I Came For The Fourth Of July, But My Daughter Said, “Mom, Today We’re Keeping It Very Small—Tyler’s Mom Is Coming. Can We Do Another Day?” I Left Quietly. The Next Day, She Called Me In A Rush BECAUSE…..

Well, I thought, taking another bite of my perfect pie, maybe it was time to change that. Over the next three days, my phone rang 11 times. Jessica called six times.

Tyler called twice. And even Diane called once, though I suspected that was Jessica’s doing. I didn’t answer any of the calls.

I also received 14 text messages, starting with Jessica’s fake casual, “Hope you’re okay,” and escalating to Tyler’s more direct, “Emily, please call us back.”

I wasn’t ready to talk to them yet. I needed time to think. To plan.

To figure out exactly how I wanted to handle this new reality. Instead, I did something I hadn’t done in years. I took care of myself.

I went to my favorite restaurant and ordered exactly what I wanted without worrying about whether it was too expensive. I bought new sheets for my bed—the expensive Egyptian cotton ones I’d always admired but never splurged on. I called my old friend Carol from the hospital and made plans to have lunch.

Most importantly, I went to see my lawyer. James Morrison had handled Paul’s will and estate planning, and I trusted him implicitly. He was about my age with kind eyes and a no-nonsense approach that I appreciated.

When I called his office and asked for an emergency appointment, he fit me in the next morning. “Emily,” he said warmly, rising from behind his desk to greet me. “I haven’t seen you since we finalized Paul’s estate.

How are you holding up?”

“James, better than fine, actually. I need to make some changes to my will.”

His eyebrows rose slightly. “Of course.

What kind of changes are we talking about?”

I sat down across from his desk and folded my hands in my lap. “I need to understand exactly what I have and I need to understand my options for leaving it to someone other than Jessica.”

James’s expression grew serious. “Emily, that’s a significant decision.

Has something happened?”

“You could say that.”

I told him the story of July 4th, watching his face grow increasingly grave as I spoke. When I finished, he leaned back in his chair. “I’m sorry that happened to you,” he said simply.

“That must have been devastating.”

“It was enlightening,” I corrected. “And now I need to know where I stand financially.”

We spent the next hour going through my assets. What I learned surprised me.

Between Paul’s life insurance, his pension, my retirement savings, and the house that had appreciated considerably over the years, I was worth significantly more than I had realized. Just over $1.2 million. “Jessica knows about this?” James asked.

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