Then he said, “Do not leave that property.”
I stared toward the porch.
“They’re inside the house.”
“That doesn’t make it theirs.”
He asked me to read the first line of Jasper’s letter to confirm I had the correct folder.
When I did, I heard him exhale.
“Jasper prepared for this possibility months ago,” Miles said.
“The ownership documents were completed while he was still competent and fully informed.
Your home is not part of anything Frederick controls.
Jasper transferred his interest so that you would hold the property.
The lake property was handled the same way.”
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“He was afraid you would try to make peace with his parents before protecting yourself.”
That sounded exactly like Jasper.
Miles continued.
“He also reorganized his business holdings.
The shares intended for you and the children are held in trust.
His parents do not control that trust.
They cannot sell those shares, pledge them, transfer them, or use them to force you into an agreement.”
I looked down at Jasper’s handwriting.
Mom and Dad have no idea.
He had known them better than I wanted to admit.
“What do I do now?” I asked.
“Stay calm.
Keep the children with you.
I have certified copies of the relevant documents.
I’m coming to the house.”
I glanced at the porch again.
Avery had opened the front door and was staring directly at me.
She pointed down the road.
Leave.
I did not move.
Frederick came outside behind her.
He shouted something I could not hear through the closed windows.
Miles was still speaking.
“Hazel, listen carefully.
Jasper was very specific.
He did not want a confrontation.
He wanted the paperwork to speak for him.”
So I waited.
It was one of the hardest things I had ever done.
Toby kept touching his cheek, anger radiating from him.
“Why are we sitting here?” he asked.
“Because your father told me not to argue.”
“That’s it?”
“No.”
I looked at the folder.
“That’s just the beginning.”
Frederick finally marched across the wet driveway and stopped beside my window.
I lowered it only a few inches.
“I told you to leave.”
“I heard you.”
“Then why are you still here?”
“I’m waiting for someone.”
His eyes narrowed.
