Claire touched my arm.
“Dad.”
I looked at her.
“Don’t decide what this means before you ask him.”
“I haven’t.”
But I knew from her expression that she wasn’t convinced.
Perhaps
she knew me better than I wanted to admit.
Harrison returned.
His face was calm until he saw the trust authorization lying on my desk.
Then he stopped.
“Where did you find that?”
Claire answered.
“In Mom’s archived papers.”
He closed the door behind him.
I pointed to his name.
“Why did you have administrative authority over Anne’s trust?”
Harrison did not sit.
“Because Mrs. Bennett asked me to.”
“For what purpose?”
“Household-related disbursements.”
“What kind?”
“Staff bonuses. Emergency assistance. Occasionally educational expenses for employees’ children. Gifts at Christmas.”
I
looked at Claire.
She seemed equally surprised.
“Why didn’t I know about this?”
Harrison’s expression softened.
“Because she didn’t want it to become something people had to ask you for.”
