Chapter 13 - Thomas’s Last Letter
I avoided Thomas’s final sealed envelope for another day.
Then I opened it.
Margaret,
If you are reading this after I’m gone, I’m sorry I left you with a problem I did not finish.
Richard Whitmore approached me once.
He wanted an option on the south acreage.
He said Daniel would eventually see things differently.
I pulled Daniel’s company filings afterward.
The business is weaker than he admits.
Please do not rescue it with the farm.
Help him become honest instead.
Thomas always understood the difference between love and rescue.
His letter continued:
If Daniel chooses people who value what we own more than who we are, do not compete with them. Step away and let him see the cost.
Not because Thomas predicted Tiffany.
Because he predicted me.
He knew I would try to buy peace.
Every payment delaying the moment Daniel had to grow up.
“Come over.”
He arrived thirty minutes later.
I gave him the letter.
He read it standing by the window.
“He knew.”
“Yes.”
“He thought I was a failure.”
“No.”
“He told me not to rescue you.”
“That’s worse.”
“No.”
I took the letter back.
“It means he thought you could survive consequences.”
Daniel stared at the floor.
For once, he did not ask me to save him.
He told me he was filing for personal bankruptcy if needed.
Separating from Tiffany.
Cooperating with investigators.
Giving up his equity in Bennett Legacy Holdings.
“I may lose everything.”
I looked around my kitchen.
“You may lose what you built badly.”
Then he said:
“I want to help get the fifteen acres back.”
“They were sold legally.”
“But Richard’s option—”
“Is his problem.”
Daniel looked at me.
“You’re letting it go?”
“No.”
I touched Thomas’s letter.
“I’m accepting that not every loss can be reversed.”
Then my phone rang.
“Margaret, Richard just filed an emergency motion claiming you lack capacity to manage your property.”
I laughed.
Of course he did.
May you like
He could not get my signature.
So now he planned to make it legally irrelevant.
