Chapter 8 - HavenridgeThe girls did not return to Gregory.
They did not remain with Brandon.
For forty-eight hours they stayed in a county-approved emergency foster home while the court reviewed relatives.
Then Aunt Rachel arrived.
Claire’s older sister looked enough like their mother that Lily burst into tears the moment she saw her.
Rachel dropped her suitcase and hugged them both.
“I should have come sooner.”
Harper held back at first.
“You stopped visiting.”
Rachel’s face crumpled.
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Gregory told me you were doing well.”
“We weren’t.”
“I know that now.”
Harper’s anger came quickly.
“Why did you believe him?”
Rachel did not defend herself.
“Because believing him was easier than admitting something might be wrong.”
Harper looked away.
“I’m sorry.”
Rachel’s voice shook.
“That mistake is mine.”
The court approved temporary kinship placement.
Naomi remained appointed to represent the girls’ best interests in the custody proceedings.
Brandon’s emergency custody was suspended.
Gregory’s guardianship ended.
Neither man could contact Harper or Lily directly.
For the first night at Rachel’s apartment, Lily slept holding Harper’s hand.
The next morning Naomi arrived with a lawyer from the Havenridge Trust.
Harper sat at the table.
“Is that our money?”
The lawyer, Daniel Cho, smiled gently.
“Some of it belongs to you eventually.”
“What does that mean?”
Daniel explained slowly.
Claire’s mother had left Havenridge House to Claire.
When Claire became seriously ill, she created a trust for Harper and Lily.
The trust contained investment accounts worth approximately $2.84 million and Havenridge House, recently valued at $4.35 million.
Neither child could control it while underage.
An independent corporate trustee managed the assets.
A guardian could receive reasonable money for the girls’ care.
But no guardian could simply sell Havenridge or take the money.
“Then why does Dad care about custody?” Harper asked.
Daniel glanced at Naomi.
“Because Brandon has asked the court to remove the independent trustee.”
“Can he?”
“He can ask.”
“Why?”
“He says the trust is not providing enough support.”
Harper understood.
“He used Gregory.”
Naomi leaned forward.
“What do you mean?”
Harper told them about the photographs.
The months Brandon had watched.
The payments.
The conversation downstairs.
The $1.8 million lien.
Daniel became very still.
“What exactly did Gregory say?”
“That Dad forged Mom’s name.”
Daniel looked at Rachel.
“Did Claire ever mention a Northstar loan?”
Rachel’s face changed.
“Yes.”
Everyone turned.
“She called me about it six months before she died.”
Harper’s pulse quickened.
“What did Mom say?”
“That Brandon had used Havenridge as collateral years earlier without her permission.”
“Did she have proof?”
Rachel hesitated.
“She said she did.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
Harper thought of Brandon asking Gregory whether Claire gave the originals to her.
Rachel continued.
“Claire wanted me to take a box.”
“What box?”
“I refused.”
Harper stared at her aunt.
“Why?”
Rachel’s eyes filled.
“We were fighting.”
“About what?”
“Gregory.”
Harper felt cold.
“Mom trusted him?”
“At first.”
Rachel rubbed her hands together.
“I told Claire I didn’t.”
“What happened?”
“She accused me of judging her.”
“And you left?”
“Yes.”
Rachel’s voice broke.
“Three weeks later she called again.”
“Did you answer?”
“No.”
Harper stood.
The chair scraped backward.
Lily flinched.
Harper looked at Rachel with tears in her eyes.
“Mom was dying and you didn’t answer?”
Rachel cried now too.
“I know.”
Harper walked away.
No one stopped her.
At the bedroom door, Rachel said something quietly.
“Harper.”
She did not turn.
“Claire left me a voicemail.”
Harper froze.
“I never deleted it.”
Slowly she turned.
May you like
Rachel held up her phone.
“I think you need to hear your mother’s voice.”
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