Chapter 12 - Callum’s Statement
Callum’s formal statement lasted nearly four hours.
I did not sit beside him.
That was important.
He went with Samuel.
He came home looking ten years older.
“What happened?”
“I told them everything.”
“What does everything mean?”
“The delivery truck.”
“The renewals.”
“The cabin refinance.”
“Adding Deline to Renley’s account.”
“Requesting the trust language.”
He swallowed.
“And Hartford.”
I stared at him.
“Why Hartford?”
“Because Deline used it in emails.”
“What emails?”
He handed me printed pages.
Samuel had obtained them from Callum’s old account.
Deline’s messages stretched back years.
DON’T FORGET WHO KEPT YOU OUT OF JAIL.
YOU OWE THIS FAMILY.
MOM DOESN’T NEED TO KNOW YOU’RE HESITATING.
JUST HANDLE YOUR WIFE.
SHE DOESN’T NEED EVERY DETAIL.
The last sentence made my skin crawl.
I read it twice.
“How many times did she tell you to hide things from me?”
“More than I remembered.”
“And how many times did you?”
Callum looked directly at me.
“Enough that you may never trust me again.”
It was the first answer that did not defend him.
I put the papers down.
“What happens now?”
“The credit union may remove you as guarantor if they determine the expansions exceeded your informed consent.”
“May?”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
“I could remain liable.”
I studied him.
“Are you prepared for that?”
“No.”
He gave a sad smile.
“But I’m prepared to stop making you liable for me.”
The next day, Cedar Hollow sent its preliminary determination.
My guarantee would be frozen pending final review.
No new advances.
No increase in liability.
No enforcement against our jointly owned residence without additional legal review.
It was not freedom yet.
But it was a door opening.
Deline called Callum repeatedly.
He ignored her.
Then Peter arrived at our house.
He looked exhausted.
“I know where they are.”
Callum stood.
“Where?”
“Manchester.”
Deline and Poppy were staying at a small inn.
Peter had traced a charge on their joint card.
“Are you going?”
“Yes.”
I looked at him.
“Do you want Callum with you?”
Peter shook his head.
“No.”
Then he looked at me.
“I want you.”
I was surprised.
“Why?”
“Because Deline won’t hit me.”
The room went still.
Peter swallowed.
“But she might use Poppy.”
My chest tightened.
He continued.
“She keeps telling Poppy that everyone is abandoning them because Renley complained.”
I closed my eyes.
There it was.
The poison moving to another child.
“I’ll go.”
Callum stood.
“I’m coming.”
Peter shook his head.
“She’ll focus on you.”
“Good.”
“No.”
I spoke before Peter could.
“This is about Poppy.”
Callum looked at me.
“You stay here with Renley.”
For a moment, his old instinct appeared.
He wanted to argue because being excluded frightened him.
Then he nodded.
“Okay.”
That single word told me more about his progress than any apology.
Peter and I drove south through falling snow.
When we reached the inn, Poppy was sitting by the lobby fireplace with a coloring book.
She saw us.
Her face lit up.
Then she looked over her shoulder.
Deline was standing at the top of the stairs.
Her expression was calm.
Too calm.
“Come to negotiate?”
“No,” I said.
“I came because Poppy deserves adults who do not make her carry their war.”
Deline slowly descended the stairs.
May you like
Then Poppy looked at me and asked the question Deline had clearly taught her.
“Is Renley the reason Mommy might lose everything?”
