Chapter 25 - EMILY’S LETTER
Sarah Donnelly found one final letter from Emily.
Not hidden.
Misfiled in her old archive.
Addressed to me.
Never delivered because she planned to hand it over after the trust meeting.
Thomas,
If you are reading this because I finally forced you to sit through an estate conversation, congratulations.
I laughed immediately.
Then:
I know you hate paperwork because your father turns every document into a loyalty test. Do not let that make you careless with ours.
My throat tightened.
Then:
The children should know the Reed family if it is loving. They should know the company if they want. But neither money nor family history is payment for obedience.
I stopped.
Cried.
Then read the last paragraph.
If I die before you, do not let grief make Robert your administrator. He will mistake helping you for owning the decision.
Emily had predicted me.
Not tragedy.
Me.
My avoidance.
May you like
I had let exactly that happen.
Forgiving myself took longer than prosecuting Robert.
