Chapter 9 - THE FAMILY MEETING
Sunday afternoon, Lorraine invited Andrew’s sister, uncle, two cousins, and a church friend into my living room without asking me.
When I came downstairs, seven people were seated as though I were about to face a jury.
Andrew stood near the fireplace.
Lorraine occupied my favorite chair.
“This needs to stop,” she announced.
I almost admired the confidence.
Andrew’s sister, Melissa, looked uncomfortable.
“Claire, Mom says you’re throwing everyone out because Andrew made a mistake.”
“A mistake?”
Andrew spoke quickly.
“Can we not humiliate each other?”
That sentence nearly made me smile.
The man who had brought another woman into my family cottage was suddenly concerned with dignity.
Lorraine pointed toward me.
“She is using money to punish him.”
I walked to the dining table.
I placed the photographs down.
One by one.
Nobody spoke.
Melissa picked up the picture of Andrew kissing Brooke.
“Oh, God.”
Lorraine’s church friend looked at the floor.
Andrew’s uncle stared directly at him.
“How long?”
Andrew said nothing.
“Eleven months,” I answered.
Lorraine stood.
“That does not give her the right to steal his home.”
I placed the deed beside the photographs.
Then the inheritance statement.
Then Andrew’s signed acknowledgment.
“This home was purchased primarily with money I inherited from my grandmother.”
Andrew interrupted.
“I paid bills.”
“Yes.”
I looked at him.
“And a court can consider whatever it is legally required to consider.”
Then I pointed toward the deed.
“But what your mother has been telling everyone is false.”
Melissa read it.
“Claire is the owner?”
Lorraine snapped.
“Technically.”
That word changed the room.
I continued.
“Andrew also attempted a $275,000 cash-out refinance using an electronic signature I did not authorize.”
Melissa looked at her brother.
“Tell me that isn’t true.”
Andrew’s face went still.
Lorraine shouted.
“He was trying to protect the family.”
“By buying a house with Brooke?”
I placed the property listing screenshot down.
Andrew’s uncle stood.
“I’m leaving.”
Lorraine blocked him.
“You are taking her side?”
“I’m taking the side without forged paperwork.”
One by one, people left.
Melissa remained.
Before leaving, she stopped beside me.
“I’m sorry.”
Andrew stared at her.
“For what?”
Melissa looked at her brother.
“For believing you.”
Then she walked out.
Andrew turned to me after the door closed.
“You wanted to destroy my relationship with my family.”
I shook my head.
“You did that.”
His phone buzzed.
He looked down.
His face changed.
“What?” I asked.
He shoved the phone into his pocket.
But I had already seen the sender.
GREGORY SLOAN.
May you like
And the first words of the message were visible.
We have a serious problem.
