Chương 13
“I just don’t know what I’m supposed to be after admitting it.”
Daniel watched her leave.
That sentence stayed with him.
In January, prosecutors offered Margaret a plea agreement.
Daniel learned the broad terms from her attorney because Margaret authorized him to tell the family.
She would plead guilty to a felony charge related to the fraudulent filing and a lesser financial offense connected to the loan application. The prosecution would recommend probation, restitution for investigative and title costs, financial monitoring, and community service rather than incarceration, partly because she had no criminal history, had not received loan proceeds, had eventually cooperated, and had been one of several victims in Wade Larkin’s broader scheme.
The judge would not be bound by the recommendation.
Emily cried.
Claire went for a walk and did not return for two hours.
Mark said, “That could have been worse,” then apologized because everyone looked at him.
Daniel said nothing.
Margaret rejected the offer.
Her attorney called him the next morning.
“She wants to go to trial.”
Daniel stood in his kitchen staring at a bowl of oranges.
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“Pride.”
“Among other things.”
“She confessed.”
“Yes.”
“They have the signature file.”
“Yes.”
“They have the online record.”
“Yes.”
“They have the loan application.”
“Yes.”
“So why?”
“Because she believes a jury will understand that Charles intended her to have the property.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“That doesn’t make the filing legal.”
“I’ve explained that.”
“Explain it again.”
“I have.”
Daniel drove to Margaret’s townhouse that evening.
She opened the door and immediately said, “I’m not discussing my case with you.”
He walked past her.
“Yes, we are.”
“You don’t get to barge into my house.”
“You barged into mine with a moving truck.”
Margaret stared at him.
Daniel stopped.
“That was petty.”
“Yes.”
“I’m leaving it in.”
“I assumed.”
He went to the living room.
Half the furniture was gone.
Daniel looked around.
“Where’s the dining table?”
“Sold.”
“The bedroom set?”
“Sold.”
“Why?”
“Legal fees.”
He turned.
Margaret folded her arms.
“I’m not taking money from you.”
“I didn’t offer.”
“You were about to.”
He had been.
That irritated him.
“Take the plea.”
“No.”
“You could go to prison.”
“I could also be acquitted.”
“Your own lawyer thinks the evidence is strong.”
“My lawyer believes the state has weaknesses.”
“Every lawyer says that before billing another month.”
Margaret’s face tightened.
“You came here to insult me?”
“I came because you are about to gamble your freedom on the same belief that got you into this.”
“I am not gambling.”
“You think Dad’s intention changes what you did.”
“It changes why.”
“Not whether.”
“You think motive doesn’t matter?”
“Of course it matters. It’s why they offered probation.”
Margaret looked away.
Daniel stepped closer.
“You want a jury to tell you Dad meant the house to be yours.”
She did not answer.
“That’s what this is.”
“Leave.”
“Mom.”
“Leave.”
“You’re not fighting the charge. You’re trying to get twelve strangers to settle your marriage.”
Margaret slapped him.
Not as hard as the first time.
Still hard enough.
They both froze.
Daniel touched his cheek.
Margaret’s hand dropped.
For one terrible second she looked like she might apologize.
Instead she turned away.
Daniel laughed.
He could not help it.
Margaret looked at him, horrified.
“What is funny?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re laughing.”
“I know.”
“You think I’m insane.”
“No.”
He rubbed his cheek.
“I think we have to find another way to communicate.”
Margaret sat down.
Her shoulders began to shake.
No sound came at first.
Then one breath caught.
Daniel stood there, unsure what to do.
He had seen his mother cry at funerals, weddings, television commercials, and once when a restaurant discontinued a dessert she liked.
This was different.
There was no performance in it.
He sat in the chair across from her.
He did not touch her.
After several minutes Margaret wiped her face.
“I cannot stand in court and say I’m a criminal.”
“You did something criminal.”
“That’s easy for you.”
“No.”
“You get to be the good son.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Is that what you think this feels like?”
“You were right.”
“That doesn’t make me good.”
“You were right about the deed.”
“I was wrong about other things.”
Margaret looked at him.
“I should have told you Dad wanted you protected,” he said.
She said nothing.
“I should have formalized the occupancy agreement after he died.”
“You were angry.”
“Yes.”
“So was I.”
“I know.”
She almost smiled at the phrase.
Daniel continued.
“I used the house against you.”
“You did.”
“You lied to Emily about me.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to Claire.”
“Yes.”
“You told people I manipulated Dad.”
Margaret looked down.
“I believed that.”
“Do you still?”
She took a long time to answer.
“Not the way I said it.”
Daniel waited.
Margaret rubbed her thumb against her palm.
“I think your father trusted you because you were the one who could solve the financial problem. I think he was embarrassed in front of you in a way he wasn’t embarrassed in front of the girls.”
“Why?”
“Because you understood the business.”
Daniel looked at the floor.
“He hated needing me.”
“Yes.”
“So did you.”
“Yes.”
Another silence.
“You didn’t force him,” Margaret said.
Daniel looked up.
“He signed it because he chose to.”
It was the first time she had said that.
Daniel felt something inside him loosen and hurt at the same time.
Margaret inhaled.
“I hated his choice.”
“You were allowed.”
“I know.”
“You just weren’t allowed to rewrite it.”
Her mouth trembled.
“I know.”
Daniel leaned back.
“Take the plea.”
She stared at him.
“I don’t know how to be the person who pleads guilty.”
Daniel looked around the half-empty townhouse.
“You already are the person who did it.”
Margaret flinched.
He hated himself immediately.
But she nodded.
“That was cruel.”
“Yes.”
“Also true.”
“Yes.”
She looked exhausted.
Daniel stood.
At the door he said, “I’m changing the offer on the house.”
Margaret frowned.
May you like
“What?”
“No lifetime occupancy.”
