Chapter 6: The Order Against a Son
Two county deputies arrived before the turkey was cold.
One read the temporary order while the other waited beside the door.
“You must leave the property until tomorrow’s hearing, Mr.
Dalton.”
Dad stood between us.
“My son stays.”
The deputy lowered the paper.
“Mr.
Dalton, the order says Rick may be influencing your financial decisions.”
“He brought me dinner.”
Karen folded her arms.
“That is not all he wants.”
I turned on her.
“Say it clearly.”
“You expect to inherit this property.”
“I expected Dad to own it while he is alive.”
“You have been discussing his will for years.”
“That’s a lie.”
Evan opened his folder.
“Karen provided messages that appear to be from you.”
He handed me printed screenshots.
The messages showed my name above demands that Dad transfer the workshop to me.
“I never sent these.”
Karen looked at the deputies.
“He deletes things when he is angry.”
Malcolm took one sheet and studied it.
“There are no dates.”
“They were cropped for privacy,” Karen said.
“Privacy from whom?”
Evan’s jaw tightened.
“Karen, you told me these were complete records.”
“They are complete enough.”
“No,” I said.
“They are complete enough to fool him.”
Karen stepped closer and lowered her voice.
“Let the sale happen, Rick.
The debts disappear, your father keeps three hundred thousand, and we go home together.”
“You are offering me part of what you took.”
“I am offering to save our marriage.”
“Our marriage was not inside that envelope.”
Her face hardened.
“Then I will tell the court about every time Jack forgot something.
I will ask for permanent guardianship, and you will spend months proving he can tie his own shoes.”
Dad gripped my sleeve.
“Don’t fight her for me.”
I turned toward him.
“Why would you say that?”
“Because she’ll tear your life apart.”
Karen’s expression softened for one second.
“Listen to him, Rick.”
I faced her again.
“No.
You trained him to be afraid of what you might do next.”
Evan stared at his sister.
“Did you tell Jack that Rick approved the sale?”
“He was confused.”
“That was not my question.”
Karen grabbed the practice signatures from the table.
Nora blocked the doorway.
“Move,” Karen said.
“No.”
Karen tore the first sheet down the middle.
Malcolm lifted his phone.
“I photographed every page.”
She ripped the rest anyway and dropped the pieces into the sink.
Elaine turned off the faucet before Karen could reach it.
“You don’t get to wash this away,” Elaine said.
Evan opened the digital file on his tablet.
His fingers stopped over the screen.
“What is it?” I asked.
“The sworn statement Karen sent me was created on her office computer.”
Karen reached for the tablet.
“Attorney-client privilege.”
“You used my name to file evidence I did not verify.”
“You are my brother.”
“I am also an officer of the court.”
One deputy stepped forward.
“Everyone needs to calm down.”
Evan scrolled through the document history.
“This medical letter says Dr.
Samuel Greer diagnosed Jack with advanced impairment.”
Dad shook his head.
“My doctor is Anita Patel.”
Evan looked at Karen.
“Who is Samuel Greer?”
“He reviewed the records.”
“There are no records attached.”
The deputy touched my elbow.
“Mr.
Dalton, I still have to enforce the order.”
Dad held my coat as I put it on.
“Rick, don’t leave me with her.”
Elaine moved beside him.
“He won’t be alone.
Malcolm and I are staying.”
Karen stepped toward her mother.
“You cannot do that.”
“Watch me.”
I hugged Dad at the doorway.
His shoulders shook against mine.
“I’ll be in court tomorrow.”
“What if they believe her?”
“Then we make them hear you.”
The deputy guided me onto the porch.
Karen followed and closed the door behind us.
“You could have come home,” she whispered.
“I don’t know where home is anymore.”
She glanced through the window at Dad.
May you like
“By Monday, that property will belong to someone else.”
Then she shut the door between us.
