Chapter 14 - PRESTON FINALLY CONFESSESPreston’s confession began at 2:13 in the morning.
Everett knew the time because he looked at the clock when his son knocked on the bedroom door.
Lorraine stirred beside him.
Everett got up, took his cane, and went downstairs.
Preston sat alone in the living room.
Onyx was covered for the night.
The cake had long been removed.
The flowers had begun to wilt.
The remains of the birthday celebration made the room look like the aftermath of a funeral.
Preston did not look up.
“I lied about how bad Blue Heron was.”
Everett sat.
“How bad?”
“I personally guaranteed two loans.”
Everett’s jaw tightened.
“How much?”
“Just under three million.”
Silence.
Preston finally looked at him.
“I thought the hotel would refinance.”
“When?”
“Six months ago.”
“And when it didn’t?”
“I kept feeding it.”
“Company money.”
“Yes.”
Everett’s fingers tightened around his cane.
“Why?”
“Because if I let it fail, I lose everything.”
“Your house?”
“Yes.”
“Investments?”
“Yes.”
“Marriage?”
Preston laughed bitterly.
“Apparently I already lost that.”
Everett did not react.
Preston continued.
“Julian said if Holloway backed the restructure, Blue Heron could survive.”
“And I would never agree.”
“No.”
“So you planned to take authority.”
“Yes.”
The word hung there.
No excuses.
No softening.
Everett stared at his son.
“Say it clearly.”
Preston swallowed.
“I planned to get you to sign temporary authority so I could use Holloway’s credit to save my project.”
“And if I refused?”
“I would argue you were acting irrationally.”
Everett closed his eyes.
“Say the rest.”
Preston’s voice broke.
“I gave the attorney examples of you forgetting things.”
“Some real?”
“Yes.”
“Some exaggerated?”
“Yes.”
“Some possibly staged?”
Preston looked up.
“I didn’t stage anything.”
“Did Celia?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did she ever suggest it?”
Preston hesitated.
Everett waited.
“She joked once that if we left your keys somewhere ridiculous, you’d blame yourself.”
Everett felt cold.
“You thought that was funny?”
“I didn’t think she meant it.”
“She put my keys in the refrigerator.”
Preston’s face went white.
“You know that?”
“Lorraine found them.”
Preston covered his mouth.
Everett leaned back.
“Continue.”
Preston stared at the floor.
“I asked Mom to document things.”
“She did.”
“A few.”
“You asked Margaret Sloan how quickly you could act.”
“Yes.”
“You asked what would happen if I signed and later challenged the documents.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Julian warned me you might sue.”
Everett laughed without humor.
“You were planning my lawsuit before I knew I had a reason to bring one.”
Preston’s eyes filled.
“I was desperate.”
Everett’s voice sharpened.
“Desperation is not a moral exemption.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes!”
The shout woke Onyx.
The covered cage rustled.
Preston lowered his voice.
“I know.”
Everett studied him.
“Did you hear anyone say, ‘We have to get rid of old Everett today’?”
“No.”
“Did you say it?”
“No.”
“Did Julian?”
“Not to me.”
“Did Celia?”
Preston stared.
“I don’t know.”
Everett believed that too.
Preston leaned forward.
“There’s something else.”
Everett waited.
“The notary.”
“What notary?”
Preston’s face crumpled.
“Celia hired a mobile notary for your birthday.”
Everett went still.
“For what?”
“The signatures.”
“Without telling me?”
“I knew someone was coming.”
“When?”
“After dinner.”
“Why didn’t the notary arrive?”
“I don’t know.”
“Name.”
Preston gave it.
Everett memorized it.
“Did the notary know I had not seen the documents?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did she know you were telling people I was losing capacity?”
Preston whispered, “I don’t know.”
Everett stood.
Preston looked up.
“Are you going to call her now?”
“Yes.”
“It’s two-thirty.”
“I don’t care.”
“Dad.”
Everett paused.
Preston’s voice broke.
“I am sorry.”
Everett looked at his son.
For a long moment, neither moved.
Then Everett said:
“I believe you.”
Hope flashed in Preston’s face.
Everett continued.
“That you are sorry.”
The hope faded.
“It does not mean I trust you.”
Preston nodded slowly.
“I know.”
Everett turned away.
Behind him, Onyx moved beneath the cover.
Then, in Celia’s voice, clear enough to stop both men:
“He still trusts you.”
Preston stared at the covered cage.
Everett looked back.
May you like
The bird repeated:
“Use it.”
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