I had placed three things on the dining table.
Robert’s first letter to me.
The two ledgers.
Copies of their releases.
I kept the originals secured with the attorney.
Lucas stared at the papers.
“You gave these to a lawyer?”
“Yes.”
His face tightened.
“Why would you do that before talking to us?”
I looked at him for a long moment.
“Your father died.
You didn’t come.
You told me he had left nothing but debt notices.
A week later I found legal documents bearing both your signatures.
Why would I not take them to a lawyer?”
Neither answered.
Mark finally touched his copy of the release.
“Dad promised us that if the company recovered, he’d make things right later.”
“Is that written anywhere?”
“No, but—”
“Did he promise you more money after you sold your shares?”
Mark’s jaw worked.
“It wasn’t supposed to be so final.”
I turned the document toward him.
“You signed something called a release.”
Lucas leaned forward.
“You don’t understand what was happening then.”
“Explain it.”
He looked at Mark.
That small glance told me more than his words would have.
Finally Lucas admitted they had been frightened.
Robert’s lenders were tightening down.
The company looked unstable.
Both sons had families and mortgages.
They did not want their money tied to an enterprise they thought could collapse.
So they asked Robert to buy them out.
I nodded.
“That sounds exactly like what his records say.”
Lucas’s face reddened.
“You make it sound selfish.”
“I didn’t use that word.”
“You’re thinking it.”
I folded my hands.
“I’m thinking about the funeral.”
Silence.
Mark looked away.
I repeated his words from that night.
“You said you would not fly in to mourn a man who left nothing behind but debt notices.”
“Mom, I was angry.”
“At whom?”
“At him.
At everything.”
“And now?”
Mark looked toward the ledgers.
That was the answer.
