Funeral Guests Ignore Elderly Woman—Until She Reveals Shocking Truth About the Deceased
Chapter 3
The reception grew louder as the afternoon continued.
People drank.
They laughed.
They told stories.
They discussed Daniel’s estate.
Eleanor sat alone at a small table near the window.
A waiter finally approached.
“Would you like something to eat?”
“Water, please.”
“Of course.”
He returned with a glass.
Eleanor thanked him.
Across the room, Jonathan stood with several attorneys.
Patricia was speaking to Claire.
Richard was discussing the company with two board members.
Eleanor watched them carefully.
Then she saw someone she hadn’t expected.
A tall man in his late fifties stood near the entrance.
He was wearing an old-fashioned dark suit.
He looked uncomfortable among the wealthy guests.
Eleanor recognized him immediately.
“Thomas.”
He turned.
His eyes widened.
“Eleanor?”
He hurried toward her.
“You came.”
“I had to.”
Thomas sat beside her.
“I didn’t know if you’d come.”
“I almost didn’t.”
He looked around.
“Does anyone know?”
“Not yet.”
Thomas lowered his voice.
“Do they know about the documents?”
Eleanor shook her head.
“Not yet.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Because if Patricia finds out before the reading of the will, she’ll try to stop it.”
Eleanor looked at him.
“Can she?”
Thomas hesitated.
“She can try.”
Eleanor sighed.
“I don’t want a fight.”
“This isn’t about a fight.”
“I know.”
“It’s about Daniel’s promise.”
Eleanor looked toward the portrait.
“Daniel made many promises.”
Thomas nodded.
“Not all of them were kept.”
They sat in silence.
Thomas had been Daniel’s first employee.
He had worked beside him in the tiny workshop.
He had seen Eleanor give Daniel her savings.
He had watched Daniel build the company.
But Thomas had also watched something else.
He had watched Daniel become wealthy enough to forget where he started.
“Do you regret helping him?” Thomas asked.
Eleanor thought for a moment.
“No.”
“Even now?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t help him to become rich.”
Thomas looked at her.
“I helped him because I believed in him.”
She touched the envelope.
“But I wish he had remembered me.”
At that moment, Jonathan approached.
“Mrs. Brooks.”
Thomas stood.
Jonathan looked between them.
“Who is this?”
“Thomas Reed.”
Jonathan’s eyes widened slightly.
“My father’s first employee?”
Thomas nodded.
Jonathan looked surprised.
“I’ve heard the name.”
Eleanor smiled faintly.
“Only the name?”
Jonathan looked uncomfortable.
“What do you mean?”
Eleanor handed him the envelope.
“Your father wanted you to know something.”
Jonathan took it.
He turned it over.
There was no name on the front.
“What is this?”
“Open it after the will is read.”
“Why?”
“Because your father asked me to wait.”
Jonathan stared at her.
“My father asked you personally?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Three weeks before he died.”
Jonathan’s face changed.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because he asked me not to.”
“Did he know he was dying?”
“He knew.”
Jonathan looked at the envelope again.
“What is inside?”
Eleanor met his eyes.
“The beginning of your family’s story.”
Then she stood.
“I think you should hear it from your father first.”
Jonathan looked confused.
“My father is dead.”
Eleanor nodded.
“Exactly.”
She walked away.
Jonathan watched her disappear through the crowd.
For the first time that day, Daniel’s son wondered whether the funeral he had attended was actually about the man he thought he knew.
