I looked toward Rosella.
“Why would Carlton send me away like that?”
She hesitated.
“I can’t speak for him entirely. But he was concerned his brothers might pressure you before you learned about the deed.”
Then she asked a strange question.
“Did you keep the check he gave you?”
I nodded.
“It’s in my purse.”
“Have you looked at the back?”
I frowned.
“No.”
I took it out.
Turned it over.
And found a small message written in pencil.
Don’t cash this. Go see Rosella. — C.
I stared at those words.
Carlton hadn’t explained anything.
He’d let me drive away believing I’d been discarded after decades of service.
But he’d also tried to leave me a clue.
A clue I’d almost missed.
Rosella handed me a certified copy of the deed.
“Henrietta arranged for this,” she said.
I held the document carefully.
