At Her Own Baby Shower, Her Husband Told Her She Had No Right to Name Their Daughter—But His Mother’s Perfect Celebration Was Hiding a Secret That Could Destroy Them All / Chapter 13 / 24

Chapter 14 - A Perfect Family, Publicly BrokenDarlene Hale had never believed that a story needed to be entirely true to become accepted.

It only needed to be repeated by the right people.

On Saturday morning, October 24, she invited a small group of family friends and foundation donors to Ashcroft for brunch.

The dining room glittered with polished silver.

White roses filled the center of the table.

Darlene wore a pale blue suit and the pearl necklace she had worn at her son's wedding.

When someone asked about the baby shower, she gave a sad smile.

"It was unfortunate," she said.

A woman across the table leaned forward.

"Is Maren all right?"

"Oh, she's under tremendous emotional strain."

Darlene sighed.

"Pregnancy can be overwhelming. Grant is doing everything he can."

The guests exchanged sympathetic expressions.

"And the baby name?" someone asked.

"We simply wanted to honor family tradition. Such a small thing, really."

Darlene lifted her coffee cup.

"I'm afraid Maren interpreted it rather differently."

By noon, the story was traveling through the family's social circle.

Maren had overreacted.

Maren was suspicious.

Maren had embarrassed her husband.

Maren was making wild accusations about charitable finances because she was upset with her mother-in-law.

None of it was stated in a formal public announcement.

Darlene was too careful for that.

She allowed other people to repeat what she had suggested.

At Alice's house, Maren learned about the brunch from a woman who had attended and privately disagreed with Darlene.

Her name was Celeste Wynn.

She had served on the foundation board for six years.

Celeste called Lena first and asked whether Maren would speak with her.

Maren agreed.

They met at the library café.

Celeste arrived in a dark green coat, her silver hair cut short.

"I owe you an apology," she said immediately.

Maren frowned.

"For what?"

"For sitting quietly at your shower when Grant spoke to you that way."

Maren looked down.

"You didn't say it."

"No. But I watched."

Celeste folded her hands.

"Darlene has been telling people you're trying to embarrass the foundation."

"I want to know what happened to the money."

"I understand that now."

"Did you understand it before?"

Celeste hesitated.

"I trusted the financial summaries we were given."

"Did you ever visit Juniper House?"

"Not recently."

Maren opened her phone and showed the photographs.

Celeste examined them one by one.

The boarded door.

The unfinished wiring.

The exposed pipes.

The cracked stained glass.

Her expression became grave.

"When were these taken?"

"Monday."

Celeste stared at the screen.

"Last month's report showed completed electrical work and finished interior spaces."

Maren said nothing.

Celeste looked up.

"I voted to approve those reports."

"Did anyone tell you they were false?"

"No."

"Would you have approved them if you'd known?"

"Of course not."

Maren studied her.

"Then don't trust anyone's assurances at the next meeting. Ask for proof."

Celeste nodded.

"The October twenty-ninth packet asks us to ratify a prior lease termination and approve a transaction involving the Juniper property."

"I know."

"Darlene says the charitable mission will continue elsewhere."

"Where?"

Celeste looked uncomfortable.

"No specific building has been identified."

"How will it be funded?"

"There are promises of future support."

Maren looked down at her stomach.

"That's not a plan."

"No," Celeste admitted. "It isn't."

They sat quietly.

Then Celeste asked, "What do you want from me?"

"Read the documents. Visit the house. Ask questions that don't have answers prepared by Darlene."

Celeste nodded.

"I can do that."

After Celeste left, Maren remained at the table.

Her phone vibrated.

A new email had arrived from an unfamiliar address.

The subject line read:

CONCERNING YOUR RECENT CONDUCT

The sender was Calvin Mercer's office.

The letter alleged that Maren had improperly interfered with private business matters and warned her not to distribute confidential foundation materials.

It also suggested that false accusations could harm the family's reputation and expose her to legal action.

Maren forwarded it to Lena.

Within minutes, Lena called.

"Don't reply directly."

"I wasn't going to."

"We'll respond professionally. They're trying to turn legitimate questions into a personal dispute."

Maren looked at the letter again.

"They say I'm interfering with private family finances."

"Charitable funds aren't automatically private family finances because members of one family control a foundation."

"What if they sue?"

"Then we'll address the claims. Don't let a threatening letter substitute for evidence."

Maren breathed deeply.

"All right."

That evening, Grant came to Alice's house.

Maren agreed to speak with him on the porch.

He looked thinner.

He carried no flowers.

No gifts.

No grand apology.

Only a folded piece of paper.

"What's that?" she asked.

"A letter from my mother."

Maren's stomach tightened.

"To me?"

"To both of us."

She took it.

The handwriting was elegant and unmistakable.

Grant,

I am disappointed that you have allowed Maren's accusations to reach the foundation's directors. If this continues, I will have no choice but to review your employment and your future role in the family businesses.

Maren looked at him.

"She's threatening you."

Grant nodded.

"I told her I won't promise my vote."

"Good."

He looked toward the street.

"She said something else."

"What?"

"That if the transaction fails, she'll make sure everyone knows who destroyed the family."

Maren folded the letter.

"She's already trying to do that to me."

Grant's eyes filled.