The Seat They Took

PART 2 — THE SECRET GRANDMOTHER LEFT BEHIND

“Leona, sweetheart, please don’t walk away.”

My mother’s voice followed me as I stepped down from the stage.

I turned toward her, holding the envelope tightly.

“What did you want to tell me, Mom?”

She glanced at the deed in my hand.

“Where did you get that?”

“Grandmother gave it to me.”

Her expression changed immediately.

“That house belongs to this family,” she whispered. “Your grandmother would never have intended to give it to you alone.”

I stared at her.

“Interesting. Because the deed says otherwise.”

Before she could respond, Grant approached us.

He was my mother’s favorite child, the son who had received everything I hadn’t. His college tuition, his first car, and even the money to start his business had come from our grandmother.

“Let me see that,” he demanded.

I pulled the document away.

“It’s not yours.”

Grant laughed bitterly.

“You’ve been gone for six years, Leona. You show up at your sister’s graduation wearing an expensive dress, receive some medal, and suddenly you think you’re better than everyone?”

“I never said that.”

“Then stop acting like it.”

My aunt Amora joined us, followed by Tyler.

“Your mother has been under enough stress,” Amora said. “Whatever your grandmother promised you, we should discuss it privately.”

I looked at all four of them.

“Why? You never discussed anything privately when you were making decisions about my life.”

My mother lowered her voice.

“Your father was sick. We needed someone to help. You were the oldest, and you understood our situation.”

“I understood that Dad needed treatment. I didn’t understand why I had to abandon my education while Grant continued attending college.”

Nobody answered.

I continued.

“I worked double shifts at Rosy’s Diner. I paid for Dad’s medication. I used my savings to cover the mortgage. And when I asked for help returning to school, you told me I was being selfish.”

My mother’s eyes filled with tears.

“We did what we thought was best.”

“For whom?”

That question silenced her.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

It was a message from Dr. Ellison.

Leona, I have something important regarding your grandmother’s final instructions. Please come to my office tomorrow morning. She left a second letter, and I believe you should read it before Sunday’s family gathering.

I looked at the message twice.

A second letter?

I turned toward my mother.

“Did Grandmother ever tell you why she bought the house?”

Her face went pale.

Grant suddenly stopped arguing.

And that was when I realized they knew something.

Something they had hoped I would never discover.