I simply held it.
A few minutes later, the courtroom doors opened.
My parents returned.
My mother looked at me as she passed.
For an instant, I thought she might stop.
She didn’t.
Dad walked straight to his seat.
Whitman followed, carrying the same polished briefcase he’d brought that morning.
It no longer seemed quite so impressive.
When Judge Morrison returned, everyone stood.
Then we sat.
He reviewed the disputed issues in a measured voice.
He explained that the court’s responsibility was not to determine which family member deserved the estate based on personal preference.
It was to determine whether the challenged will was legally valid.
He addressed the allegations about Nana’s mental capacity.
He discussed the contemporaneous medical evidence and Mr. Bennett’s testimony.
He addressed the claim of undue influence.
He noted that family tension and an unequal distribution could justify examining the circumstances, but
