“Is everyone here?” The lawyer sitting across from Maggie in Kimberly Woods’ living room asked. Daphne glanced at Viola sitting next to her older sister, and then turned to look at Oliver, who was sitting next to Daphne on a different couch.

  “We're all here,” Maggie confirmed, as Daphne looked back at the two lawyers sitting on the loveseat across the coffee table. Both lawyers’ faces were grave.

  I wonder if they were the lawyers who executed my father's will when he passed away two years ago. But how could any of us have possibly known that my mother had hidden my father's true will?

  As the police had searched Kimberly's house for evidence that she had murdered Vivian Hawthorne, Ian Woods' real will had been found. In addition to the murder charges, Kimberly was now to be indicted with fraud.

  “Before we get started…Can I ask what the difference between the will that was read out when our father passed away, and this one is?” Ollie asked on Daphne's right.

  One of the lawyers nodded. “A perfectly fair question,” he said. He cleared his throat before continuing. “The biggest difference is that the previous will left everything of your fathers to Kimberly. However, this will was signed and approved about two weeks before Ian Woods passed away. It included letters to each of his children and a couple of his belongings of his, to go to each of you.”

  Oliver nodded. “Thanks.”

  If they think we'll sue them over a few of our father's belongings, they really have nothing to worry about. It's not as though Kimberly has shared her wealth with us, or that any of us have access to that level of funding.

  “Any other questions before we begin?” The first lawyer asked, scanning around to the four siblings. No one said anything. “Great. We'll get started then.”

  Daphne snuck a glance out of the corner of her eyes at Viola, her heart clenching. How terrible it must be for her to know that Ian isn't her father but still have to be here with us. Daphne swallowed hard. I hope that Viola knows that none of our siblings hold that over her head. It's not as though Viola chose to be born from an affair. It's unfair that she was put in such a position by her own mother. Daphne lightly chewed on her lower lip. I just hope that if Father knew that Viola wasn't his child, that he would feel the same way I do.

  In front of the lawyers on the coffee table now sat a small pile of letters. “What would you like to start with?” the first lawyer asked. “Would you all like me to hand out the letters first or start by reading off the will?”

  Daphne's heart started thrumming in her chest as she saw her older sister's name on the top letter clearly written in her father's handwriting. I never thought I'd get to see his handwriting ever again. She counted the number of envelopes. Good. There's four. Viola isn't going to be left out.

  “Why don't we have the will read first?” Maggie suggested looking over at Daphne and Oliver. “Since we all probably will want to spend some time reading our letters.”

  Daphne nodded. “That sounds good to me.”

  “I agree,” Oliver said.

  Viola gave a small thumbs up.

  “Great,” the lawyer said, with a nod. He picked up the hefty ream of papers from the coffee table and cleared his throat. “Maggie,” the lawyer began looking pointedly at Daphne's older sister. “I hope you and Michael find a way to put your daughter and any of the other future children you have through college. I know it was something you were desperately worried about when Lola was born. I'm sorry that your mother and I were not able to afford to help you go to college. To my dear daughter, Maggie, I leave this trusted compass.” The second lawyer grabbed the cylindrical object next to him on the couch and handed it to Maggie, along with what looked like a checkbook.

  “…so that her heart may stay true. Additionally, the savings account booklet labeled number two is to belong to my daughter, Magnolia.” Daphne glanced over at her older sister, who was looking at the contents of the savings account booklet, her chin shaking.

  Was I wrong in my assumption that my mother spent all of the extra income? Her heart stuttered in her chest.

  The first lawyer turned to look directly at Daphne, and she gulped. I guess, since Cy isn't here, I'm second. I'm not used to this.

  “To sweet Daphne,” the lawyer read from the document. “I leave to you the journals of my life, for I know you will find their meaning.” Daphne's eyes went wide as the second lawyer pointed at an antique trunk near the living room's entrance. “Additionally, savings booklet, number three will be given to Daphne.” The second lawyer reached across the coffee table, handing Daphne the savings account booklet.

  “Thank you,” she murmured before opening being the booklet. Her eyes widened even further as she saw the month of her birth in the year she was born as the top entry. February 16, 1998. It was when the account had been opened and her father had placed twenty dollars in the account for the first time. Listed on each line of the rest of the booklet was every month afterward, up until his death.

  Oh, my God. This account is probably worth so much money now since he started it so long ago. She pursed her lips together to hold back the stinging of tears in her eyes.

  The first lawyer turned to Oliver. “To peaceful Oliver, I leave to you my favorite fishing pole and tackle box. I suspect you will find as much peace fishing as I did when things were tough.” The second lawyer gestured again towards the trunk where there was a fishing pole leaning next to it in a faded tackle box. “Additionally, savings booklet number four will be Oliver's.” The second lawyer handed Oliver the booklet as the first turned to look at Viola.

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  Daphne's heart started speeding up in her chest again. Will he have a booklet for Viola too? Surely, even if he suspected that Viola was not his child, he would not treat her differently.

  Finally, the first lawyer began. “To our sweet princess, Viola, I leave my safe and key filled to the brim with important documents for your life to come. I'm sorry you lost me so young, my sweet daughter. Of course, booklet number five belongs to Viola.” The second lawyer handed Viola the final booklet, and Daphne let out a breath she didn't even realize she had been holding.

  “Unfortunately, the safe is installed into your mother's house, so while we weren't able to remove it to give to you, we did remove the documents.” The lawyer gestured to the fireplace mantel where a stack of papers was. The second lawyer also handed Viola a sheet of paper with numbers on it, the key to the safe.

  Daphne chewed on the inside of her lower lip. I wonder if those documents include information about Viola's real father. Did my father know about Viola? Had he always known that Viola wasn't his? The weight in Daphne's heart was dispersing, despite her curiosity about what her father had known. I knew that he would still love Viola, and not change his behavior even if he knew, but I'm still so relieved. He would have wanted Viola to know she was loved, regardless of if Viola was truly his child or not.

  The first lawyer pulled a smaller packet of papers outside of his bag. “Additionally, Maggie, the office also asked me to bring you these documents as well. It is in order for temporary custody of Viola, while I'm sure Lawyer Wilson will guide you through the process of obtaining custody of Viola. Officially, as of this moment she will be living with you going forward.”

  Maggie took the papers from the lawyer. “Thank you,” she murmured a sweet smile playing on her lips.

  Daphne's heart soared. I thought it would be impossible for Maggie to get custody of Viola, but with mother being charged with murder, it made it a whole lot easier for Maggie to become Viola's guardian.

  “What will happen to my mother's house and belongings now that she's been arrested?” Oliver asked.

  The second lawyer nodded and frowned. “That's a fair question. I'm not the best person to answer this question, so I would advise you to talk to your mother or her lawyer about what that might like look like. She may owe fines that could require the house or other assets to be sold if she does not have the money to pay.”

  “Thanks,” Oliver said. “I'll consult with her.”

  The lawyer gave him a sharp nod before turning back to the letters. “Any other questions?” the second lawyer asked, looking around the room. The room was silent.

  “Great,” the first said, picking up the letters off the coffee table. He began passing the envelopes out. “Then here are the letters from your father.”

  Daphne grabbed hers, her heart sinking into her chest. It's almost been three years since he wrote this. Her eyes stung a little, and she swallowed hard, trying to hold back her emotions. I never thought that I would see his handwriting ever again. Of course, Mother would hide something like this from us.

  Daphne carefully opened the envelope, ensuring that she did not tear the front where her father had written her name. Inside, there were a couple of lined sheets of paper folded up. She carefully took them out and unfolded them, her heart aching as she went.

  Dear Daphne,

  My sweet daughter, I'm so sorry that life has been so difficult for you. From the moment you emerged from your mother's womb, she decided that you would forever be her scapegoat, even if you did nothing wrong.

  Perhaps it was because you were a colicky baby crying for hours after you emerged into our lives. Or maybe it's because in your younger years, you were so much more energetic than Cypress or Magnolia. Regardless of the reason, a mother should never hate her daughter or any of her children, the way that your mother has hated you.

  I'm sorry that I could not shield you from her. You have every right to blame me for not leaving. I should have but was too afraid that I would lose all of you if I were to leave. I should have at least tried. Nonetheless, I did the best I could to protect you and nurture you to the best of my abilities, despite your mother's persistent hatred.

  I knew from the moment that your mother insisted that you all needed to have plant names, that there was something wrong with her. I later found out that her goal was to copy Vivian Hawthorne, who had planned on naming her two children after plants as well. For the first time, I wondered if your mother had chosen me as a partner for my last name, not for who I was, or for what I could offer her life. After some time, I was absolutely certain that this was why she had chosen me.

  When you were born, after a difficult pregnancy, she was bound and determined to name you something like Lily or Petunia. Specifically, orange lilies have negative meanings, and petunias mean anger and resentment. My heart ached at the meaning of these names, and I knew that I could not let your mother name you either of them.

  I dove deep into the meaning of flowers trying to find something that would capture your stubborn innocence. I wanted something that would protect you time and time again and settled on Daphne because of its meaning, “rebirth.” I had a deep-seated feeling in my gut the day I found your name, that this was the right name for you. Names to me, have power, and I hoped that someday, through all of the grief your mother may cause you, you would have a chance at transformation and rebirth.

  Daphne put the letter down her throat, tightening and her vision blurry. No wonder all of those times I asked my mother why she had named me Daphne, she said it was a secret. Father probably never informed her why he chose my name in the first place. She chewed on her lower lip, the tears escaping her control. Names have power. What if my father allowed me to have this second chance through the meaning of my name… “Rebirth?” Surely, this is no mere coincidence.

  Daphne swallowed hard her mind's eye recalling the yellow mums that she had seen before her death. They were the flowers that her mother had scolded her for, saying she should have taken them to her father's funeral.

  Daphne’s shoulders shook as she held back a sob, covering her face with her hand. This cannot be a coincidence. My father gave me a second chance at life. She cleared her eyes, sniffling a little before grabbing the letter to finish it.

  I hope that when I am gone, you can find strength, purpose and resilience in the name I have given you. While I am no longer there to love you on a daily basis, I hope you know the way I feel about you will never change, no matter if I am here with you, alive or in the afterlife. I hope that someday you have the strength to stand up to your mother the way I never could have.

  Live your own beautiful life, cry when things are sad, and dance in the rain when you are happy. Find someone you can love with your whole heart. Live well, Daphne, be happy.

  With all the love in my heart,

  Dad

  Daphne put the two sheets of paper up against her heart, her tears still leaking from her eyes. Thank you, Dad. Thank you for everything.