Chapter 6 - Ruth's Last Wish|
Walter held the envelope as though it contained something more precious than gold.
His hands trembled so badly that I offered to help him open it.
But he shook his head.
“No, sweetheart.”
He looked toward the door.
“Adrian should be the one.”
A few minutes later, Adrian entered the room with Lillian Hart.
He had removed his suit jacket, and the sleeves of his black shirt were rolled above his forearms.
He looked tired.
But when he saw his father holding the envelope, his expression softened.
“What's that, Dad?”
Walter smiled sadly.
“Your mother.”
Adrian stopped walking.
Walter held out the letter.
“She asked me to keep it safe.”
Adrian sat beside him.
For several seconds, he simply stared at the handwriting.
Then he opened the envelope.
Inside were three folded pages.
As he began reading, the room became completely silent.
“My darling Adrian,” the letter began.
“If you're reading this, then your father has decided you need a reminder of something I've tried to teach you since you were a little boy.”
Adrian's voice trembled.
“Money can buy a beautiful house, but it cannot make a family.”
Walter smiled through his tears.
“That's your mother.”
Adrian continued.
“I know the world you've chosen is complicated, and I know there are things you've done that keep me awake at night.”
“But I also know the boy who once carried an injured bird into my kitchen and refused to sleep until it was safe.”
Adrian lowered the page.
For a moment, he couldn't continue.
Walter rested a hand on his shoulder.
“Keep reading, son.”
Adrian swallowed.
“Your father and I have made arrangements for our home and the charitable fund to remain protected.”
“The house is not simply property.”
“It's where we raised you, buried our fears, celebrated our joys, and learned to forgive each other.”
“If someone ever tries to convince you that your father's age makes his wishes unimportant, please remember that he taught you how to speak before you knew how to say your own name.”
A tear slipped down Adrian's cheek.
He wiped it away quickly.
Then he read the last paragraph.
“Most importantly, don't wait until someone is gone to show them they matter.”
“Come home while there is still someone waiting at the door.”
Adrian folded the letter.
Walter looked at him.
“She was always better with words than me.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No, Dad.”
He reached for his father's hand.
“She was right.”
I quietly moved toward the doorway.
This was a family moment.
It didn't belong to me.
But Walter called after me.
“Rachel, stay.”
I turned.
He smiled.
“Ruth would have wanted you to hear that.”
I sat down again.
Lillian carefully examined the additional documents inside the envelope.
They included copies of a trust agreement, correspondence from Ruth's former attorney, and records concerning the Ruth Santoro Community Fund.
Adrian explained that his mother had started the fund many years earlier.
She used it to support elderly residents living alone, provide meals to struggling families, and help women rebuild their lives after difficult circumstances.
Walter had continued supporting the program after her death.
At least, he believed he had.
Lillian studied the financial statements.
Then she looked up.
“Mr. Santoro, who has been administering the fund?”
Adrian frowned.
“The accounting department handles most of it.”
“Under whose supervision?”
“Julian Price was brought in as an outside consultant.”
Lillian turned another page.
“And who approved that arrangement?”
Adrian remained silent.
Finally, he admitted, “Evelyn.”
Lillian exchanged a glance with Niko.
“I'd like an independent financial review immediately.”
Adrian nodded.
“Whatever you need.”
Walter looked frightened.
“Is Ruth's money gone?”
Lillian reached across the table.
“We don't know that, Mr. Santoro.”
“But we are going to find out.”
Walter looked toward the window.
“Ruth wanted that money to help people.”
He swallowed.
“Especially people nobody notices.”
His eyes settled on me.
“People like Rachel.”
I lowered my head.
“Mr. Walt, I'm not special.”
He smiled.
“That's what makes you special, sweetheart.”
Later that afternoon, Adrian found me standing outside the conservatory.
I was trying to calculate how much money I had left after paying for gas and groceries.
My phone displayed another reminder from my landlord.
Rent was overdue.
Adrian noticed my expression.
“Is everything all right?”
I quickly locked my phone.
“Yes, sir.”
He looked unconvinced.
“You can tell me if something is wrong.”
I hesitated.
Then I decided to tell the truth.
“My landlord says I have to pay what I owe.”
“How much?”
I shook my head.
“That's not your problem.”
“Rachel—”
“Please.”
My voice trembled.
“I appreciate everything you've done, but I don't want you thinking I helped your father because I expected something.”
Adrian stared at me.
Then he nodded slowly.
“You're right.”
I blinked.
“I am?”
“Yes.”
He slipped his hands into his pockets.
“You deserve to be paid properly for your work, and you deserve help finding reliable resources.”
“But you don't owe me your personal problems just because I own this house.”
I hadn't expected him to understand.
He continued.
“I'll have payroll review your wages and overtime.”
“Anything you're owed will be paid.”
“And if you'd like information about housing assistance or legal support, Elena can help you find it.”
I felt my eyes sting.
“Thank you.”
He looked toward the garden.
“My mother would have liked you.”
I smiled sadly.
“Walter keeps saying that.”
Adrian glanced at me.
“Then perhaps we should both listen to him.”
Before I could answer, Niko approached quickly.
“Boss, the accountants found something.”
Adrian turned.
“What?”
“The Cedar Grove transfer wasn't arranged recently.”
Niko glanced at me, then back at Adrian.
“Julian Price reserved a permanent room for your father six months ago.”
Adrian's face darkened.
“Six months?”
Niko nodded.
“And the deposit came from your mother's community fund.”
Adrian stared toward the house.
Six months earlier, Evelyn had still been smiling at family dinners and helping him choose wedding invitations.
May you like
But behind those smiles, she had already begun planning how to remove his father from his own home.
And now Adrian knew that the money his mother had saved to help forgotten people was being used to make Walter one of them.
