Chapter 15 - WHAT LORRAINE HID FROM HER HUSBANDThe mobile notary’s name was Rebecca Lane.
She answered the next morning.
Dana attended the call.
Rebecca sounded nervous when Everett introduced himself.
“I was wondering if someone would contact me.”
Everett looked at Dana.
“Why?”
“Because I was booked to notarize documents at your residence.”
“By whom?”
“Celia Holloway.”
Preston closed his eyes.
Rebecca continued.
“She told me it was a family signing.”
“Did she send documents?”
“Yes.”
“What kind?”
“A power of attorney, voting authorization, and some corporate papers.”
“Did she mention concerns about my capacity?”
Silence.
“Yes.”
Everett’s fingers tightened.
“What exactly?”
“She said you had good days and bad days.”
Lorraine flinched.
Everett noticed.
Rebecca continued.
“She said your family wanted to complete the documents during a good window.”
Dana leaned toward the phone.
“Did that concern you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because a notary must be satisfied the signer is acting willingly and appears aware of what they are signing. I told her if there was a question about capacity, I wasn’t comfortable rushing.”
“What did Celia say?” Everett asked.
Rebecca hesitated.
“She said you would be tired but cooperative after dinner.”
Everett’s blood went cold.
“Tired.”
“Yes.”
“Anything else?”
“She said you might have a drink.”
Dana’s expression hardened.
Rebecca continued.
“That made me more uncomfortable.”
“Did you go to the house?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I cancelled.”
“When?”
“That afternoon.”
“Do you still have the messages?”
“Yes.”
“Preserve them.”
“I already did.”
The call ended.
No one spoke.
Then Lorraine said:
“I knew about the notary.”
Everett turned slowly.
“What?”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I knew someone was coming.”
“How much did you know?”
“I thought it was to notarize the financial proxy.”
“You knew I hadn’t agreed.”
“Preston said you would.”
Everett stared.
“You all decided my answer before asking me.”
“I was wrong.”
“Yes.”
Lorraine began to cry.
“I was terrified for Preston.”
“And that made betraying me acceptable?”
“No.”
“Yet you did it.”
She wiped her face.
Everett looked at Preston.
“Leave us.”
Preston stood.
“Dad—”
“Now.”
He left.
Dana rose too.
“I’ll be in the study.”
The room emptied.
Lorraine sat opposite Everett.
He did not speak for almost a minute.
Finally:
“What else?”
Her face crumpled.
“Nothing.”
“That word no longer has value.”
She looked down.
“I gave Preston money.”
“I know.”
“I photographed the trust.”
“I know.”
“I spoke to Margaret.”
“I know.”
“I knew about the notary.”
“Now I know.”
He leaned forward.
“What else?”
Lorraine whispered:
“I signed a statement.”
Everett stopped breathing.
“What statement?”
“A family observation statement.”
His expression changed.
“What did it say?”
“That you had been forgetful.”
“Where is it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who has it?”
“Preston’s attorney.”
Everett stood.
Lorraine did too.
“Everett, I withdrew it.”
“When?”
“After Margaret told me this was going too far.”
“How long after?”
“Two days.”
“Did Preston know?”
“Yes.”
“Did Celia?”
“I don’t know.”
Everett stared.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was ashamed.”
“That does not protect me.”
“I know.”
“No. You know now.”
She cried harder.
Everett wanted to comfort her.
Forty-seven years of habit pulled him toward her.
He stayed still.
“You signed a paper saying I was declining.”
“I thought you were.”
“Based on what?”
“You were tired. Forgetful. Sometimes you seemed disconnected.”
Everett’s voice dropped.
“I may have been drugged.”
Lorraine covered her mouth.
The horror on her face was genuine.
That almost made it worse.
Because if someone had manipulated Everett’s state, they had manipulated Lorraine too.
Her observations.
Her fear.
Her signature.
All of it.
Lorraine sank into a chair.
“Oh my God.”
Everett looked away.
She whispered:
“What if they made me believe it?”
He said nothing.
“What if Celia was doing things?”
“Keys in the refrigerator.”
Lorraine began shaking.
“She was there.”
“I know.”
“The morning you asked me the same question twice, she made your coffee.”
Everett turned.
“What?”
Lorraine stared.
“She stayed overnight. You were tired. Celia brought you coffee.”
His pulse jumped.
“Did you see her make it?”
“No.”
“Did I take pills that morning?”
“I don’t remember.”
Everett closed his eyes.
Lorraine suddenly stood.
“There’s something else.”
She rushed to the small writing desk and opened a drawer.
From inside she pulled an old phone.
“My previous phone. I kept it because some pictures didn’t transfer.”
She turned it on.
After several minutes, she found a message thread.
Celia.
Two months earlier.
Don’t worry. By tonight Everett will be out of the way and Preston can finally start fixing things.
Lorraine stared at the screen.
“I thought she meant out of the meeting.”
Everett read it.
Then read it again.
“Send this to Dana.”
Lorraine’s hand shook.
“I’m so sorry.”
Everett looked at her.
“I know.”
She stared hopefully.
He added:
“But sorry is not the same as repaired.”
Her face fell.
He hated himself for saying it.
But he needed truth more than comfort.
May you like
The Holloway family had spent too long confusing love with permission.
That was how they had gotten here.
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