Daniel opened the envelope slowly.
Inside was a short handwritten note.
Daniel.
If Emma is serving this pie, then the family is together.
Good.
There is something all of you need to hear at the same time.
Daniel looked around the table.
His aunt Margaret went pale.
Another elderly relative, Evelyn, immediately looked toward Emma.
Where did you get that letter?
Emma answered calmly.
Mrs. Carter gave it to me the week before she died.
Daniel continued reading.
Do not let anyone leave the room until Emma tells you what happened to the lake house.
Daniel stopped.
The Carter family lake house had been sold months earlier.
At least, that was what Daniel had been told.
He looked toward Margaret.
You handled the sale.
She nodded too quickly.
Yes.
Daniel looked back at the letter.
His mother had written one final sentence.
The house was never sold.
Daniel slowly raised his eyes.
Emma stood silently beside the pie.
Margaret suddenly pushed her chair back.
This is ridiculous.
Daniel looked at her.
Sit down.
For the first time that evening, his voice was no longer polite.
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