Chapter 13 - THE PHONE CALL I SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE Amelia told me:
“Do not contact Charlotte.”
Detective Benton told me the same.
I waited thirty-six hours.
Then called.
Charlotte answered.
Neither lawyer had arranged the call.
I should have hung up.
Instead I said:
“Why?”
She cried.
“Mom.”
“Why did you do it?”
“I didn’t.”
“You pushed me.”
“You fell.”
“Charlotte.”
“You were angry. You’d been drinking.”
Half a glass of champagne.
“You stood there.”
“What?”
“When I came up.”
She became silent.
“You looked at me.”
“Mom, stop.”
“Daniel said I was gone.”
She started sobbing.
“You’re confused.”
That word.
Confused.
I snapped.
“I will leave you nothing. Do you hear me? Not one dollar. I will spend every cent before I let you profit from this.”
Then I hung up.
Charlotte recorded the call.
Her attorney later used it to argue I was vindictive and had reconstructed the river event through the lens of our financial fight.
Amelia asked:
“Did saying that help?”
“For twenty minutes.”
“And after?”
May you like
“No.”
“Good. Remember that feeling.”
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