“Were?”
Dad looked at his attorney’s summary.
“I haven’t decided what changes I’m making.”
Her face collapsed.
“Dad.”
He folded the paper.
“What I know is that I will not reward anyone for rehearsing my death.”
Grant muttered, “This is because of Natalie.”
Dad turned so quickly that Grant stepped back.
“No.”
His voice was still not loud.
“This is because at six-thirty this morning, while I was alive, you laughed and told my daughter she was finally out of the family.”
Nobody spoke.
Dad pointed toward Vanessa’s vehicle.
“Go home.”
Vanessa did.
For the first time in my life, she left without getting the final word.
In the weeks that followed, more details surfaced.
Grant had been under financial pressure.
His business had lost two major contracts.
He had overdue tax payments and a line of credit Vanessa had never told Dad about.
None of that excused what happened.
But it explained the urgency.
