Chapter 9: The Day Gloria Was Charged
Marcus heard about it from Diane Okafor on a Tuesday morning, six weeks after the wedding.
He was in his car outside the office when the call came through.
"Gloria was charged this morning," Diane said.
"Three counts of fraud by false representation, two counts of conspiracy, and one count of elder financial @buse relating to the Edinburgh case.
Stuart Callan was charged alongside her — similar charges, plus obstruction from the Manchester matter."
Marcus sat with that for a moment.
"And Vanessa?" he asked.
"Cautioned, not charged.
Her cooperation was extensive, and the records she provided were the foundation of the Edinburgh element." Diane paused.
"She'll likely be required to provide testimony if this goes to trial."
"It will go to trial?"
"Almost certainly.
Both Gloria and Callan have entered not guilty pleas through their solicitors." Diane's voice was steady.
"That's normal.
It doesn't change what you have."
Marcus thanked her.
He sat in the car for another minute before going inside.
He called Dorothy on his lunch break.
"It's done," he said.
"She's been charged."
Dorothy was quiet on the other end of the line.
He heard her set something down — a cup, maybe.
"How do you feel?" she asked.
"I don't know yet," Marcus said honestly.
"You?"
"Tired," she said.
"And grateful.
And angry, still, if I'm honest.
I might be angry for a little while yet."
"That's allowed," Marcus said.
"Yes," she said.
"I think it is."
That evening, Marcus drove to his mother's house for dinner.
It was something they had always done on Tuesdays — even during the months when Vanessa had been a regular presence at the table, they had kept the Tuesday evening.
Dorothy cooked lamb and roasted potatoes.
Marcus brought bread from the bakery near his office.
They ate at the kitchen table with the window slightly open, the evening air carrying the smell of the lavender from the front garden.
At some point, Marcus realized he had not thought about Vanessa once in the past four hours.
Dorothy noticed him notice it.
"Better?" she said.
"Getting there," he said.
She reached across and refilled his glass.
"You know what I keep thinking about?" she said.
"That flower girl at the wedding.
The little one who started crying."
Marcus smiled despite himself.
"She was very upset."
"She understood something was wrong," Dorothy said.
"Children always do." She picked up her fork.
"I hope she grew up knowing she was right."
They finished dinner.
Marcus washed up.
Dorothy dried.
When he left, he hugged her at the door the way he had when he was young — properly, both arms, long enough to mean it.
"Same time next Tuesday?" he said.
"Same time," she said.
"And Marcus." She held his face in both her hands for a moment the way she used to when he was small.
"Your father would have been so proud of you."
May you like
He drove home in the dark and didn't turn the radio on.
He didn't need it.
