My mother left me hungry and lonely at 16. When my…

“He planned for it in detail. He gave me explicit instructions that this envelope was only to be produced if you physically attended the reading. If you had stayed away, if you had simply allowed Morgan to grieve in peace, this document would have remained sealed forever.”

My mother’s smile faltered.

The corners of her mouth twitched. She looked at the envelope, then at me. Suddenly, she reached under the table and grabbed my hand.

Her palm was cold and clammy. She squeezed my fingers tight, locking her grip like a vise. “Morgan.

Honey,” she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Don’t let them do this. Your uncle was—he was a difficult man.

He held grudges. You know that. We are the only family left.

We have to stick together against the lawyers. Whatever is in there, we can ignore it. We can make our own deal.”

I looked down at our joined hands.