Grandma looked toward my father.
Then back at me.
“Daniel, there’s something important you need to understand about inheritance.”
She opened the first envelope again.
“My company is worth several hundred million dollars.”
“I know.”
“But I don’t own all of it.”
My father looked up sharply.
Grandma continued.
“For fifteen years, I’ve owned forty-nine percent.”
I felt my heart begin to race.
“Who owns the rest?”
Grandma’s voice softened.
“Your wife did.”
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Vanessa burst out laughing.
“That’s impossible!”
Grandma didn’t look at her.
“Your sister-in-law owned fifty-one percent of the company through an investment trust established when she licensed her technology to us.”
My mother gripped the edge of the table.
“Are you saying Nora was wealthier than all of us?”
Grandma nodded.
“Considerably.”
I couldn’t move.
Nora had driven a twelve-year-old Honda.
