Chapter 4: The Envelope My Brother Tried to Hide
Wade reached for the envelope before Frank could touch it.
But Dawn moved faster.
She pulled it against her chest and stepped away from the table.
"Don't," she said.
Wade stared at her.
"Give me that.""
"No.""
"Dawn, I'm telling you to give it to me.""
"And I'm telling you that I'm tired of lying.""
Frank stood motionless beside his chair.
"What is in that envelope?""
Dawn looked at him.
"Documents Wade asked you to sign several months ago.""
Frank frowned.
"What documents?""
"Financial authorization papers. And something about the house.""
Erin slowly turned toward her brother.
"Wade, what did you ask Dad to sign?""
"Nothing important.""
Frank's voice hardened.
"Then why did you hide it?""
Wade laughed nervously.
"I didn't hide anything. Dawn is making this sound criminal. I was helping Dad organize his affairs.""
Frank extended his hand.
"Give me the envelope.""
Dawn walked over and placed it in his palm.
He opened it carefully.
Inside were several sheets of paper, a photocopy of his driver's license, and a document bearing the name of a local law office.
Frank adjusted his glasses.
His eyes moved down the first page.
Then he stopped.
"What's this?""
Erin leaned closer.
The document was titled Durable Financial Power of Attorney.
Frank read the first paragraph twice.
It named Wade as his agent, giving him authority to manage bank accounts, pay bills, access financial records, and handle certain property-related transactions.
Frank looked up.
"I never signed this.""
Wade immediately answered.
"You said you wanted me to handle your finances.""
"I said you could help me pay the electricity bill.""
"That's what this is about.""
Frank turned another page.
"Why does it say I authorize you to manage all my accounts?""
"Standard legal language.""
"Why is my signature here?""
Wade went quiet.
Erin looked at the signature line.
It resembled her father's handwriting.
But something about it seemed wrong.
The capital F was too rounded.
Her father always wrote his name with a sharp downward stroke.
"Did you sign this, Dad?"" she asked.
"No.""
Wade rubbed his temples.
"Here we go again. You're both making accusations without understanding the paperwork.""
Frank placed the document flat on the table.
"Who witnessed this?""
Wade didn't answer.
"Who prepared it?""
"An attorney.""
"Which attorney?""
"Someone I know.""
Frank looked at the letterhead.
"Then we'll call them.""
Wade reached for the document.
"There's no need to involve lawyers over something this simple.""
Frank moved it out of reach.
"Why are you afraid of a phone call?""
"I'm not afraid.""
"Then give me the number.""
Wade's face reddened.
Dawn quietly pulled another sheet from the envelope.
"This is the part I think Erin needs to see.""
Wade turned sharply.
"Dawn!""
She ignored him.
The paper was a typed financial summary.
Several entries had been highlighted.
One read:
Monthly household support — $750.
Another read:
Additional family contribution — variable.
Erin recognized the amounts immediately.
Her stomach tightened.
"These are my payments.""
Dawn nodded.
"Yes.""
Frank looked at the paper.
"Why are they listed as contributions to Wade?""
Dawn hesitated.
"Because that's how he recorded them.""
Erin took the sheet.
Near the bottom was a column labeled Personal Discretionary Expenses.
There were entries for a new television, restaurant bills, electronics, and a weekend hotel stay.
She read the total.
$3,280.
Her fingers went cold.
"You used my money for this?""
Wade threw up his hands.
"Some of that was for the house!""
"Which part?""
"The television!""
"That television is in your bedroom.""
"Because the old one broke.""
"Did Dad need a new television?""
Wade glared at her.
"You're acting like I stole from you.""
Erin stared at him.
"You told me Dad needed money for medication.""
"He did need medication.""
"And you spent the money on a hotel?""
Wade stepped closer.
"Watch how you speak to me.""
Frank immediately moved between them.
"Step away from your sister.""
Wade stopped.
For a moment, the only sound in the room was the ticking clock above the kitchen doorway.
Frank picked up the power of attorney document again.
"How did you get my identification?""
"You gave it to me.""
"For what?""
"Insurance paperwork.""
"Who took this signature?""
Wade looked toward the window.
Frank's voice dropped.
"Did you imitate my signature?""
"No!""
"Then explain it.""
"I told you, Dad. You wanted me to handle things.""
Frank slowly sat down.
The realization was beginning to hurt more than the argument.
He had trusted Wade with small responsibilities because he was his son.
He had never imagined those responsibilities could be turned into something else.
Erin sat beside him.
"Dad, don't sign anything else. We'll have someone independent review this.""
Wade scoffed.
"Of course. Now she wants to take control.""
Erin looked at him.
"I want to know what's happening.""
"You've been waiting for an excuse to interfere.""
"I've been trying to see Dad for months!""
"And now you're here acting like some kind of hero.""
Frank lifted his hand.
"Enough.""
He looked directly at Wade.
"Did you tell Erin that I was running out of money?""
Wade said nothing.
"Did you tell me that Erin had stopped visiting?""
Still nothing.
"And did you ask her to pay your car repair bill today?""
Wade's silence answered more than his words.
Frank slowly removed his glasses.
"Get me my bank statements.""
Wade shook his head.
"I don't have them.""
"Then we'll get them from the bank.""
"You're overreacting.""
Frank looked at his son with an expression Erin had never seen before.
Not anger.
Disappointment.
The kind that came after someone had finally understood what they were looking at.
"Maybe I have been too trusting," Frank said.
Wade opened his mouth.
But Frank continued.
"And maybe you've mistaken my trust for permission.""
Dawn began crying quietly.
Wade turned toward her.
"Are you happy now?""
She wiped her face.
"No. I'm terrified.""
Frank looked at the documents again.
Then he noticed something on the final page.
A handwritten date.
And beneath it, a note:
Property transfer appointment — December 4.
He looked at the calendar hanging beside the refrigerator.
December 4 was only twelve days away.
Frank slowly lifted his head.
"Wade.""
His son froze.
"What?""
"Why did you schedule an appointment about transferring my house?""
May you like
Wade's expression changed.
And Erin realized that the money she had already lost might be the smallest part of what her brother had planned.
