Hunter had been cruel willingly.
He had not been fully informed.
Mason had betrayed him too.
Delaney stood near the window with both hands wrapped around herself.
The estate attorney turned toward her.
“Ms.
Price, you indicated last night that you wished to speak with me privately.”
Mason’s head snapped around.
“What did you say to him?”
Delaney looked terrified, but she did not sit down.
“I told him what happened at the rehabilitation center.”
Mason rose so quickly his chair struck the wall.
“Delaney.”
She flinched, then steadied herself.
“You brought papers to your father’s room,” she said.
“You told me they were routine documents for farm expenses.”
“They were.”
“He asked what he was signing.”
“He knew.”
“He asked you three times.”
Mason’s jaw tightened.
Delaney looked at the relatives around the table, then at me.
“You put the pen in his hand.
When he couldn’t hold it steady, you held his wrist against the clipboard.”
No one spoke.
The cruelty of the previous night seemed smaller now, almost childish beside what Mason had done in that room.
He had not merely risked Dad’s property.
He had used Dad’s weakness as an opportunity.
Mason pointed at Delaney.
“You were there.
If you thought it was wrong, why didn’t you stop me?”
Her face folded with shame.
“I should have.”
He smiled as if he had won something.
“Then you are just as responsible.”
“No,” Caroline said.
“But she may be a witness.”
The smile vanished.
The attorney asked everyone to sit down.
Mason remained standing.
“This meeting is over.”
“No,” I said.
“The dinner was over.
The plan was over.
This meeting is finally honest.”
He turned on me with the same expression he had worn when we were children and Dad praised one of my birdhouses.
“You think buying a deed makes you his daughter?”
I felt the old wound open, but it no longer controlled my voice.
“No.
Dad adopting me made me his daughter.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I know exactly what you mean.
You have used blood as a weapon every time you were afraid I belonged here.”
Hunter stared at the table.
Mason looked around for support.
No one offered it.
