They Called Her Crazy Until the Coffin Moved

CHAPTER 2 - The Tea Before Dinner

Evelyn survived the journey to the hospital.

Doctors warmed her body, supported her breathing and discovered a powerful sedative in her bloodstream. The drug could slow the heart until a pulse became extremely difficult to detect.

It had never been prescribed to her.

Richard sat beside his mother's bed, struggling to understand how a respected physician could have declared her dead.

Vanessa remained in the waiting room, telling relatives that Lily's violent behavior had traumatized the entire family.

Lily refused to leave Evelyn.

Hours later, her grandmother finally spoke.

"The tea."

Two nights before the funeral, Evelyn had asked Vanessa to meet her in the study.

Evelyn had discovered money missing from Lily's education trust. She also found documents authorizing the sale of Rosewood House, the family home she intended to leave to her granddaughter.

The signatures appeared to be Evelyn's.

They were not.

Vanessa arrived carrying a tray of tea.

Evelyn confronted her.

Vanessa did not deny taking the money. She claimed Richard had neglected his financial responsibilities and she deserved compensation for holding the family together.

Evelyn warned that she would tell Richard that evening.

After drinking the tea, she became dizzy.

Dr. Harris arrived before Richard returned home. He announced that Evelyn had suffered a catastrophic heart event.

Vanessa insisted on a closed coffin and immediate funeral.

"Why didn't you call me?" Richard asked.

"I tried. She took my phone."

Richard looked toward the waiting room.

For years, Vanessa had described Evelyn as controlling and Lily as rebellious. Richard had avoided their conflicts because he wanted peace after his first marriage ended.

His silence had given Vanessa control.

Lily removed a folded note from her pocket.

Evelyn had slipped it beneath her bedroom door on the afternoon she collapsed.

Lily, if anything happens before dinner, look inside the blue sewing box.

Richard recognized the box. It had belonged to his late grandmother.

They returned to Evelyn's home with a police escort.

Inside the box were trust statements, forged property documents and a copy of Vanessa's transfer request.

But beneath them was something more personal.

It was an application to place Lily in a residential behavioral school across the country.

Richard stared at his own signature.

He had never signed it.

Vanessa had planned to remove both the grandmother and the granddaughter from his life.