Chapter 5 - THE BACK LOT
Curtis owned the house.
And the six acres behind it.
Most of the woods where Maisy had run.
For years, developers had asked about the rear acreage because a new subdivision was expanding nearby.
Curtis always refused.
“No houses behind my house.”
Then three months earlier, Nathan approached him with an offer.
Not full sale.
A land-option agreement.
Developer:
Stonebridge Residential.
Option payment:
$75,000.
If exercised:
sale price $1.9 million.
The developer would buy 4.8 acres.
Curtis would keep the house and immediate yard.
Rachel stared at the contract.
“He signed this?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
Five weeks earlier.
Right after his fall.
Right after new medications.
Nathan said:
“He knew exactly what he was doing.”
Rachel asked:
“Who was present?”
“Me. Their attorney. Notary.”
“Independent lawyer for Dad?”
Nathan looked away.
“No.”
There.
Not automatically invalid.
But dangerous.
Then Rachel found another document.
Power of attorney.
Curtis naming Nathan as financial agent.
Signed eleven days after the land option.
Rachel’s face went cold.
“Dad never told me.”
“He didn’t have to.”
“No.”
May you like
She looked at him.
“But you did.”
