Chapter 8: The Last Gift Hidden in the Old Workshop
Nia stared at Brianna.
"What did Dad leave me?""
Brianna looked toward Vanessa.
Her mother was speaking urgently with Harold near the stage entrance.
"I don't know exactly," Brianna whispered.
"But I remember Mom searching for it.""
"Searching where?""
"At the old shop. In the storage room. In Dad's office.""
Nia's mind raced.
"The archive?""
"No. Something smaller.""
"What?""
Brianna shook her head.
"I don't know. Mom used to say that Dad had hidden something before he died. She thought it was a key.""
Nia frowned.
"A key to what?""
"I don't know!""
"Why are you telling me this now?""
Brianna's eyes filled.
"Because I think she was lying to me too.""
Nia looked at her sister.
For years, Brianna had been the person standing beside Vanessa whenever Nia was pushed aside.
She had laughed when Nia was humiliated.
She had accepted gifts purchased with opportunities stolen from someone else.
She had claimed designs she had never created.
Nia wasn't ready to trust her.
But she was listening.
"What happened the night Dad died?"" Nia asked.
Brianna lowered her voice.
"Mom told me he had asked for you.""
Nia felt the air leave her lungs.
"What?""
"He wanted to see you. But Mom said you were at school and couldn't come.""
Nia shook her head.
"I was home.""
Brianna looked down.
"I know.""
Nia grabbed her sister's wrist.
"How do you know?""
Brianna's eyes filled.
"Because I was there.""
The words landed like a physical blow.
"You were at the hospital?""
Brianna nodded.
"I was seventeen. Mom took me with her. Dad was awake for a while. He asked where you were.""
Nia's voice broke.
"What did she say?""
"She told him you were busy.""
Nia released her wrist.
Brianna continued.
"He asked her to bring you the sketchbook. The old one. He wanted to show you something.""
Nia closed her eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Brianna started crying.
"Because Mom told me not to.""
"That isn't an answer.""
"I was scared!""
Nia stepped away.
"You were scared of Mom?""
Brianna nodded.
"She said Dad was confused. She said he was giving you everything because you were his favorite. She said if I helped her, she'd make sure I had a future.""
Nia looked at her.
"And you agreed.""
Brianna couldn't meet her eyes.
"Yes.""
The silence between them was unbearable.
Nia turned toward the exit.
"Where are you going?"" Brianna asked.
"To the old shop.""
"Wait. I'll come with you.""
"No.""
"Nia, please.""
Nia stopped.
"You don't get to ask me to trust you because you're finally afraid of what happens when the truth comes out.""
Brianna lowered her head.
"I know.""
Nia walked away.
Daniel caught up with her near the backstage corridor.
"Where are you going?""
"The old workshop.""
"Now?""
"My father left something there.""
Daniel looked concerned.
"Do you want someone to accompany you?""
"Evelyn can come.""
"I'll arrange it.""
Before leaving, Nia looked back toward the stage.
Vanessa was still talking to Harold.
Her mother noticed her.
Their eyes met.
Vanessa immediately started walking toward her.
"Nia!""
Nia stopped.
"What?""
"You cannot leave.""
"Why?""
"Because we need to discuss this.""
Nia shook her head.
"We've discussed enough.""
Vanessa grabbed her arm.
"Listen to me. If you go digging through that old shop, you'll destroy what little is left of this family.""
Nia looked down at her mother's hand.
Then back at her face.
"Mom, you destroyed this family when you decided one daughter deserved another daughter's future.""
Vanessa released her.
Nia walked out.
At 9:20 p.m., Evelyn unlocked the old workshop.
The building was dark except for the streetlights shining through the front windows.
Daniel had arranged for a security officer to accompany them.
Evelyn turned on the lights.
The old sewing machines stood in neat rows.
Dust covered the shelves.
A faded photograph of Richard hung above the cutting table.
Nia approached it.
She touched the frame.
"Do you remember what he used to keep in his office?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Everything important.""
"Where?""
"Usually in the bottom drawer of his desk.""
They walked toward the small office.
The desk remained in place.
Nia pulled open the first drawer.
Old receipts.
Thread samples.
A broken measuring tape.
The second drawer contained business cards and fabric swatches.
The bottom drawer was locked.
Evelyn searched her key ring.
"I don't have the key.""
Nia examined the lock.
Then she remembered something.
Her father used to keep a small brass key inside the wooden sewing box.
She opened her bag.
The silver embroidery needle rested inside.
Beneath it was a small brass key she had found in the same box earlier that evening.
She inserted it.
The lock clicked.
Inside the drawer was a rectangular wooden case.
Nia lifted it out.
The case was covered in dark blue velvet.
On the top was an engraving.
*FOR MY DAUGHTER.*
Nia's breath caught.
She opened it.
Inside lay a small gold key, a photograph, and a folded letter.
The photograph showed Richard standing beside a young Nia in front of the original Carter Custom Designs storefront.
But the letter was what caught her attention.
It read:
My Nia,
You have always believed that the most valuable thing I left behind was the business.
It isn't.
The business can be rebuilt. The machines can be replaced. Even the designs can be recreated.
What cannot be replaced is the chance to make something meaningful with the people you love.
I wanted you to have a place where you could begin again, without asking anyone for permission.
The key opens the property I purchased under your name.
I had planned to show it to you when you were ready.
Your mother knows about the property, but she does not know where the key is.
Use it when you need a place to create without fear.
Love, Dad.
Nia read the letter again.
Then she looked at Evelyn.
"There's another property?""
Evelyn nodded slowly.
"Your father purchased a small building near the old market district. He wanted to turn it into your design studio.""
Nia looked up.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"He was planning to surprise you.""
"Is it still there?""
Evelyn smiled.
"As far as I know.""
Nia held the gold key.
For the first time that evening, she smiled without feeling guilty.
Her father hadn't just left her a collection of documents.
He had left her a future.
But there was another piece of paper in the box.
A property deed.
Nia unfolded it.
The address was printed clearly.
Then she noticed something.
The purchase date was only two weeks before her father's death.
And the property had been registered in the name of Carter Creative Trust.
Not Nia Carter.
Nia frowned.
"What's this?""
Evelyn leaned over.
"That's the trust he established.""
"Why?""
"So the property could never be sold or transferred without the beneficiary's authorization.""
Nia examined the final page.
There was a list of beneficiaries.
Her name appeared first.
But underneath it was another name.
*Brianna Carter — Secondary Beneficiary.*
Nia stared.
"Why is Brianna included?""
Evelyn looked surprised.
"Your father wanted both of you to have a place in the business eventually.""
Nia ran her finger over the page.
"Then why does it say I'm the primary beneficiary?""
"Because he wanted you to manage the studio until your sister was ready to contribute original work of her own.""
Nia looked toward the photograph.
Her father had not wanted to choose between his daughters.
He had wanted to give them a chance to build something together.
But Vanessa had turned the opportunity into a competition.
And Brianna had willingly joined her.
Nia folded the document.
"Can we go see the property?""
Evelyn checked the time.
"It's late.""
"I know.""
But before Evelyn could answer, Daniel's phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
Then his expression changed.
"What happened?""
A pause.
"Are you certain?""
He ended the call.
Nia turned.
"What is it?""
"The showcase committee has suspended Brianna's presentation rights.""
Nia nodded.
"All right.""
"Harold Whitmore has also been asked to step aside from the sponsorship board pending an investigation.""
Nia looked at the floor.
"Good.""
Daniel hesitated.
"There's more.""
"What?""
"The organizers received a formal complaint from your mother's legal representative.""
Nia frowned.
"About what?""
"Your father's property trust.""
Evelyn stiffened.
"That isn't possible.""
Daniel handed Nia his phone.
The complaint claimed that Richard Carter had lacked the mental capacity to establish the trust.
It also alleged that Vanessa had been unfairly excluded from the property agreement.
Nia read the final paragraph.
The claimant requests an immediate suspension of all beneficiary rights pending judicial review.
Nia looked at Evelyn.
"Can they do that?""
"Anyone can file a complaint," Evelyn replied.
"But that doesn't mean they can prove it.""
Nia's phone rang.
Vanessa.
She answered.
"What?""
Her mother sounded strangely calm.
"Nia, darling. We need to stop this before it gets worse.""
Nia looked at the letter in her hand.
"What did you file?""
"Something to protect the family.""
"You filed a complaint against Dad's trust.""
"I filed a request for clarification.""
"You said he wasn't mentally capable of making decisions.""
Vanessa sighed.
"Your father was very sick.""
"Was he confused?""
"Sometimes.""
"Then why did you sign his agreement?""
Silence.
Finally, Vanessa said, "Because he made me.""
Nia closed her eyes.
"Nobody made you sign anything.""
"You weren't there. You don't know what happened.""
"Then tell me.""
Vanessa's voice became colder.
"I will not allow you to take everything I worked for.""
Nia looked around the workshop.
At the old machines.
At her father's photograph.
At the letter.
"Mom, Dad left me a place to build something. He left Brianna a chance to be part of it. He left you nothing because you were supposed to respect the agreement.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"He left you a property and some old machines. Don't pretend he made you a queen.""
Nia's voice hardened.
"I don't want to be a queen. I want to be a designer.""
"Then design something else. Leave the Carter name alone.""
Nia looked at the gold key.
"No.""
She ended the call.
Brianna appeared in the doorway.
Nia turned.
"What are you doing here?""
Brianna stood awkwardly, holding her phone.
"I followed you.""
"Why?""
"Because I wanted to see what Dad left.""
Nia looked at her.
"Why?""
Brianna swallowed.
"Because I think I deserve to know too.""
Nia studied her sister.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Brianna noticed the trust document.
"Is that the property agreement?""
"Yes.""
Brianna took a step closer.
"Am I listed?""
Nia nodded.
"You're a secondary beneficiary.""
Brianna's eyes widened.
"Mom told me Dad left everything to you because he didn't want me involved.""
Nia looked at her.
"He wanted us to build something together.""
Brianna stared at the document.
Then she began crying.
"I didn't know.""
Nia's expression remained guarded.
"You didn't ask.""
Brianna wiped her face.
"I know.""
She looked around the workshop.
"Do you think he would have wanted us to work together?""
Nia glanced at the photograph.
"I think he wanted us to learn how to respect each other.""
Brianna nodded.
Then she said something that made Nia's heart sink.
"There's one more thing you need to know.""
Nia looked at her.
"What?""
Brianna pulled out her phone.
She opened an old message thread.
The first message was from Vanessa.
The date was two days before Richard's death.
If Nia finds out about the trust, everything will be over.
The second message was from Brianna.
Don't worry. I'll keep her away from the shop.
Nia stared at the screen.
Brianna's voice trembled.
"I sent that.""
Nia looked up.
"You knew about the trust?""
"Not everything. But I knew there was something Dad had left behind.""
"And you helped Mom keep me away.""
Brianna nodded.
"Yes.""
Nia stepped back.
The apology she had almost been ready to accept disappeared.
Brianna lowered her phone.
"I was seventeen. I thought I was helping Mom.""
Nia looked at her.
"You were old enough to know I deserved to see my father.""
Brianna began crying harder.
"I know.""
Nia turned toward the desk.
"Please leave.""
"Nia—"
"Please.""
Brianna stood silently for several seconds.
Then she walked out.
Nia remained in the office, holding her father's letter.
The gold key rested in her palm.
She had wanted answers.
Now she had them.
But the truth hurt more than she had expected.
Her mother had deliberately kept her away from her dying father.
Her sister had helped.
And both had done it because they believed the future belonged to Brianna.
Nia placed the letter inside the velvet case.
Then she looked at the property deed.
Tomorrow, she would visit the studio her father had built for her.
She would begin again.
But before she could close the case, she noticed a small handwritten note beneath the velvet lining.
It contained a final sentence.
If both my daughters ever stand together again, let them open the second door.
Nia turned the note over.
On the back was a drawing of two small keys.
She looked at the gold key in her hand.
Then she noticed something.
There was another empty space inside the wooden case.
A space shaped exactly like the silver embroidery needle she had carried from home.
Nia stared.
Her father hadn't hidden just one key.
May you like
He had hidden a second one.
And the second door might hold the one thing Vanessa had been searching for all these years.
