I had thought I was prepared.
I wasn’t.
Dad continued.
“I saw Andrew with that woman.
I hoped there was an explanation.
I gave him the opportunity to offer one.”
Andrew’s head snapped toward the phone.
My heart started pounding.
Dad had confronted him.
That was the part Daniel had not told me.
The recording continued.
“I spoke to Andrew privately at the hospital.
I told him what I saw.
He told me I was mistaken.
Then he asked me not to upset you while I was ill.”
Andrew reached toward the phone.
Daniel moved it out of his reach.
“Turn that off.”
Nobody moved.
Dad’s recorded voice filled the kitchen.
“I don’t know what Andrew will choose after I’m gone.
People can still choose differently when the moment comes.
That is why I asked Daniel to wait.”
I looked at my husband.
Dad had known about the affair.
He had confronted Andrew.
And even then, he had left room for Andrew to do one decent thing.
Stay beside me at the funeral.
Andrew had failed the easiest test imaginable.
The video ended with Dad speaking directly to me.
“Whatever you decide about your marriage, make the decision when you are standing, not when someone has pushed you to your knees.”
The screen went black.
Nobody spoke.
Then Andrew exploded.
“This is insane.”
He pointed at Daniel.
“You manipulated a dying man.”
Daniel didn’t react.
Andrew turned to Mom.
“And you’re letting this happen in your house?”
Mom’s grief disappeared behind something colder.
“It was Robert’s house too.”
Andrew laughed harshly.
“There it is.
The house.
That’s what this is really about, isn’t it?”
The room went silent again.
I watched his face.
He had brought up the house.
Not me.
Not Mom.
Not Daniel.
Daniel opened a second folder.
“Since you mentioned it, Robert anticipated concerns about estate pressure.
The administration is independent.
Melissa and Evelyn do not need your approval, advice, signature, or participation in any estate matter.”
