That was it—the entire contents of the box. Ali wanted to dive into the album first to see the photos.
But then she stopped. It felt too much to do alone, too overwhelming.
This was, in fact, her sisters’ mother, as well. Faye and Blair deserved to see this, too. They deserved to have this memory.Was it selfish to do this alone? She wished her sisters were here right now.
Ali kept the album shut and decided to move to the envelopes. Ali pulled out the first one. It was clearly all legal documents.
She read the heading. It was a law firm with a Florida address.
Dear Mr. Kelly….
In very formal legal jargon, the letter appeared to be discussing a property in Mangrove County, Florida.
Ali located her smartphone and plugged in the name of the county.
Okay, so it was on Florida’s Gulf side, wedged between Manatee and Pinellas Counties. She’d never heard of Mangrove County, but all she really knew of Florida was Disney and Miami.
She wasn’t a lawyer, but it looked like this letter was informing Bruce Kelly about several acres of “prime” beachfront real estate.
Was Dad trying to invest?
She slid the letter over to reveal several more legal-looking papers.
It was a deed.
The words “Haven Beach, Florida,” were typed into the open lines of the documents.
Okay, so Dad owned land in Florida at one point?That did not seem like Bruce Kelly at all. But maybe you never really know your parents.
She scanned the deed, wishing she was more versed in law and real estate and all that.
Whatever this was, it was old. Decades and decades old.
She read through to the end and then saw it.
Did it mean what she thought it did?
Deeded, in perpetuity, to Ali Kelly, Faye Kelly, and Blair Kelly.
What?
She opened the next folder. In it were copies of more letters from this law firm.
Despite your refusal…
Held in trust….
Until such time as…
Bruce Kelly had filled this box with secrets. Ali was, in turn, curious and furious.
What mess was this? Was it long over? In perpetuity? That didn’t sound over.
She picked up her phone.
“Hey, Faye. You need to get over here.”
Seven
