Chapter 5 - Grandma Clara's Secret
Morgan hadn't told Julian where she kept the deed.
In eleven years of marriage, she'd never given him permission to open the locked metal case beneath their bed.
The case contained her grandmother's will, personal letters, birth records, and the original documents for the cottage.
Julian knew the cottage existed.
He knew it belonged to her.
But he didn't know everything Clara had left behind.
At least, Morgan had believed he didn't.
She called the attorney who had handled her grandmother's estate.
His name was Peter Callahan.
He practiced in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and had known Clara for more than thirty years.
Peter answered with his usual cheerful greeting.
"Morgan! It's been a while."
"Peter, I need your help."
His tone changed immediately.
"What's wrong?"
Morgan explained Julian's financial pressure and the photograph of the deed.
She avoided discussing the necklace until she knew more about the property.
Peter listened carefully.
Then said, "Morgan, your husband can't simply sell the cottage."
"I know."
"But there's something else you should know."
Morgan frowned.
"What?"
"Your grandmother anticipated this."
Morgan sat upright.
"Anticipated what?"
"Someone trying to pressure you into selling."
"Why would she anticipate that?"
Peter hesitated.
"Because she didn't trust Julian."
Morgan stared at the wall.
"What?"
"Clara visited my office about six months before she died."
"She was concerned about his businesses."
Morgan remembered that period.
Julian had just lost nearly sixty thousand dollars on an import venture.
Clara had asked questions.
Morgan had defended him.
She could still hear herself.
He's trying, Grandma. He just needs one good break.
Peter continued.
"Your grandmother established a trust arrangement involving the cottage and some neighboring land."
Morgan blinked.
"Neighboring land?"
"Yes."
"What land?"
"She purchased additional acreage years ago through a family holding company."
Morgan had no idea what he was talking about.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Because Clara instructed me to explain it when certain conditions were met."
"What conditions?"
Peter paused.
"One was that you reached age forty."
"Another was that someone attempted to force a transfer of the property."
Morgan stood so quickly her chair scraped the floor.
"Peter, what exactly did she leave me?"
"I'd rather explain in person."
"Please."
He sighed.
"The cottage itself is valuable."
"But the neighboring acreage has become significantly more valuable over the past few years."
"How valuable?"
"Potentially several million dollars, depending on development approvals."
Morgan felt as though someone had punched her.
"Several million?"
"Yes."
She looked toward Denise.
Her friend mouthed, What?
Peter continued.
"Clara refused multiple approaches from developers."
"She wanted the property protected."
"She also wanted you to make an informed decision when the time came."
Morgan struggled to form words.
"Did Julian know?"
"I never disclosed it to him."
"But he might have discovered the public records."
Morgan remembered something.
Six months earlier, Julian had returned from a business trip unusually cheerful.
He'd said he'd met a real estate investor interested in rural Wisconsin.
That was when he'd started discussing the cottage almost every week.
"Peter, can somebody steal the land using my grandmother's paperwork?"
"Not lawfully."
"But forged documents can create complications."
Morgan closed her eyes.
"And that's exactly what I'm afraid of."
Peter's voice became firm.
"Don't sign anything."
"I won't."
"Don't meet your husband alone."
"I won't."
"And Morgan?"
"Yes?"
"Come to Wisconsin."
"Why?"
"Because there's something in Clara's private files you need to see."
Morgan looked at Denise.
Then at Evelyn.
"What kind of files?"
Peter lowered his voice.
"Clara hired an investigator shortly before she died."
Morgan's heart hammered.
"To investigate Julian?"
"Yes."
"Did she find something?"
Peter was silent.
"Peter?"
"She found evidence that Julian Bennett was not the name your husband was born with."
Morgan sank into her chair.
"What?"
"There's a sealed envelope here."
"Clara instructed me to give it to you if Julian ever tried to control the property."
Morgan stared at the wall.
"What's inside?"
"I haven't opened it."
"Why not?"
"Those were her instructions."
Another pause.
"She wrote something on the outside."
Morgan whispered, "What did she write?"
Peter took a breath.
"She wrote, 'Morgan, if you're reading this, he has already shown you who he really is.'"
Morgan covered her mouth.
And then Peter said something that made the room fall silent.
"There's a second sentence."
"What does it say?"
"'Don't trust the woman who claims she came to save you.'"
Morgan slowly turned.
May you like
Evelyn Ward sat across the table.
Watching her.
