Sunny Afternoon in the Family

William, the patriarch of a wealthy family was turning 80. It was a small gathering, family only. His wife Kay, a resolute woman in her seventies, decided that formal attire was needed to mark the occasion properly. The two sons Clark and Kevin came with their wives, all spruced up. From the young generation, Clark's daughter Cindy and her boyfriend, and Kevin's son Toyon were there. Kevin's son had an actual name but Toyon fit him better, after the native California shrub. Toyon came with no partner. He was married to his environmental cause, in case anybody asked.

They gathered in the living room, chatting over catered delicacies. It was a nice sunny afternoon. William said he was a bit tired, and that he needed to go lay down. A quick pick-me-up nap in the middle of the day was not unusual for him. After a while, when he didn't came back, Kay went to check. He was sitting in his study, and his head had fallen on the desk. He was dead.

Promptly, 911 was called. Paramedics and police arrived, in short order. They checked William out and declared that he died by strangling, likely with a rope or something similar tight around his neck. That something was not his bowtie which sat properly at its place on his neck. All the guests were asked to stay and answer questions. Confusion ensued, as everybody tried to remember what they and everybody else had been doing. 

"This is like an Agatha Christie novel." said Cindy, sounding both in awe and uncertain. She loved reading detective novels, but she didn't love that it was happening to her. One of the people in the room was the murderer, and a family member. Kay gave her a thoughtful glance, then took her family in. "I think we should open the will." she said.

The lawyer came. It was late, dark outside and they were all tired, including the lawyer who didn't think he'd be summoned on such short notice and at such an hour. The will was short. William had given half of the assets to Kay, and the rest went to Toyon's nonprofit as a donation. William wrote in his will that he wanted Toyon to do a good job and save the earth. 

"Half to Toyon?", said Clark incredulous. Everybody looked at Toyon questioningly. He was a small guy, and the attention made him look even smaller. The look of disbelief on his face indicated that he had no idea.

"This is new, when was this drawn?", asked Clark. "A week ago", answered the lawyer. "William wanted to take his time to tell you all, he knew some of you might get upset", added Kay.

"I told you he wouldn't give everything to Toyon, and some will go to your mom", said Clark's wife to him, in an attempt to pacify him.

Clark shot her a murderous look. "What do you mean, you told him?" asked Kay, curtly. The wife didn't respond, aware that the confession might have been a mistake. Everybody started talking together all at once.  Then Cindy raised her hand.

"Silence", demanded Kay. "Let's hear what Cindy has to say."

"Daddy, I think you should admit to it", she said. "What the hell?" Clark started, angrily. "You've had the tie crumpled all day, I've noticed it and been wondering about it, and now I understand why." Cindy continued undeterred.

Clark looked at her in bewilderment, then at his tie down his chest, which indeed looked crumpled. He collapsed his head in his hands. "I thought he wanted to leave everything to Toyon". His eyes met his mom's. Kay was quiet and didn't seem angry, just infinitely tired. All the energy of the day had drained out of her, and there was nothing else to say. He realized in that moment that with all the thought he had put into planning to kill his dad, he had forgotten to consider this consequence: his mom may never be able to forgive him.