Chapter 5 - THEY HAD ALREADY PACKED MY THINGS
We arrived at the house at 10:04 a.m.
I could see Brandon’s car.
Gertrude’s SUV.
Hailey’s convertible.
And a white van from the architecture firm.
I walked toward the front door with Evelyn beside me.
Before I could use my key, the door opened.
Brandon stood there.
His face changed when he saw Evelyn.
“Why is she here?”
Evelyn smiled.
“Good morning to you too.”
Brandon ignored her.
“Charlotte, we need to talk privately.”
“No.”
His jaw tightened.
“This is our marriage.”
“No.”
I stepped past him.
“This is my house.”
The living room looked different.
Boxes were stacked along the wall.
Several framed photographs had been removed.
Then I saw one labeled CHARLOTTE.
I walked toward it.
Inside were my books.
My desk items.
Photographs of my parents.
A small sculpture Skylar had made in third grade.
They had already started packing my belongings.
I turned.
“Why are my things in boxes?”
Gertrude appeared from the kitchen.
She wore a cream pantsuit and looked offended that I had asked.
“We needed space for the work crews.”
“All of my belongings?”
“You’re never home anyway.”
Skylar stepped behind me.
Gertrude looked at her.
“There you are.”
Skylar moved closer to my side.
Gertrude frowned.
“You made everyone very worried.”
Skylar did not answer.
Then Hailey came downstairs.
She was holding her phone.
“Are we seriously doing this?”
I looked at the camera.
“Are you recording me?”
“For protection.”
“Perfect.”
Evelyn smiled.
“Please keep recording.”
Hailey lowered the phone slightly.
That was when Michael Avery entered from the dining room.
Brandon turned.
“Michael, can we handle the family drama first?”
Michael’s expression was tense.
“I think the ownership issue needs to be resolved before anything else.”
Brandon looked at me.
“There is no ownership issue.”
I opened my folder.
“Then explain this.”
I placed the forged transfer document on the table.
Gertrude’s face changed.
Hailey stopped breathing.
Brandon stared at the page.
“What is that?”
His performance was impressive.
I almost believed him.
“You tell me.”
“I’ve never seen this.”
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Interesting.”
Brandon glared at her.
“Stay out of this.”
“She’s my attorney.”
That landed.
Gertrude immediately sat down.
“Attorney?”
“Yes.”
Brandon’s eyes returned to me.
“You hired a lawyer against your own husband?”
“No.”
I looked at the forged signature.
“You did that when you decided to steal from your wife.”
Hailey whispered, “Oh my God.”
Brandon turned on her.
“Shut up.”
That was all I needed to hear.
Hailey’s face drained of color.
She knew something.
I looked at her.
“What did he tell you?”
Brandon stepped forward.
“Charlotte.”
I ignored him.
“Hailey.”
Her eyes filled with panic.
“He said you agreed.”
Brandon cursed.
Gertrude stood up.
“Stop talking.”
I looked from one face to another.
For months, they had acted like a team.
May you like
Now one document had turned them into individuals.
And every one of them was suddenly afraid of being left holding the blame.
