Vanessa stared at it.
“What is that?”
“A summary of my current estate plan.”
Her face changed.
Dad had updated his will eighteen months earlier.
Neither Vanessa nor I knew the details.
He had done it after watching two friends’ children destroy each other over inheritance.
He had decided the house would not go directly to either daughter.
After his death, it was to be sold.
A portion would cover final expenses.
A portion would fund a small scholarship through the community college where our mother had once taught.
The remainder would be divided equally between Vanessa and me.
The truck was promised to Harold’s grandson, who had spent three summers helping Dad rebuild its engine.
Dad’s retirement accounts had named beneficiaries.
His checking balance was irrelevant compared to what Vanessa apparently imagined.
She stared at him.
“You were splitting it equally?”
“I was.”
The word was small.
But Vanessa heard the tense.
