Chapter 5 - The Inheritance Hidden From My Son
Caleb’s father, Michael, died when Caleb was two.
We had divorced the year before.
The relationship had been complicated.
His death had still devastated me.
I thought his estate contained almost nothing.
Apparently, Michael’s father thought differently.
The commercial parcel had been placed into Bennett Family Holdings with Caleb as eventual beneficiary.
Control transferred at age eighteen.
Until then, the designated custodian was—
I read the name twice.
“Colleen Ellis?”
Rebecca looked just as confused.
Grant’s mother.
“What connection did she have to Michael’s family?”
I had no idea.
Then I remembered.
Before marrying Grant’s father, Colleen’s last name had been Walsh.
Michael’s mother’s maiden name was Walsh.
My stomach dropped.
“They’re related.”
Rebecca traced it.
Colleen was Michael’s mother’s second cousin.
Not close.
But close enough to know the family.
Close enough to know about the property.
Suddenly Grant’s interest in me looked different.
We had supposedly met accidentally at a charity design event three years earlier.
Had we?
Rebecca urged caution.
“Connection is not proof.”
So we looked for proof.
My firm still had attendee records from that charity event.
Grant had not purchased a ticket.
His company had not sponsored a table.
He was added to the guest list four days before the event.
By whom?
Colleen.
She served on a committee with one of the organizers.
My mouth went dry.
“She put him in the room.”
Maybe innocently.
Maybe not.
Then Rebecca found an old email from Colleen to Grant.
Subject:
MARA BENNETT.
Date:
Three weeks before we met.
There was no body text.
Only an attachment.
A public article about my architecture firm.
And beneath it, Colleen had written one line:
This is Michael Bennett’s ex-wife I told you about.
Grant replied:
The one with the property?
I stopped breathing.
Colleen answered:
Yes. And apparently she’s done very well on her own too.
That was before our first date.
Before the homework.
Before the dance recitals.
Before he told Caleb he was proud of him.
I felt physically ill.
But Rebecca kept scrolling.
Grant’s next message complicated everything.
You’re insane. I’m not dating someone because her kid might inherit land.
Colleen:
At least meet her.
Grant:
No.
Then four days later:
Fine. One drink. Stop asking.
I stared.
“He didn’t want to.”
“At first,” Rebecca said.
That mattered.
Maybe our entire relationship did not begin as a plan.
Then we reached an email dated eight months later.
Grant to Colleen:
You were right about the property. If Mara and I become permanent, eventually we can help Caleb manage it.
Colleen replied:
Exactly.
Something had changed.
Maybe Grant had developed real feelings.
Maybe greed had joined them.
Then Rebecca discovered the commercial parcel had received a purchase offer last month.
$1.9 million.
May you like
The prospective buyer was a development company.
One of its minority owners was Grant.
