Chapter 4: What Lucas Heard
Jessica ran toward the stairs.
“Give me that laptop.”
Lucas hugged it against his chest.
“No.”
“Lucas, I am your mother.”
“And she’s my grandmother.”
Colin moved between them.
“Bring it down, son.”
Jessica grabbed his sleeve.
“That computer contains confidential work files.”
“Then why was it in Lucas’s room?” Richard asked.
“I was working there while planning the renovation.”
Lucas descended slowly.
His eyes met mine, then dropped.
“I didn’t ask for Grandma’s room,” he said.
Jessica’s jaw tightened.
“This is not the time.”
“You told them I did.”
“I said you needed privacy.”
“You said Grandma was making the house crowded.”
My knees weakened.
Richard drew out a chair, but Lucas reached me first.
“I’m sorry, Grandma,” he whispered.
“I heard them talking, and I didn’t tell you.”
My hand shook against his cheek.
“You didn’t do this.”
Jessica held out her hand.
“Laptop.
Now.”
Lucas stepped behind me.
“You said if Grandma went to Oakridge, Dad could sell her old things before she noticed.”
Colin turned toward his wife.
“You said what?”
“She misunderstood.”
“He is twelve,” I said.
“And he understood every word.”
Richard accepted the laptop from Lucas without opening any files.
“We’ll give this to a forensic specialist.”
Jessica lunged for it, but Colin caught her wrist.
“Stop.”
“Let go of me.”
“Tell me why Mom’s name is on your computer.”
“You want an explanation?” Jessica snapped.
“Your contracting business has been losing money for a year.
The mortgage is late.
Your mother lived here without paying rent, and someone had to protect this family.”
Colin released her as if her skin had burned him.
“You told me the firm bonus covered the mortgage.”
“I was trying to keep us afloat.”
“With my mother’s identity?”
“I was going to repay it.”
I picked up the forged application.
“When?”
Jessica’s gaze moved to the envelope in my hand.
“Now you can.”
The room went still.
“You want me to repay money you tried to borrow in my name?” I asked.
“I want you to help your son.”
“You didn’t ask me to help him.
You tried to make me responsible without my knowledge.”
Colin pressed both hands against the table.
“Did you forge her signature?”
Jessica looked at him.
“Everything I did was for our children.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“It is the only answer you need.”
Richard carried the laptop to the front door.
“Margaret, we should leave.”
Colin followed me onto the porch.
“Mom, please.
Don’t go until we’ve talked.”
“We had ten months to talk.”
“I didn’t know about the application.”
“But you knew about Oakridge.”
His face folded.
“I thought it would be easier.”
“For whom?”
He looked through the doorway at Jessica.
I touched his sleeve.
“Say it out loud, Colin.”
“For me,” he whispered.
“It would have been easier for me.”
The words struck harder because he finally told the truth.
My fingers slipped from his arm.
“I taught you to protect people who trusted you.”
“I know.”
“No.
You remember.
Knowing requires action.”
Lucas ran outside and wrapped both arms around my waist.
“Please don’t stop being my grandma.”
My composure broke against his hair.
I covered my mouth, but the sob escaped.
“You could never lose me,” I said.
“Even if Mom says I can’t visit?”
Jessica stood in the doorway.
“Lucas, get inside.”
He held me tighter.
Richard opened the car door.
“Margaret’s address will remain private until we understand the extent of this.”
Jessica’s expression changed.
“You think a new house will protect her?” she said.
“I already filed the petition.”
Richard stopped.
“What petition?”
May you like
Jessica smiled without warmth.
“By this afternoon, Margaret won’t legally control a single dollar.”
