19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
Elise
Y oung Jae parks by the gates to the graveyard, shutting the car off and leaving us in silence. I always thought my dad wanted to be cremated, but I guess I really don’t—didn’t—know him anymore.
My body feels heavy as I sigh and unbuckle. I always regretted not working harder to rebuild my relationship with my dad, but I was so angry with him for letting Melanie drive a wedge between us.
My opening door surprises me. I didn’t even notice Young Jae get out of the car. “Thank you.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” He rests his hand on the small of my back, pulling me into him.
After a moment, I shake my head. “No. I want to speak my mind and I think it will be easier alone.”
His kisses the crown of my head, with a promise he’s right here.
Uncle George told me where my dad is buried, so I don’t need to spend a lot of time looking.
His gravestone is simple, including his name, date of birth, and date of death. With “Loving Husband” carved into the bottom. Pressing my lips together, I clench my jaw. She didn’t even acknowledge me on here.
“Hi, Dad. I never thought the next time I saw you would be like this. But here we are.”
I didn’t bother reading his obituary. I know it would’ve been empty of anything truly meaningful. The man he was before he remarried. The man I’m choosing to remember.
“I wish we would’ve stayed close. I never understood why you pulled away after marrying Melanie. It’s not like I ever said anything bad about her. All I wanted was for you to be happy again.” Crouching down, my eyes grow blurry. “We were so close, Dad. And it’s like that never even mattered.”
The tears fall down my cheeks as all the words of hurt and anger fade away. They don’t really matter now. Nothing can change in how the time went, how distant we were, or the fact he’s gone.
If I learned anything over the past several years, it’s that sometimes the most meaningful family is the one you create for yourself.
“I want you to know I’m okay. I don’t know if that’s important for you. I haven’t felt like I mattered much, but maybe somewhere deep inside you still hoped. I have a good life. I’ve built a family for myself and they’re amazing.” A wry scoff escapes. “Young Jae and I are together. I know you always liked him. He’s everything to me.”
Standing, I tuck my hands into my pockets. “I don’t really know what else to say. I love you and wish we could’ve fixed this. It’s okay though. Goodbye, Dad.”
The air is cool, the breeze holding that fall chill. Shivering, I adjust the collar on my jacket and hurry back to the car. Young Jae is leaning against the vehicle, waiting. I walk right into his arms and lay my head on his chest.
“It doesn’t feel like there’s a point. We can’t rewrite our history and I don’t even feel like I know the man anymore. He’s not my dad, he’s a stranger. It feels empty. Is that horrible to say?” Holding his shirt tight in my hands, I squeeze my eyes shut.
I’m a horrible daughter to say that coming to my father’s grave feels empty, but it does. And I can’t pretend otherwise, not with Young Jae.
He lifts my chin, brown eyes serious as I meet his gaze. “Hey. It’s not horrible. It’s simply an unfortunate truth. When was the last time you saw him anyway? Before his wedding, right?”
Nodding. I hadn’t even been invited. They “eloped” except her people were there and none of his.
“I think you grieved the loss of your relationship with your father a long time ago. It makes sense that this doesn’t feel as impactful.” He slides his hand to cup my cheek.
Releasing a heavy sigh, I lean into it. “His gravestone doesn’t even say anything about being a father. Like I don’t exist.”
He presses his forehead to mine. “That would feel awful.”
Closing my eyes, I breathe him in. “Honestly, it doesn’t even matter. He hasn’t acted like a father in years. It hurts, but I think it hurts more that I know he will never show up, asking me to be in his life again. The door is truly closed.”
He wraps his arms around me, holding me tight.
After a few minutes, I say, “I guess we better head to the lawyer’s. Honestly, I don’t know why she wants me there.”
Young Jae opens the car door and I slide into the seat. He has the address linked in his GPS and the five-minute drive seems to be over in the blink of an eye.
We’re right on time, so the receptionist ushers us into the board room when we enter the building.
When Melanie sees me, her eyes widen in shock. It’s the most satisfying part of my day, seeing her open and close her mouth in shock as she tries to figure out how I found out.
Uncle George comes in behind us, his cheeks flushed. “Sorry I’m late.” He catches sight of me, he looks a little like my dad when he smiles. “Elise. It’s been a long time. I’m happy you came.”
Melanie’s eyes narrow briefly before she plasters a fake smile on her face. “It’s a pleasure, Elise.”
Uncle George glares at her but doesn’t say anything as the lawyer clears her throat. “Let’s get started.”
The lawyer, Rose, sits down and pulls out what I’m assuming is dad’s will.
“This is the last will and testament of Eric William Cooper, completed in April of this year.” She flips the page, but Melanie is making sounds like a dog when they have that weird breathing thing.
“Impossible, we had our wills done after our wedding and nothing has changed since then.” Her face is red, and I seriously don’t understand what my father saw in her.
“Yes, and he came in this April and updated it, as he did every year.” She holds up his file, the thickness evidence of her statement. “Let’s proceed.” Melanie is quiet at the lawyer’s stern tone.
The lawyer reads through the division of Dad’s estate. The house, its belongings, and his pension go to Melanie. It’s a substantial pension and she looks so self-satisfied. No widow should look that happy over the division of her husband’s assets. She starts to arrange her things, thinking it’s over.
“To my daughter, Elise Cooper, I leave her mother’s engagement ring, being held in trust by my brother, Uncle George.” The lawyer reads on.
I freeze. For some reason, I thought Mom’s engagement ring was gone. I remember because when Melanie saw a photo of it and declared she wanted the two-carat diamond, he told her it was gone and she didn’t talk to him for a week.
Before Melanie can say anything, Rose reads on.
“’I also leave her the savings in an account I set up for her to be provided at the time of my death, in the sum of five hundred thousand dollars at the time of this will, plus any interest it has gained. I have made a lot of mistakes as a father, allowing myself to distance from you. I know that money can’t fix anything, but I hope you can use this to build the future and life you want.’ I have a letter that he has written to you that he asks you to read when you’re ready.”
Before I can say anything, Melanie erupts, “This is outrageous! He can’t just do that without my knowledge. The money in that account is part of the marital assets.”
Everyone in the room stares at her, perhaps seeing a version of her I only suspected for the first time. My father was well-off when they met, and I had wondered if she was marrying him for his money. We all just got our answer.
“Actually, this account was set up prior to your marriage and opened in trust to Elise Cooper. There is no discourse on whether this is yours or not, the will, as well as the account documentation, are binding,” the lawyer states coolly.
Young Jae holds my hand tightly as Melanie looks at me, pure hatred in her eyes. “You had to go and show up, didn’t you?”
Before I can respond, the lawyer tells her that whether or not I’m here, the will would still stand.
“I would like to conclude the reading of the will. So please, hold your questions until the end.” Rose’s tone is cold as she stares at Melanie.
Her lips clamp down as she seethes in silence while the lawyer concludes with a few other small accounts. It’s apparent Melanie had no idea they existed as her face contorts with each one. My father designates money to a few charities, including the animal shelter in Willowbrook Lake. He wants the donations to be made in the name of his late wife, Anna Cooper. Hearing my mom’s name instead of Melanie’s makes my lips quirk up a little.
“This concludes the reading of the will. If anyone has any ques—”
“I do not agree with this. He was not in his right mind! There must be something I can do.” She glares at me. “The best thing I ever did was push him to cut you out. You stupid little cun—"
Rose cuts her off, her voice hard as she glares at Melanie. “I will not accept any sort of display of animosity or threat. Mr. Cooper was well in his right mind. And you may want to carefully consider what you say in this room. The paperwork to start the transition of assets is at the front. Please see yourself out and return the forms to us as quickly as possible. If you approach myself, my staff, or anyone else pertaining to this will with anything but a calm and respectful attitude, I will see that the division of your assets is drawn out personally.”
Melanie leaves in a huff, and no one else in the room follows her.
Uncle George looks at me, remorse in his eyes. “I wish I had known how she was. I would have tried to knock sense into my brother.”
He pulls a ring box out of his coat pocket, handing it to me.
Opening it, I stare at the ring I’ve only seen in photos.
“I know I’m probably too late, but I would love to reconnect and rebuild a relationship. I’m sorry I haven’t been there.” He stands, his hands gesturing aimlessly as if he doesn’t know what to do with them.
Pushing out of the chair, I give him a hug. “It’s never too late.”
Young Jae gives us some privacy, going to speak to the paralegal and gathering the documents I need to fill out.
After saying goodbye to my uncle, with a promise to visit at Thanksgiving, Young Jae and I head to the car.
As we settle in, he whistles. “Well, that was something else.”
Blowing out air, I shake myself a little. “Never did I expect any of that. Well, maybe Melanie’s behavior.”
We laugh, the sound weird after everything that has happened.
Young Jae turns on the seat warmer for me and we start the journey home.
“Are you going to read the letter?” he asks, reaching over to hold my hand.
Licking my lips, I stare at the manila folder in my lap. “One day.”
He squeezes.
“What about that savings? You could do almost anything you want with that. Add on to Perk Up. Explore the world.” His thumb strokes my hand as I ponder his question. He doesn’t press me and I know he’s asking out of curiosity and not because the money means anything to him.
“I don’t know. I guess leave it invested for now and sit with it. My life doesn’t have to change because of it, so I don’t want to be rash.” I smile at him, still a little in shock about the money and the ring. “Hey, do you have a safe or something I can put this in? I can’t see myself wearing it right now, and I want to keep it safe.”
He smiles at me. “Of course. I have a safe and I will give you the combination.”
“Thank you for being with me today. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
We’re quiet, my eyes growing heavy as the day fully catches up to me. Young Jae turns on the music as my head starts to bob, lifting my hand to kiss it as sleep takes me.