Chapter 6
Claire sat down in the bridal room with the papers spread across her lap.
Her makeup artist stood frozen in the corner.
A bridesmaid cried quietly near the mirror.
Ethan stayed beside the door, waiting for Claire to decide if she wanted him near.
I stood across the room because I did not know if my daughter still wanted me close.
That was the hardest part.
Not Raymond.
Not Marlene.
The distance.
Claire lifted one paper.
“This says Raymond gave up visitation.”
“Yes,” I said.
“He told me you threatened him.”
“I never spoke to him after the court hearing unless attorneys were present.”
She looked at Marlene.
“Mom?”
Marlene’s mouth trembled.
“Your father made everything difficult.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Marlene turned away.
Claire looked back at the page.
Her voice broke.
“I waited by the window on my eighth birthday.”
I closed my eyes.
“I remember.”
“You said maybe he got stuck.”
“I didn’t know how to tell you he hadn’t called.”
She began to cry.
My instinct was to rush to her.
I stayed still.
She needed truth more than my need to comfort.
Raymond entered without knocking.
Ethan moved.
Raymond ignored him.
“Claire, listen to me. Your father is bitter. He never wanted me here because he knew you would choose blood.”
Claire looked up.
“Did you sign these transfers?”
“No.”
Daniel stepped into the room.
“The bank has video.”
Raymond froze.
I had not known that.
Daniel looked at me.
“I got confirmation twenty minutes ago.”
Marlene whispered, “Video?”
“Yes,” Daniel said. “Raymond at First Harbor Bank with Marlene. Using a power of attorney form that appears to contain Claire’s forged signature.”
Claire stood slowly.
“Mom.”
Marlene began crying.
Not sorry crying.
Caught crying.
“I did it for us.”
“For us?” Claire whispered.
“Raymond said we could all start over. Your father was going to leave me with nothing.”
I stared at the woman I had loved for twenty-eight years.
“Marlene, I offered you half of every marital asset outside the trust.”
“That workshop should be mine too.”
“My father built that workshop.”
“And I stood beside you while you played poor saint in it.”
Raymond snapped, “Enough.”
Claire looked at him then.
May you like
Really looked.
And I saw the first crack in the lie.
