“Yes. I’m creating a foundation in your father’s name to help orphaned children. A significant part of the sale will go to funding it.”
Derek coughed, nearly choking on his champagne. “How… wonderful,” he managed, but his voice betrayed an emotion closer to shock. “And how much? How much exactly are you planning to donate?”
Before I could answer, my cell phone rang. It was Nora, my lawyer and my closest friend for decades, a woman who knew my family’s history as well as I did. “I have to take this,” I said, getting up. “It’s about the final details of the sale.”
I walked to the restaurant lobby where the signal was better. The conversation with Nora was brief, just a few final details about signing the transfer documents the next morning. When I returned to the table, I noticed something strange. Rachel and Derek were talking in urgent, intense whispers that stopped the second I approached.
“Is everything okay?” I asked as I sat down.
“Of course, Mom,” Rachel smiled, but the smile was a brittle thing that didn’t reach her eyes. “I was just telling Derek how incredibly proud I am of you.”