His face went through several expressions quickly. Surprise. Though it was the surprise of someone who had underestimated something they should have taken seriously. Then something harder. That ticket doesn’t have your name on it. He said the purchase record does, I said. Cynthia appeared in the doorway behind him.
She was already dressed, which meant she had been awake and ready for this conversation, which meant they had discussed it before coming to find me. Margaret, Cynthia said, she never called me mom, which I had always noted. You’re making a very serious mistake. That ticket was found. It wasn’t signed. Legally, it belongs to whoever holds it.
Cynthia, I said, I would encourage you to share that legal theory with my attorney because he holds a rather different view. Her eyes narrowed. Derek stepped further into the room. You have no idea what you’re doing, he said, and there was something in his voice I had not heard before. A cold edge that frightened me more than shouting would have.
This is $90 million, Mom. 90 million. Do you understand what that means? This is our chance. Mine and Cynthia’s. You’re 74 years old. What are you going to do with $90 million? I looked at my son. That I said quietly, is not the question. The question is what you were going to do with $90 million that didn’t belong to you.
He was silent for a moment. Then he said, ‘If you push this, I will contest the estate. This house is community property as far as I’m concerned. I’ve lived here for 10 years. I’ve contributed. You’ve paid no rent.’ I said, ‘You’ve paid no utilities in the last four years. I have records.’ You’ll lose the house.
Cynthia said flatly. You’ll lose everything. Walk away from the dispute and we’ll make sure you’re taken care of. A monthly allowance. We’ll find you a nice place. I was not put on this earth, I said with a calm that surprised even me. To be taken care of by people who tried to steal from me. Derek stared.
Cynthia’s jaw tightened. This isn’t over, Derek said. No, I agreed. It isn’t. They left. I heard their voices in the hall, low and rapid, and then the sound of a door, and then the car in the driveway backing out with more speed than the situation required. I sat very still for a moment. Then I called James and told him what had happened.