Chapter 6 - Emily called
My daughter called while I was still standing beside the U-Haul.
“Dad?”
“Where are you?”
“Home. Why?”
“Is Derek there?”
Pause.
“No. Office.”
“Are the kids with you?”
“Yes.”
Good.
I walked farther from Ron.
“Did you know Ron and Linda were moving into the cabin?”
Silence.
Then:
“They what?”
Every part of me loosened slightly.
Not entirely.
“U-Haul. Changed lock. Deed.”
“What deed?”
I closed my eyes.
She did not know.
Or she was an excellent actor.
“Emily, listen carefully. There is a recorded deed supposedly signed by me and Mom five months ago.”
Silence.
“What?”
“Mom’s signature.”
“What?”
“She died three years ago.”
“I know when Mom died!”
Her voice broke.
“Dad, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying Derek’s parents have paperwork claiming ownership.”
Another silence.
Then:
“Derek told me you were letting them stay there.”
“For how long?”
“He said maybe six months while they sold their townhouse.”
“Did he say they owned it?”
“No.”
“Did he say I gave it to you?”
“What?”
“Ron says Derek told him Mom and I promised you the cabin.”
Emily was crying now.
“No.”
“Did Mom ever tell you that?”
“No.”
“Did I?”
“No.”
Behind me, Ron shouted something.
I ignored him.
Emily said:
“Dad, where is Derek?”
“I was hoping you knew.”
She whispered:
“He didn’t go to the office this morning.”
That changed everything.
“Call him?”
“He’s not answering.”
“Do not confront him alone.”
“Dad.”
“I mean it.”
“You think Derek did this?”
“I think his name is attached to companies in the chain. I do not know what he did.”
Accuracy.
Even angry.
“I’m coming to you.”
“No. Stay with the kids.”
“I’m not sitting here.”
“Emily.”
“Do not tell me to stay calm.”
I almost did.
Then stopped.
“I wasn’t.”
“Yes, you were.”
She knew me.
Fair.
I said:
“Stay with the children until we know where Derek is. That’s not about calm. It’s about not bringing them into a property dispute.”
She breathed.
Then:
“Okay.”
Good.
Before hanging up, she said:
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Mom never signed that.”
May you like
“I know.”
That was the first time I nearly cried.
