“Claire,” he said firmly, “we need to discuss practical matters. The estate. You shouldn’t deal with this alone.”
Margaret nodded. “You’re grieving. Let us help manage things.”
Vanessa added, “Adrian’s assets are complicated. Manhattan property especially. You could get taken advantage of.”
I lowered my eyes the way they expected.
“Okay,” I whispered.
Richard visibly relaxed.
“Good,” he said.
He opened a drawer and pulled out a folder that clearly had been waiting for me.
“We had a lawyer friend prepare a document,” he explained, placing it in front of me. “A family trust to protect everything.”
I stared at the folder.
“Just sign,” Vanessa said gently.
I picked up the pen.
My mother smiled like she could already see herself enjoying the view from a Manhattan penthouse.
Then I said quietly, “Before I sign anything, I should call Adrian’s lawyer. He told me not to sign documents without him.”
The room shifted.
Richard’s voice sharpened. “That’s unnecessary. We’re your family.”
“I know,” I said softly. “But he insisted.”
Vanessa’s smile tightened. “Don’t make this difficult.”
“I’m not,” I replied calmly. “Just careful.”
I stood up and walked toward the hallway as if I were about to make the call.