Chương 4
Eight months earlier, Eleanor had still been living in the assisted-living apartment she hated, complaining about the coffee and accusing the staff of watering the orange juice.
Emily had visited most Tuesdays after work.
Not every Tuesday.
Sometimes she had lied and said she was too busy when the real reason was that she could not tolerate another hour of her grandmother criticizing her haircut and asking why she dated men who wore narrow pants.
Eight months ago, Eleanor had asked Emily whether Richard still shouted when he felt cornered.
Emily had said, “Less than he used to.”
Her grandmother had replied, “That wasn’t the question.”
Emily had not thought much about it.
Now she did.
Richard dragged out a chair and sat.
The anger had gone out of his posture.
“What did I do?”
Mr. Keller did not answer.
Richard looked at Emily.
“What did I do to her?”
Emily rubbed her thumb over a scratch in the table.
“I don’t know.”
“That’s not true.”
“I didn’t know about the house.”
“You talked to her every week.”
“Not about her estate.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
Emily looked at him.
A few minutes earlier, the accusation might have broken her.
Now she simply felt disappointed by its predictability.
“No,” she said. “I don’t expect you to believe much of anything tonight.”
Diane closed her eyes.
Richard leaned back.
“Fine.”
Mr. Keller took another page from the folder.
“There is a letter from Eleanor addressed to Emily. That is private unless Emily chooses otherwise.”
Richard nodded toward the envelope.
“Read it.”
Mr. Keller looked at Emily.
She almost said yes.
She had spent most of her life giving Richard information because withholding it created more trouble than surrendering it.
Where are you?
Who are you with?
How much did that cost?
Why didn’t you call?
What did your grandmother say?
Why did she say that?
Secrets in the Carter family were treated as hostile acts unless Richard was the one keeping them.
Emily put her hand over the envelope.
“No.”
Richard stared at her.
“No?”
“It’s addressed to me.”
“I heard that.”
“Then you heard my answer.”
His jaw tightened.
For an instant she expected the old explosion.
It did not come.
He looked exhausted instead.
That was harder.
Sarah sat on the far end of the table.
“Can we talk about the fact that Noah recorded me without permission?”
Noah stared at her.
“You asked me to record party footage.”
“Not that.”
“You walked into the frame.”
“I didn’t know the phone was there.”
“That’s generally how accidental recordings work.”
Sarah pushed back her chair.
“So everybody’s just going to act like this is normal?”
Emily looked at her.
“You put jewelry in my bag and told the room I stole it.”
“I did not tell the room you stole it.”
“You started crying and said the bracelet had disappeared.”
“Because it had.”
“From your wrist into your pocket.”
Sarah’s face tightened.
“I never said you took it.”
Linda made a disbelieving sound.
“Sarah.”
“What?”
“You told me to check Emily’s bag.”
“I asked you to look.”
“You said, ‘Check Emily’s bag.’”
“Because I thought maybe—”
“You put it there!”
“Can everyone stop yelling?”
The words came from Diane.
She was not yelling herself.
That was why everybody heard her.
She stood beside the table with one hand braced on the chair in front of her.
Her eyes were wet, but she looked more angry than sad.
“Sarah,” she said. “Why?”
Sarah’s expression flickered.
“I told you. There’s an explanation.”
“Then explain.”
“I don’t want to do this in front of everyone.”
Linda laughed.
“There is no everyone. Everyone left.”
Sarah glared at her.
“I don’t want to do this in front of Noah.”
Noah immediately stood.
“Fine.”
Emily looked up.
“You don’t have to go.”
“I think I do.”
He picked up his keys from the counter, then stopped beside Emily.
“I’m sending you the original file.”
Sarah’s chair scraped backward.
“No.”
Noah ignored her.
“Not a screen recording. The original.”
“Noah.”
He looked at Sarah.
“I’m not deleting it.”
“You have no right to keep a video of me.”
“You used me to make a birthday montage and accidentally got caught framing your sister.”
“I did not frame her.”
“What word would you prefer?”
Sarah’s eyes filled.
Noah’s expression softened for half a second.
Then it hardened again.
That hurt her more.
Emily could see it.
Whatever Sarah had expected from Noah that night, this was not it.
He sent the file.
Emily’s phone vibrated.
Noah looked at her.
“Back it up somewhere.”
She nodded.
He hesitated.
“I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner.”
“You weren’t supposed to.”
He looked relieved by the answer.
Then he left.
The door closed behind him with none of Richard’s violence.
For the first time in nearly an hour, the house felt too large.
Mr. Keller gathered his papers.
“I think the legal discussion can wait until tomorrow.”
Richard looked up.
“You can’t drop something like this and leave.”
“I can, and I should. Emily needs time to review the documents.”
“What about us?”
Mr. Keller paused.
“What about you?”
“We live here.”
“I am aware.”
“So what happens?”
“That is now primarily a conversation between you and Emily.”
Richard gave a short laugh.
“Perfect.”
Mr. Keller ignored the tone.
“Emily, I suggest you do nothing tonight regarding occupancy, access, accounts, or property. Sleep somewhere you feel comfortable. Tomorrow we can discuss practical next steps.”
Linda looked at the suitcase.
Nobody said anything.
Emily almost smiled.
Mr. Keller saw it.
“Something amusing?”
“My father just ordered me out of my own house, and my lawyer is suggesting I leave voluntarily.”
“I am suggesting you avoid making decisions while angry.”
“I’m not angry.”
Mr. Keller studied her.
“Then especially tonight.”
That irritated her.
Which meant he was probably right.
She looked toward Richard.
“I’m staying.”
May you like
Richard’s eyes lifted.
Emily continued, “Not because I’m making a point. I came here to stay overnight. My things are already packed, apparently, but I’m tired. I’m not driving anywhere.”
