Nathaniel said quietly:
“Your grandmother was furious.”
I looked at him.
“Did she confront Dad?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“He told her she was overreacting.”
I laughed bitterly.
Of course he did.
Nathaniel continued.
“Then he accused you.”
“Me?”
“He believed you were manipulating her.”
“I didn’t even know the trust existed.”
“Your grandmother told him exactly that.”
“Did he believe her?”
“I don’t think it mattered.”
I leaned back.
“What does Mom know?”
“Enough to be worried.”
“Why now?”
“Because your graduation created a problem.”
I frowned.
Nathaniel folded his hands.
“Mrs.
Prescott left your parents a conditional provision.”
“What kind?”
“If you failed to complete your graduate education by age thirty, a portion of the trust earmarked for you would instead pass into a family foundation controlled jointly by Robert and Evelyn.”
I stared at him.
The room became silent.
“Say that again.”
“If you failed to complete your graduate education by age thirty, your parents would gain control of a significant charitable foundation funded by the trust.”
