Chapter 3 - The Letter at School
Anna reached Willow Creek Elementary in eleven minutes.
She could not remember most of the drive.
Rachel followed in her own car.
Inside the front office, Olivia and Lily were sitting beside the school counselor.
Lily ran to Anna immediately.
“Mommy.”
Anna wrapped both arms around her.
“You're okay.”
Olivia remained seated.
She looked angry rather than frightened.
“Grandma said you were sick.”
Anna knelt in front of her.
“I'm not sick.”
“She told Mrs. Parker you weren't thinking right.”
“I know.”
Olivia's mouth tightened.
“She lies.”
Anna did not correct her.
The principal, Dr. Warren, invited Anna into his office while Rachel stayed with the girls.
On his desk was the letter.
It was short.
To whom it may concern:
I authorize my mother, Eleanor Bennett, to collect Olivia and Lily Bennett from school until further notice due to a private family emergency.
Mark Bennett.
Anna recognized the signature.
At least she thought she did.
“Did he email this?”
“No.”
“Mrs. Bennett brought a printed copy.”
“Did you contact Mark?”
“We attempted to.”
“He did not answer.”
Anna photographed the letter.
Dr. Warren folded his hands.
“We did not release the children because you had already changed the authorized pickup list.”
“Thank you.”
“There is another issue.”
Anna's stomach tightened.
“Mrs. Bennett became extremely upset.”
“How upset?”
“She insisted you were keeping the girls away from their father.”
“She also said lawyers would be involved.”
Anna rubbed her forehead.
“I apologize.”
“You don't need to apologize.”
“We simply need written clarity going forward.”
“You'll have it.”
Outside, Rachel was waiting.
Olivia sat beside her.
Lily was drawing a pink cake on a piece of printer paper.
Anna looked at the drawing.
The cake had five candles.
All standing upright.
“Ready to go?”
Olivia nodded.
In the parking lot, Anna called Mark.
He answered immediately.
“Did you send your mother to the school?”
“What?”
“Don't.”
“Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about.”
Mark went quiet.
“Mom said she could pick them up.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
Anna held the photograph of the letter.
“Did you sign an authorization?”
“What authorization?”
“She had a letter with your signature.”
“I didn't write a letter.”
Anna stopped.
“Mark.”
“I texted her this morning that I wanted to see the girls.”
“I didn't tell her to go to school.”
“Did you sign anything?”
“No.”
Anna looked toward Rachel.
Her sister's expression changed.
“So your mother forged your signature?”
“Don't start making accusations.”
“There is a document in my hand.”
“She probably printed something old.”
“It says until further notice.”
Mark became defensive.
“She was trying to help.”
“She told the school I was having a breakdown.”
“That wasn't appropriate.”
Anna laughed without humor.
“That's your response?”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to act like their father.”
“I am their father.”
“Then tell your mother to stay away from their school.”
Mark did not answer.
“Mark.”
“Fine.”
“I'll talk to her.”
“No.”
“You will text me that she is not authorized to collect the girls.”
“Why?”
“Because I want it in writing.”
Mark sighed.
“You're really listening to a lawyer now, aren't you?”
Anna felt a chill.
“How did you know I talked to a lawyer?”
Silence.
“Mark?”
“Mom guessed.”
“That wasn't my question.”
“You're making everything adversarial.”
“You moved our savings.”
“Your mother tried to remove our daughters from school.”
“And somehow I'm the one making things adversarial?”
“I said I'll handle Mom.”
“You've been saying that for eleven years.”
Anna ended the call.
Rachel stood beside her.
“How did he know about the attorney?”
“I don't know.”
“Did you tell anyone?”
“No.”
They drove back to Rachel's house.
At four, Mark finally sent the promised text.
I did not authorize my mother to remove the girls from school today.
Anna forwarded it to Dana.
The attorney responded quickly.
Keep everything.
That evening, Rachel ordered pizza.
For the first time since leaving, the girls laughed.
Lily put pepperoni on her fingertips and pretended they were giant red fingernails.
Olivia rolled her eyes.
Then she stopped.
Her expression changed.
“What?”
Anna asked.
Olivia looked embarrassed.
“Grandma hates when I roll my eyes.”
Rachel smiled.
“You're allowed to have a face.”
Olivia laughed.
The sound hit Anna harder than she expected.
The girls had been at Rachel's less than twenty-four hours.
Already the room felt lighter.
Later, after they fell asleep, Anna opened her laptop.
Dana had asked her to review bank statements for unusual transfers.
Anna downloaded twelve months.
Then twenty-four.
At first, nothing stood out.
Mortgage.
Utilities.
Groceries.
Insurance.
Then she noticed repeated payments labeled Bennett Holdings.
$1,800.
$2,300.
$1,500.
$4,000.
Some months had two transfers.
Anna searched the company name.
Bennett Holdings belonged to Eleanor.
Anna stared at the screen.
She knew Eleanor owned a small property company.
She had never known Mark was regularly transferring household money into it.
Over eighteen months, the payments totaled nearly sixty-four thousand dollars.
Rachel came downstairs.
“You're still awake?”
Anna turned the laptop around.
Rachel read the spreadsheet.
“What is that?”
“Payments to Eleanor's company.”
“How much?”
“Sixty-four thousand.”
Rachel sat down slowly.
“And the forty-two yesterday?”
“I don't know yet.”
Anna searched older statements.
The transfers began shortly after Mark's father, Frank, died.
Eleanor had told everyone she was financially secure.
She had also told Anna, repeatedly, that Anna spent too much money.
Anna remembered returning a winter coat once because Eleanor had called it irresponsible.
The coat cost ninety dollars.
A message arrived from Dana.
I reviewed the school letter.
Do not communicate with Eleanor directly tonight.
Also, we need to discuss the house.
Anna typed back.
What about the house?
Dana's reply came less than a minute later.
Please confirm whose names are on the deed and whether you've received any recent mortgage correspondence.
Anna frowned.
The house was in both names.
At least it had been when they bought it.
She searched her email.
Mortgage statements.
Property tax reminders.
Then one subject line caught her attention.
Notice Regarding Home Equity Line Modification.
Anna opened it.
The message was three months old.
She had never seen it.
The balance showed a new credit line.
$175,000.
Anna's hands turned cold.
She clicked the attachment.
The line had been opened in January.
Borrowers:
Mark Bennett.
Anna Bennett.
Her name was there.
Her signature was there.
Anna stared at it.
She had never signed the document.
Rachel read over her shoulder.
“Anna.”
Anna could barely speak.
May you like
“I didn't sign this.”
And for the second time in twenty-four hours, she found herself looking at a signature that should not have existed.
