As I mourned my mom, her old clothes held her love close. A letter calling her a thief over her fortune sent me searching for our family’s truth. In her quiet room, I hugged her soft shawl, its lilac scent stirring tears. Her patched trousers, worn with pride, made me smile. My boyfriend, Mark, stood nearby. “We’ll do this together, Kate,” he said, touching my arm. I told him how Mom’s life changed ten years ago with unexpected wealth, a mystery she kept despite our years of hardship, when she worked tirelessly to provide for me.
Mark held the trousers, intrigued. “She had money—why keep these?” I said Mom’s tough past shaped her, teaching me to value every cent. One day, a bold envelope arrived for Mom. “She’s gone,” I told the mailman, voice shaky. Alone, I opened it, reading, “You stole our money. Return it.” Shock hit—Mom, a thief? Never. I showed Mark, who paused. “She never explained the money. This address—maybe we should visit?” I resisted, hurt by his doubt, but agreed to prove Mom’s honesty.
We reached a faded mansion, met by a poised woman, Helen. “I’m Kate,” I said. “You wrote about my mom.” She led us to a stately, dusty study. “My father, Arthur, was rich but frail,” Helen said. “Your mom, his caregiver, tricked him into giving her half his estate.” I protested, “Mom was good!” But her silence about the money nagged me. Then I noticed Mark’s ease, greeting a maid by name. When Helen stepped out, I asked, “You’ve been here before?” He brushed it off, but I wasn’t fooled.
Back home, I searched Mom’s safe, finding a tied bundle of letters. One, in weak handwriting, read: “Dear Alice, I left you as a child. My will makes it right. Forgive me. Arthur.” Mom was Arthur’s daughter—my grandfather. The money was hers. Helen and Mark arrived, pushing papers. I tore them, holding the letter. “Arthur was my grandfather,” I said. Helen paled; Mark stuttered. “You worked together,” I accused. They argued, exposing their plan. I sent them away, holding Mom’s letter. Her truth was pure, and I’d protect our family’s story with the strength she gave me.
