Mr. Sullivan explained that Grandma had secretly been diagnosed with heart failure. The previous spring, she sold four hundred acres of ranch land Grandpa Frank had left her and deposited eight million dollars into one account. Then she wrote seven checks, each for the entire balance. The first person to present an intact check would receive everything. After that, the account would close and every remaining check would become worthless.

Her letter explained why. Six relatives had laughed when she handed them the strange checks, dismissing her generosity as impossible. Some tore theirs or treated the gesture like a joke. I was the only person who had simply looked at her and listened. Grandma wrote that the money had never truly been the test. She wanted to know whether anyone still trusted her words enough to hear what she was trying to say. Crying, I drove straight to her cabin, where relatives were already gathering. Dad was desperately taping his torn check together when Grandma’s attorney stepped onto the porch carrying her will. Click continue reading below