Chapter 3 - Emily Had Been Receiving Letters I Never Knew About
I went to Emily’s house the next morning.
She opened the door wearing sweatpants, no makeup, and the exhausted expression I had become too accustomed to seeing.
Sadie was still asleep.
I put the drawing on the kitchen table.
Emily stared at it.
Then sat down.
“You know.”
“Not enough.”
She covered her face.
I felt something cold move through me.
“How long?”
“Three months.”
She brought out a folder.
Inside were letters from Mercer Property Holdings, the family entity that administered shared maintenance, insurance, and tax responsibilities on several inherited properties.
The first letter claimed Emily had failed to contribute to common maintenance expenses.
She had.
The second claimed unauthorized renovations had violated family property covenants.
No renovations existed.
The third warned that prolonged noncompliance could trigger an internal buyout process.
That one made me sit forward.
“Who authorized this?”
Emily looked at me.
“Celeste.”
My name appeared on the board roster.
So did hers.
But I had never approved an eviction or forced buyout.
Emily continued.
“I called her.”
“What did she say?”
“That if I couldn’t afford the property, I should stop pretending family sentiment pays bills.”
I closed my eyes.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I did.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“Twice.”
Then I remembered.
Two messages Celeste summarized for me while I was traveling.
Emily is upset about property fees again. I’m handling it.
I had answered:
Thanks.
One word.
May you like
That was all it took to remove myself from something my sister was begging me to see.
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