Three days later, Emily received an email from Daniel Reeves.
She nearly ignored it.
Then the subject caught her attention.
Regarding the Carter Family Trust
Emily stared.
They did not have a family trust.
She opened the message.
Daniel wrote that Mark had asked him to provide complete financial records.
While reviewing old documents, Daniel had discovered an account created by Thomas Carter shortly before his death.
The account named Mark as beneficiary.
But attached to it was an unusual instruction.
A portion of the money was to be released only after the birth or adoption of Mark’s first child.
Emily reread the message.
Then called Daniel.
“What kind of money are we talking about?”
He named the amount.
Emily sat down.
It was enough to eliminate their mortgage.
Enough to create substantial college funds for all three girls.
Enough to change their lives.
“Does Mark know?”
“No,” Daniel said. “Not yet.”
