Inside were medical forms.
Insurance paperwork.
And a document carrying Gwen’s signature.
I looked at her.
“Did you sign this?”
Gwen shook her head.
“No.”
It was an authorization giving Mom access to information connected to Gwen’s medical care.
The signature looked like hers.
But Gwen swore she’d never signed it.
Then I found something even stranger.
A life-insurance application.
Gwen’s name.
A substantial benefit.
And the listed beneficiary wasn’t me.
It was my mother.
I stared at the page.
Mom began sobbing.
“It isn’t what you think.”
I looked at her.
“Then tell me what I’m supposed to think.”
She couldn’t.
But Paige did.
From the hallway, my sister suddenly screamed:
“MOM TOLD ME GWEN WAS GOING TO DIE ANYWAY!”
Everything stopped.
Mom turned toward her.
“Paige!”
“No! I’m not taking the blame for this!”
Paige was crying now.
“She said once Gwen was gone, everything would finally stay in the family!”
