Sarah stood in the quiet kitchen and stared at the bright yellow envelope.
Her father had passed away just two short weeks ago after a long illness.
The house felt far too big and empty without his loud, happy voice echoing.
She placed her morning cup of coffee onto the cold granite kitchen counter.
Her hands were trembling slightly as she pulled her warm sweater a little tighter.
Mark walked into the room carrying a heavy black plastic briefcase in his right hand.
He did not look Sarah directly in the eyes as he sat down at the table.
Mark: We need to talk about the family estate before the afternoon comes.
Sarah: Is that the legal paperwork from the lawyer's city office?
Mark: Yes, the attorney delivered these final documents early this morning.
Sarah took a deep breath and pulled out a tall wooden chair to sit down.
She had trusted Mark with all their financial matters for over seven whole years.
He was an accountant who understood corporate contracts and complex tax laws very well.
Sarah: Did my father leave the suburban house to both of us?
Mark: The official paperwork is quite complicated to explain right now.
Sarah: Why is it complicated when it should be very simple?
Mark shifted uncomfortably in his seat and cleared his throat rather loudly.
He closed the dark briefcase and set it carefully onto the floor beside him.
Sarah felt a strange knot of worry slowly form deep inside her chest.
Her sister Lisa was supposed to arrive at eleven to discuss the old family car.
Lisa had always been close to their father, especially during his final months.
Sarah: Does Lisa know that the official legal papers arrived today?
Mark: I called her early this morning to update her on the status.
Sarah: Why did you call her before speaking to me about it?
Mark: She asked me for a quick update late yesterday evening, Sarah.
Sarah looked out the wide window and saw a dark blue sedan pull into the driveway.
Lisa stepped out of the vehicle carrying a small leather designer handbag.
She walked briskly up the concrete front steps toward the heavy wooden door.
Sarah stood up quickly to let her younger sister inside the warm hallway.
Lisa: Good morning, Sarah, I hope I am not interrupting anything important.
Sarah: We were just starting to discuss father's official papers.
Lisa: Oh, I see that Mark already brought out the heavy briefcase.
Sarah noticed a very strange glance pass quickly between Mark and her sister.
It was a quick look of shared panic that lasted only a tiny fraction of a second.
She felt her heart begin to beat much faster inside her chest now.
Sarah: Is there something specific about the inheritance that I do not know?
Mark: Let us all sit down together and discuss this like sensible adults.