Paula Greene agreed to speak with Nina.
She would not speak to me directly.
Nina said that was sensible.
Paula had worked for Jason for eleven months before leaving over unpaid invoices.
She had kept ordinary business records, but she was cautious about sharing confidential material without an appropriate basis.
Nina arranged a voluntary interview with counsel present.
Afterward, she called me.
“Paula remembered the Oakridge property.”
I put down my pen.
“What did she say?”
“Jason described it as an expansion. He told her an investor in the family had agreed to back the lease and possible purchase.”
“Me.”
“She says he used your first name. She didn’t know you.”
I felt sick.
“Did she sign for me?”
“No. She says she never witnessed you sign anything.”
“Did she question it?”
“She questioned several things. She resigned after a dispute over bookkeeping.”
Paula had identified a closing-service company mentioned on the documents.
Nina would request records from it.
She had also discovered that the purported property transfer had never been followed by several expected administrative changes.
Taxes continued to be mailed to a different owner.
Insurance remained in another name.
These inconsistencies did not automatically void anything.
They did offer a reason to investigate whether the supposed conveyance was ever actually completed.
“What about the lender?”
“Still reviewing.”
I listened to rain tap against my office window.
“What if Jason claims I approved it verbally?”
“Then we ask what evidence supports that claim. Your written refusal is significant, and so are your whereabouts and the signature evidence.”
After the call, I made myself attend Lily’s school performance.
The children stood on risers in paper crowns.
Grace fell asleep against Daniel’s shoulder.
Lily sang so loudly that several parents smiled.
I applauded until my palms hurt.
For an hour, I was simply her mother.
On the drive home, Daniel asked how I was doing.
“I’m afraid I’ll never be free of this.”
He kept his eyes on the road.
“Legal matters take time. That doesn’t mean they get to occupy every hour.”
“I know.”
“Would you like to go away next weekend? Just us and the girls?”
“We have the hearing preparation.”
“You have a call with Nina. We can do it from anywhere.”
I looked at the rain.
“Maybe the lake cabin.”
“Done.”
At the cabin, Lily collected smooth stones.
Grace slept with a stuffed bear wedged beneath her chin.
I cooked pancakes while Daniel made coffee.
After breakfast, I sat on the dock and watched small waves touch the posts.
My phone was inside.
For once, I did not feel compelled to check it.
When I returned, there was a message from my mother.
I found Paula’s name on an old invoice. I remember Jason being angry when she left. I think she knew something.
I replied with one sentence.
Thank you for sharing that. Please keep any documents you find.
She answered:
I wish I had listened to you years ago.
I stared at the screen.
It was a sentence I had wanted to hear at twenty-six.
Now I needed more than a sentence.
I put the phone away and returned to the dock.
Daniel handed me a blanket.
We watched the water without talking.
The case was not settled.
My mother was not forgiven.
Jason had not acknowledged anything.
But the world was larger than the problems they had placed in front of me.
Click here to continue reading: PART 10: The Letter From My Father That Reveals Why Silence Became the Family Rule
The Morning My Mother Claimed Three Bedrooms and Discovered the Family She Had Never Met
Part 9 of 16
