Chapter 10 - LORRAINE’S VERSION OF FAMILY
The next person to arrive was Lorraine.
She at least called first.
“I think the two of us need to speak without the children.”
By children, she meant Claire and Ryan.
Both were in their forties.
I agreed to meet her at a coffee shop.
Lorraine arrived dressed as though we were attending a charity luncheon.
Pearls.
Cream jacket.
Perfect hair.
She ordered tea and did not touch it.
“I know Ryan made mistakes.”
“That is a generous word.”
“He was under pressure.”
“Everyone is under pressure.”
“He was trying to protect his family.”
“By using mine?”
Lorraine frowned.
“Claire is his family.”
“She is also mine.”
“That is exactly why I thought you would help.”
I stared at her.
“Help?”
“Yes.”
She leaned closer.
“You have more than enough.”
That sentence almost made me stand and leave.
Instead, I stayed.
“I worked forty-three years.”
“I know.”
“I took extra night shifts.”
“I know.”
“Thomas and I lived in the same house for thirty-one years because we preferred savings to appearances.”
“I know.”
“Then why does having enough mean your son is entitled to it?”
Lorraine looked offended.
“Nobody said entitled.”
“You told me the lake house should have gone to Claire eventually.”
“She is your daughter.”
“So is Daniel my son.”
Lorraine waved that away.
“Daniel has always been independent.”
I stared at her.
That explained more than she realized.
Claire received more demands because she was considered less independent.
Ryan received excuses because he was considered successful.
Daniel received less because he asked for less.
Families often reward the person who creates the most problems with the most resources.
Then they call the quiet child fortunate.
“Did you know about Ryan’s debts?”
Lorraine looked down.
“Yes.”
“All of them?”
“Most.”
“Did you know he wanted my house as collateral?”
She did not answer.
“Lorraine.”
“We discussed options.”
I felt my anger settle into something colder.
“You helped him.”
“I advised my son.”
“To pressure a widow into transferring her property.”
“Don’t dramatize this.”
I stared at her.
“My husband is dead.”
Her face changed.
“You know what I mean.”
“I do.”
That was the problem.
Lorraine continued.
“We believed the house would remain in the family.”
“What family?”
She frowned.
“Excuse me?”
“Mine or yours?”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
I leaned forward.
“You wanted my house transferred to Claire and Ryan.”
She said nothing.
“You wanted their debt refinanced.”
Still nothing.
“Then Ryan’s finances would stabilize.”
Lorraine’s jaw tightened.
“And your eighty thousand dollars would become safer.”
Her eyes flickered.
There it was.
“Is that what this was really about?”
“No.”
“But it helped.”
She reached for her purse.
“You are determined to see the worst in everyone.”
“No.”
I stood.
“I spent too many years refusing to.”
As I walked away, Lorraine called after me.
“You may win the house, Margaret, but you’re going to lose your daughter.”
I stopped.
Then I turned.
May you like
“If Claire only loves me while she expects my property, I already lost her.”
For the first time, Lorraine had nothing to say.
