Spencer’s expression told me before he answered.
“If Gemma doesn’t establish that she qualifies, they want to move forward without her. And Sky gets everything. That’s what Dad said.”
I shut the dishwasher harder than I meant to.
“So, they created the accusation and now the accusation itself is enough to freeze her out.”
Apparently.
Gemma came in midway through the conversation and heard enough to understand.
“Let them,” she said.
Spencer shook his head.
“No.”
“Dad, I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
He picked his phone back up and called the estate attorney he had contacted the day after the dinner.
Mom wanted this treated like a legal eligibility issue instead of a family insult.
Fine.
He looked at me.
“Then we find out whether they can actually do that.”
That phone call opened the second front.
I went with Spencer to an estate attorney 2 days later.
He explained the dining room conversation almost word for word while the attorney read the relevant language in Russell’s trust.
She took her time, which made Spencer visibly impatient, but when she finally spoke, her answer was precise.
This particular fund was tied to biological descendants.
Under normal circumstances, family records and acknowledged relationships would have been enough to distribute it.
But once Gemma’s biological eligibility had been formally challenged, the trustees couldn’t simply ignore the issue.
Spencer leaned forward.
“So, my daughter has to prove she’s mine because my mother decided to question it.”
The attorney said, “If the challenge is maintained, the relevant biological relationship has to be established.”
I asked, “Only hers?”
The attorney looked back at the document.
“A standard like that has to be applied consistently to the relationships that determine who qualifies.”
Spencer stopped moving.
“Say that again.”
She explained that if biological descent was being questioned and verified, the same requirement could not reasonably be imposed on only one branch, while every necessary biological link on the other branch was treated as unquestionable.
Spencer looked at me.
I knew that expression.
“So, if Gemma has to prove I’m her biological father,” he said slowly, “we can require the same proof for Sky and Jeremy.”
The attorney nodded.
Spencer asked one more question.
“And my brother and I establish our link through Dad?”
Another nod.
Spencer sat back.
Gloria’s precaution had just become a familywide standard.
The next conversation happened at Bruce and Gloria’s house, but this time Spencer came prepared.
He put a folder on the table and spoke before Gloria could start.
“Here’s what happens if you keep challenging Gemma’s eligibility. I test with Gemma. Jeremy tests with Sky. Dad tests with both Jeremy and me. Every biological link relevant to the great grandchildren’s fund gets established the same way.”
Gloria stared at him.
“That is absurd.”
“Then withdraw the challenge.”
Monica looked at Jeremy.
“Why should Sky have to do this?”
Spencer answered.
“Why should Gemma?”
Gloria said, “Because there are circumstances.”
“Name them.”
She refused.
Spencer didn’t raise his voice.
“Then we either stop questioning my daughter or everyone follows the same biological standard.”
Bruce rubbed his forehead.
Jeremy looked irritated rather than worried.
“This is a huge waste of time.”
“I agree,” Spencer said. “Tell Mom.”
Gloria’s mouth tightened.
“I will not be bullied into ignoring a legitimate concern.”
Spencer nodded once.
“Then you’ve chosen testing.”
Gemma sat beside me, quiet, but watching everything.