Chapter 6: A Son Forced to Choose
Helen spread the documents across a small table in the venue office.
“The deed has not completed registration,” she said.
“I can file an emergency challenge before the county closes.”
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
“You cannot challenge a lawful transfer.”
“Then tell us where it was signed,” Helen replied.
“At Margaret’s house.”
Margaret planted her cane beside the table.
“You were not in my house yesterday.”
Daniel entered behind Vanessa and shut the door.
“The notary came to our apartment,” he said.
Helen looked up.
“Was Margaret there?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Vanessa brought the signed page.”
“A page she claims your mother signed without a witness?”
“I recognized Mom’s signature.”
Margaret took the document and stared at the looping letters.
“That is not my signature.”
Vanessa laughed.
“Your memory changes whenever it benefits Thomas.”
Margaret’s hand began to shake.
Daniel pointed at the medical letter.
“Dr.
Pike says confusion is common at your age.”
“My age?” Margaret’s voice cracked.
“You forgot my birthday last year, Daniel.
Did I ask a court to take away your life?”
“Mom, this isn’t personal.”
“You called me incompetent in writing.
What could be more personal?”
Daniel struck the table with his palm.
“Because I was tired of begging!”
The room went still.
I moved closer.
“Begging for what?”
“For you to see me as an adult,” he said.
“Every loan came with advice.
Every gift came with a question.”
“We asked why you needed money every three months.”
“You had plenty.”
“That did not make it yours.”
Vanessa touched Daniel’s shoulder.
“Don’t let him shame you.”
He pulled away from her.
“Did you forge the deed?”
“I saved our future.”
“That is not an answer.”
“It is the only answer that matters.”
Margaret sank into a chair.
Tears rolled silently over the mud dried on her cheek.
Daniel looked at her and whispered, “Mom?”
She removed the pearl bracelet and set it on the table.
“I kept telling Thomas you were still the kind boy who carried injured birds into our kitchen,” she said.
“Today you watched your wife put me in the mud, and you laughed.”
“I was nervous.”
“No.
You wanted her approval more than you wanted my dignity.”
Daniel reached toward her.
“Don’t,” she said.
His hand stopped in midair.
A man’s voice sounded from the hall.
“Mrs.
Hale?”
An older woman entered with a leather notary case.
Helen rose immediately.
“This is Patricia Wells,” she said.
“Her seal appears on the deed.”
Patricia placed her identification on the table.
“That is my seal number, but I did not notarize this document.”
Vanessa moved toward the exit.
Evelyn blocked the door.
“Stay,” she said.
“For once, stay and answer.”
Patricia opened her case.
“My seal disappeared from my office last Monday.
Vanessa visited that afternoon to discuss a property closing.”
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
“She is lying to protect your parents.”
Patricia produced a printed photograph.
“My building camera recorded you leaving with my document pouch.”
Daniel stared at the image.
Vanessa seized the deed and tore it down the middle.
Helen calmly gathered both pieces.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Now everyone here has watched you attempt to destroy evidence.”
Vanessa’s face hardened.
“If I go down, Daniel goes with me.”
She pulled out her phone and opened a chain of messages.
May you like
“He knew about the transfer,” she said.
“And I can prove he helped plan every part of it.”
