Chapter 2 - THE CERTIFIED ENVELOPE
Ashley’s mouth opened.
Closed.
Emma looked between us.
“Mom?”
“Go sit in the car.”
“But—”
“Now.”
Emma recoiled.
I hated the sharpness in Ashley’s voice.
She carried the iPad down the path and climbed into the passenger seat.
Ashley remained on my porch.
I held up the guardianship form.
“Talk.”
“It isn’t what you think.”
“What do I think?”
She stared at the sidewalk.
“I signed as witness.”
“I can read.”
“Mom brought it.”
My heartbeat accelerated.
“Our mother?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She said you already signed.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know that now.”
“Did you see me sign?”
“No.”
“Then what exactly were you witnessing?”
Her eyes filled.
“I didn’t think.”
I laughed.
“You put your name beneath a sentence saying you witnessed my signature.”
“Mom said it was paperwork for Noah’s insurance.”
“Why were you involved in Noah’s insurance?”
“She said you were overwhelmed after the accident.”
I stepped closer.
“Did I ever tell you that?”
“No.”
“Did I ever ask you for help?”
“No.”
“Did you receive money?”
Her eyes flicked toward the car.
The iPad.
I saw it.
“How much?”
“Not like that.”
“How much, Ashley?”
She whispered:
“I need to talk to Mom.”
“No.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Then make me.”
She began crying.
That was when I knew whatever was inside the envelope was larger than one forged signature.
The insurer’s letter requested immediate contact regarding “irregular post-settlement disbursements from a minor claimant account.”
Minor claimant account.
I had never heard those words.
“Was there a settlement?”
Ashley went still.
I felt cold.
“The insurance company paid Noah?”
“You knew there was a claim.”
“A medical claim.”
“No.”
Her voice cracked.
“The driver’s insurer settled.”
“What driver?”
She looked at me.
“You really don’t know.”
No.
I did not.
Everyone had told me the same story eight months earlier.
Noah had been riding his bicycle down my parents’ driveway.
He lost control.
He entered the road.
A delivery van clipped him.
The driver braked but could not stop in time.
The police report called it a tragic accident.
My parents handled many insurance calls because the accident happened at their house.
I was in the hospital with Noah.
Then therapy.
Work.
Recovery.
Nobody told me there had been a civil settlement.
“How much?”
Ashley looked toward Emma again.
“How much?”
“Seven hundred and eighty thousand.”
My knees almost gave out.
“What?”
“It wasn’t all cash.”
I gripped the doorframe.
“Who has it?”
“Mom said it was protected for Noah.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why is there a guardianship form?”
Ashley wiped her face.
“Because someone had to approve the settlement for him.”
“I am his mother.”
“I know.”
“Then why forge me?”
She whispered:
“Because you wouldn’t have agreed to how they divided it.”
A car door opened.
Emma came running back.
“Mom!”
She was holding the iPad box out.
“There’s a sticker.”
Ashley turned.
The underside of the box carried a small purchase label.
Account reference:
N.R. RECOVERY CUSTODIAL.
I looked at Ashley.
“What is N.R.?”
She said nothing.
May you like
I already knew.
Noah’s initials.
