What about her?””
“The night before she went to the hospital.””
Another long silence.
Then he said, “I don't know what you're talking about.””
I closed my eyes.
“You're lying.””
“Emily—”
“I found the documents.””
His voice dropped.
“What documents?””
“The blue folder.””
I heard something hit a surface on his end.
“What did you find?””
“Enough to know Mom didn't tell me everything.””
“Where did you get that?””
“From her room.””
“Emily, listen to me carefully.””
“No. You listen.””
My voice shook.
“Mom put money into Diane's company.””
Dad said nothing.
“Almost two hundred thousand dollars.””
Still nothing.
“Why?””
He finally whispered, “It wasn't what you think.””
“Then tell me what it was.””
“Your mother wanted to protect you.””
“From what?””
“From Diane.””
I froze.
“What?””
Dad exhaled.
“I should have told you years ago.””
“Then start now.””
He didn't answer.
“Dad.””
“I can't talk about this over the phone.””
“Then come to my house.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because Diane will know.””
I stared at the phone.
“She's already involved.””
“You don't understand.””
“I understand that Mom's money went to her.””
“You don't understand what Diane is capable of.””
My stomach tightened.
“Then tell me.””
He hung up.
I sat motionless.
Five minutes later, my doorbell rang.
I wasn't expecting anyone.
I looked through the window.
Dad stood on my porch.
Alone.
I opened the door.
He looked older than he had the week before.
His shoulders were hunched.
His eyes were red.
“Can I come in?””
I stepped aside.
He walked into the living room.
His gaze landed on Mom's photograph.
He stopped.
“She would have loved this place.””
I crossed my arms.
“Sit down.””
He did.
I remained standing.
“Start talking.””
Dad rubbed his palms together.
“Your mother knew she was sick before she told us.””
“I know.””
“She didn't know how long she had.””
“You told me she found out six months before she died.””
“She found out earlier.””
“How much earlier?””
“Almost a year.””
My chest tightened.
“A year?””
Dad nodded.
“She was afraid.””
“Of dying?””
“Of leaving you alone.””
I looked away.
Dad continued.
“After the diagnosis, she started moving money.””
“To Diane?””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“To protect you.””
I frowned.
“Then why was it in Diane's company?””
“Because Diane didn't know it belonged to your mother.””
I stared at him.
“That makes no sense.””
“It will.””
He leaned forward.
“Your mother discovered that Diane had debts.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“What kind?””
“Business debts. Personal loans. Credit cards. Things I didn't know about.””
“And Mom helped her?””
“Not willingly.””
“Then how?””
Dad swallowed.
“Diane threatened to expose something.””
“What?””
He looked at the floor.
“What?””
“I had borrowed money.””
“For what?””
He didn't answer.
“Dad.””
“I was trying to save the house.””
I stared at him.
“The house was already in trouble?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Before your mother died.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“You were eighteen.””
“That doesn't answer the question.””
“I was ashamed.””
I laughed bitterly.
“So Mom saved you.””
“She tried.””
“From Diane?””
“From everyone.””
He pulled a folded paper from his jacket.
I recognized Mom's handwriting immediately.
“She wrote this the night before she went to the hospital.””
I took it.
The paper trembled between my fingers.
*David,*
*If you're reading this, I wasn't able to fix everything.*
I stopped.
Dad looked away.
I continued.
*Do not let Diane control the house.*
My heart pounded.
The next line was underlined.
*She will tell you I gave her permission. I did not.*
I looked at Dad.
“Why didn't you show me this?””
He closed his eyes.
“Because Diane threatened me.””
“With what?””
“She knew about the debt.””
“So?””
“She said she'd make sure you lost everything.””
I stared at him.
“She threatened me?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Dad's jaw tightened.
“She said she would challenge your inheritance.””
“Mom left me an inheritance?””
“Yes.””
“What inheritance?””
He didn't answer.
“Dad.””
“The house.””
My breath caught.
“But you said you owned it.””
“I thought I did.””
“You thought?””
“Your mother had legal protections in place.””
I looked down at the letter.
“What happened to her share?””
Dad shook his head.
“Diane forged documents.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
“I found out too late.””
“Then why didn't you report her?””
“Because I was afraid.””
I stared at him.
“You let her terrorize me because you were afraid.””
He flinched.
“Yes.””
For the first time, he looked directly into my eyes.
“I've regretted it every day.””
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I whispered, “Where is Diane now?””
“At the old house.””
“Why?””
“She thinks she can still get it back.””
I laughed without humor.
“She can't.””
“No.””
Dad's eyes dropped.
“But she has something you don't.””
“What?””
He pulled another paper from his pocket.
A court notice.
I read the heading.
My name.
My father's name.
And Diane's.
“What is this?””
“A lawsuit.””
My blood ran cold.
“She filed against me?””
“Yesterday.””
“On what grounds?””
Dad looked at me.
“Fraud.””
I stared at the paper.
“She's claiming the auction was manipulated.””
“That isn't all.””
“What else?””
“She says you knew the property was going into foreclosure before the auction.””
“I did.””
“That's not illegal.””
“I know.””
“Then why—”
Dad stopped.
His phone began ringing.
He looked at the screen.
His face turned pale.
“Who is it?””
He didn't answer.
The phone kept ringing.
Finally, he whispered,
“Diane.””
I reached for his phone.
“Don't.””
“Why?””
“Because if she knows I'm here…”
The ringing stopped.
A second later, Dad received a text.
He read it.
Then slowly looked at me.
“What did she say?””
He handed me the phone.
There were only eight words.
*I know Emily has the original confession.*
My blood ran cold.
“Dad,” I whispered.
“What confession?””
He stared at the message.
Then at me.
“I don't know.””
May you like
But I knew he was lying again.
And this time, I knew exactly where to look.
