Chapter 2 - The Name on the Deed
Nobody opened the door.
Sabrina’s mother turned off the kitchen light while Robert pulled Sabrina away from the front windows.
The knocking came again.
Then Christopher’s voice.
“Sabrina!”
Her entire body tightened.
“Sabrina, open the door!”
Robert whispered:
“Don’t answer.”
Sabrina stared at her father.
“You knew he was coming?”
“No.”
“Then why are you acting like this?”
Robert looked toward the wooden box.
Christopher shouted again.
“I know you’re in there!”
Then Florence’s voice joined him from the porch.
“Tell your father to stop filling your head with nonsense!”
Sabrina slowly turned toward Robert.
“What nonsense?”
Robert did not answer quickly enough.
That frightened her more than the people outside.
Christopher slammed his palm against the door.
“Sabrina! We’re trying to save you from making a huge mistake.”
She almost laughed.
“Save me?”
Robert grabbed her wrist gently.
“Do not go near them.”
The old man who had rarely raised his voice was trembling.
Outside, Florence suddenly yelled:
“That deed means nothing!”
Sabrina froze.
Robert closed his eyes.
“How does she know you have it?”
“I don’t know.”
But he did know something.
Sabrina could see it.
She pulled away from him.
“Dad, show me.”
Robert hesitated.
Then handed her the deed.
The property address matched Florence’s home.
The same two-story brick house Sabrina had lived in since marrying Christopher.
But Florence’s name was nowhere on the document.
Neither was Christopher’s.
The owner listed was:
Margaret Ellis Family Trust.
Sabrina stared at it.
“Who is Margaret Ellis?”
Robert looked at his wife.
Neither answered.
“Dad.”
He finally said:
“My mother.”
Sabrina frowned.
“Grandma Margaret?”
“Yes.”
“But she died before I was born.”
“That’s what we told you.”
The room went cold.
Sabrina stared.
“What do you mean, that’s what you told me?”
Robert’s voice became almost inaudible.
“Margaret didn’t die when I was young.”
“She disappeared.”
Sabrina felt the same instability she had felt when Christopher slapped her.
Reality shifting too quickly.
“What does this have to do with Florence?”
Robert took another document from the box.
A trust amendment.
Beneficiary:
Sabrina Elaine Carter.
Sabrina’s maiden name.
Her own name.
She stared.
“That’s impossible.”
“No.”
“You’re saying I own Florence’s house?”
“No.”
Robert shook his head.
“You own the beneficial interest in the trust that owns it.”
Sabrina looked toward the front door.
Christopher had stopped shouting.
That silence made everything worse.
“Does Christopher know?”
Robert nodded.
“Since before your wedding.”
Sabrina’s chest tightened.
“And Florence?”
“Yes.”
She remembered every suitcase search.
Every insult.
Every time Florence said her house.
Every dollar Sabrina paid.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Robert looked ashamed.
“Because Margaret told me never to.”
“Margaret is alive?”
Robert said nothing.
Sabrina understood.
“Oh my God.”
Then a crash sounded outside.
One of the front windows shattered.
Sabrina’s mother screamed.
Christopher shouted:
“Sabrina, you need to give us that deed before your father gets you killed!”
Robert’s face drained white.
Sabrina turned.
“Killed by who?”
He looked at her.
Not Christopher.
Not Florence.
May you like
Something older.
“Your grandmother.”
