Chapter 6 - WHAT WREN SAW IN GRANDMA’S ROOMA week later, Wren remembered another detail.
Not because Mallory interrogated.
Because she was drawing.
The picture showed Bernice’s guest room.
A desk.
A man.
Three squares.
“What are those?”
Mallory asked casually.
“Stamps.”
“What stamps?”
Wren shrugged.
“The man had them.”
Mallory stopped herself from pursuing.
“Would you like tell Dr. Leah next time?”
Wren nodded.
In session, Leah allowed free recall.
Wren described Gordon carrying a case with notary-style? But Gordon is not notary perhaps he had document stamps? Could be company seals. We should keep realistic: he had a small portable scanner and seal embosser? Better avoid confusion.
Wren said:
“He had a thing that made paper flat.”
Maybe stapler.
No legal significance.
More important:
Bernice asked:
“Does Mallory have to understand every page?”
Gordon replied:
“She has to know she is transferring title.”
Bernice:
“She’ll never agree if you call it that.”
Gordon:
“Then there is no deal.”
This strongly exonerated Gordon from secret fraud.
He may have been unethical? Not necessarily. He was consultant hired believing family planning. When he saw coercion, resisted.
Why not contact Mallory earlier?
He told investigators:
“I thought Bernice was exaggerating resistance.”
“I expected to explain directly at party.”
“I should have verified earlier.”
He accepted.
No charges against him.
He provided documents.
Bernice’s plan depended on family pressure, not forged notary.
So why practice signatures?
That remained.
Perhaps Bernice intended alternate route if Mallory refused.
Or used it to fill preliminary forms? Still not legitimate.
Naomi uncovered an online deed template downloaded from Bernice’s laptop after consent? How? Evidence not accessible unless police. Since no crime yet maybe civil discovery. Could later.
For now, Bernice’s counsel voluntarily produced metadata after demand? Not required. Could be later when litigation.
Mallory filed civil petition seeking declaratory/injunctive relief? Since no deed recorded, perhaps no need. She could send cease-and-desist and secure title. More realistic: She did not sue yet. She reported identity theft/attempted forgery concerns after signature evidence, police took informational report. No completed offense proven yet.
Then financial motive emerges.
Before that, Wren recounts emotional coercion.
Bernice:
“If Mommy sells house someday, where will you live?”
Wren:
“With Mom.”
Bernice:
“What if new husband doesn’t want you?”
Horrible.
Wren:
“Mom doesn’t have husband.”
Bernice:
“Someday.”
She planted abandonment fear.
Mallory’s anger nearly overwhelmed.
But she listened.
Bernice told Wren “Barrett house belongs to Barrett children.”
Wren asked:
“Mom Barrett too.”
Bernice:
“By marriage.”
There.
Wren noticed.
Children hear hierarchy.
Mallory later called Bernice, against Naomi advice? Only about child emotional statements. Could use mediated communication.
“I need you confirm one thing.”
“Did you tell Wren a future husband might not want her?”
Bernice silent.
“Did you?”
“I was explaining why children need protected inheritance.”
“You told eleven-year-old her mother may remarry someone who rejects her.”
“I said hypothetically.”
“Never again.”
“You’re keeping me from them.”
“Yes, currently.”
“This is why.”
Bernice cried.
“I miss Caleb.”
Mallory almost screamed.
Instead:
“So do I.”
“Stop using him as key that unlocks whatever you want.”
Bernice went silent.
Then whispered:
“I don’t know who I am if I stop protecting what he left.”
Mallory heard genuine grief.
For moment.
She softened but did not bend.
“Then get help.”
“Do not make Wren carry that.”
Bernice hung up crying.
Mallory sat.
Compassion and boundary coexist.
Leah told:
“You can understand Bernice without restoring access.”
Good.
Wren’s observations added:
Bernice’s plan was ideological before financial.
Blood.
Caleb.
Fear of remarriage.
Control.
The debt twist still ahead.
Mallory wanted simple villain.
Instead she had grieving grandmother doing increasingly harmful things.
May you like
More realistic.
More dangerous because Bernice believed righteous.
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