The Letter – A Lesson In Betrayal

They say that no matter how close we are to people, we can never know everything about them. I had thought that I knew my aunt Heather very well. I had known her all of my life and I had only seen a very loving, kind woman. Even though we lived far apart, whenever we’d talk on the phone or see each other during vacations or at family events, she seemed to be nothing but a decent, loving woman.

Five years ago when my Mother passed away, Aunt Heather came for the funeral. She held me and comforted me as I sobbed in her arms when we went to see my Mother at the viewing at the funeral home. Heather was a great comfort and support to me during that time.

Four years after I lost my Mother, my Father passed away. Heather and her daughter and son-in-law asked if they could come to see me. I didn’t hesitate to say yes. During the three days that they stayed, Heather was very concerned about me and kept a close eye on me to make sure I was alright. She was worried about leaving me alone, my Father and I had had a very close, loving relationship. I really was my Daddy’s little girl my whole life. He adored me and I adored him. Heather and her family went home and I got busy with the business of tying up the loose ends of my Father’s life, handling his estate and taking care of everything else that had to be done.

My Father had a small estate and I was his only child. He had made me the executor of his estate and he had left everything in it to me. I had seen many situations where relatives had become vultures after a loved one had passed away and I wanted to avoid that terrible headache so I immediately put all of my cards on the table and told all of my relatives, Heather and her family included, that I was the executor of my Father’s estate and that I had been left all of the assets that he had. He hadn’t left any of them any money or property. I thought that this was the best way to handle things, to be straightforward and honest from the beginning so there would be no fighting or sniping about what was in his will. Everyone seemed to be fine with it until one day when I got a letter in the mail.