I continued.
“I’m going to do exactly what Grandma asked me to do.”
The relief disappeared.
I turned to Margaret.
“Does this request satisfy the discretionary standards as submitted?”
“No,” she said.
“Why not?”
“It relies heavily on anticipated social and professional benefits rather than a purpose contemplated by the trust, and portions of the supporting statement have now been disputed by Mr.
Hartwell.”
I nodded.
“Then I’m not approving it as submitted.”
Vivien slammed her palm against the table.
“You’re ruining my wedding because I didn’t invite you to one dinner!”
Derek stood.
“No, Vivien.”
She turned on him.
“Stay out of it.”
“My name is in the request.”
She froze.
He picked up his coat.
“You told me your sister wasn’t coming to Thanksgiving because she was busy with schoolwork.”
My eyes went to Vivien.
Derek continued.
“You told me she preferred being alone.”
Vivien’s voice dropped.
“I was trying to avoid family drama.”
“You created family drama and then lied to me about it.”
Mom stood.
“Everyone is emotional.
We should not make relationship decisions in a lawyer’s office.”
Derek gave her a tired look.
“With respect, that seems to be where everyone in this family makes decisions.”
He walked out.
Vivien stared after him.
Then she looked at me with tears in her eyes.
For a moment, I expected another accusation.
Instead she whispered, “Are you happy now?”
I thought carefully before answering.
“No.”
And I meant it.
I wasn’t happy that she had lied to Derek.
I wasn’t happy that my mother had hidden Grandma’s bequest.
I wasn’t happy that the only way my family seemed capable of seeing me was when a legal document forced them to.
But happiness wasn’t the point.
Clarity was.
“I didn’t ask Derek to leave,” I said.
“I didn’t put his name in your request.
I didn’t tell him you lied.
Those were your decisions.”
She looked away.
Margaret quietly gathered the papers.
“The wedding request may be resubmitted with accurate information,” she said.
“Thora will review it under the same standards applied to any discretionary request.”
That mattered to me.
I wasn’t cutting Vivien off forever.
I wasn’t using Grandma’s trust to humiliate her.
