Tuesday, 4:47 PM. The funeral ended two hours ago. The three Vega siblings have not been in the same room since their father remarried six years ago. Nobody cried at the ceremony. Nobody spoke to each other either. On the drive home, Rachel added Daniel and Marco back into a WhatsApp group she had deleted in 2019. She called it 'Family.'
Nhóm Chat Sau Lễ Tang
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Rachel
ok we need to talk about the will
Marco
dad just got buried Rachel
Rachel
I know that Marco. I was there.
Rachel
the solicitor called me on the way back. apparently there's something we all need to hear together. tomorrow morning, 10am.
Daniel
I can't do 10. I open the bakery at 6, I'm usually done by noon but Tuesdays are—
Rachel
Daniel. our father died.
Daniel
yeah I know Rachel. I organized the catering. remember?
Marco
the food was really good btw Dan
Daniel
thanks. dad always liked the olive bread so.
Rachel
can we focus please. 10am. Hartley & Sons on Mill Street. both of you need to be there.
Marco
fine. I'll be there
Daniel
ok. I'll sort it.
Three hours of silence followed. Daniel sent a photo at 7:52 PM — probably the only message nobody expected.
Daniel
found this when I was clearing the trays tonight
Daniel
it's his handwriting. he must have left it here last christmas when he visited. I didn't even notice it
Marco
wait is that the walnut cake recipe? the one from abuela?
Daniel
yeah. I think so.
Rachel
he made that every year for my birthday until I was about 14
Rachel
then he stopped.
Marco
why did he stop?
Rachel
I told him I was on a diet 😐
Marco
Rachel 😭
Rachel
I was 14! I didn't realise he'd take it so literally
Daniel
that's so dad though. took everything at face value. never pushed back.
Marco
yeah, like... I keep thinking about that. he never pushed back on anything, you know? and I used to think that was a bad thing, like, that he just... let things go too easily. but sitting at the funeral today I was thinking — maybe he was just trying to keep the peace. like every single time. and we kind of punished him for it, didn't we. we took it as, like, weakness or something. I dunno. maybe that's just me.
Daniel
it's not just you
Rachel
no, it's not just you
Rachel
anyway. please be on time tomorrow.
Marco
Rachel what do you think is in the will? like is it just the house or
Rachel
I genuinely don't know. the solicitor was deliberately vague. which is either good or very bad.
Daniel
what about Sandra? does she get involved?
Rachel
she wasn't invited to the solicitor's meeting so I assume not. but I honestly don't know what they agreed when they married.
Marco
she seemed genuinely upset today. at the funeral.
Daniel
yeah she did
Rachel
I'm sure she was
Marco
ok that tone is not helpful right now Rachel
Rachel
what tone? I typed two words.
Daniel
ok let's not do this tonight please
Rachel
agreed. goodnight.
Marco
night
At 11:14 PM, Rachel sent a message — then deleted it 40 seconds later. Daniel and Marco both saw it before it disappeared. It said: 'I think dad left the bakery to you, Daniel. He told me last spring. I didn't know how to say anything.'
Wednesday, 11:42 AM. The meeting lasted just over an hour. Their father had left the house equally to all three of them — but the bakery, along with a handwritten letter, went to Daniel alone. Nobody argued. Rachel paid for coffee on the way out.
Marco
so. that was a lot.
Daniel
yeah
Daniel
Rachel — the message last night. the one you deleted.
Rachel
I know you both saw it
Daniel
why didn't you tell me? last spring was months ago.
Rachel
because if I'd told you, you would have called him. and then you two would have sorted everything out. and I'd be... on the outside again.
Rachel
like always.
Marco
Rachel what are you talking about?? you were never on the outside
Rachel
you two have the bakery. you have the memories in that kitchen. I have a corporate job in a different city and I call once a month. that's not the same family you two have.
Daniel
ok hold on
Daniel
Rachel, I need you to hear this. the bakery — yeah, he left it to me. but the letter he left with it... the whole thing is about you. like, three paragraphs. he talks about how proud he was of you, how he wished he'd said it more, how he didn't know how to talk to you after mum died because you reminded him so much of her. he wrote — and I'm reading this — he wrote 'tell Rachel the walnut cake was always for her, even the years I didn't make it.' I don't... I don't know what that means exactly but I think he wanted you to know he never stopped.
Rachel
Daniel
Marco
I'm not crying you're crying
Marco
ok I'm crying
Rachel
can I come to the bakery this weekend
Daniel
I'll teach you the walnut cake
Marco
I'm coming too obviously
Daniel
obviously 🙄
Rachel
Saturday then. I'll take the train.
Daniel
bring wine
Rachel
obviously