Chapter 23 - ELEANOR TESTIFIES
Eleanor testified by video from her living room.
Hip still healing.
Cane beside chair.
Her independent attorney in the room.
I was not.
Good.
First:
“Did you authorize Sancia to investigate assisted living?”
“Yes.”
“Did you authorize her to tour Linden Court?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her the house might eventually need to be sold?”
“Yes.”
Sancia looked relieved.
Then:
“Did you authorize sale in June?”
“No.”
“Did you give written approval?”
“No.”
“Did you authorize Radnor’s eviction?”
“No.”
“Did you want to return home?”
“Yes.”
Then Sancia’s lawyer.
“Did you ever complain that Radnor benefited financially from living with you?”
“Yes.”
I winced.
“Did you ever worry Maelle’s presence made it harder to spend equal time with Juniper?”
“Yes.”
Important.
“Did you tell Sancia she was more practical than Radnor?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ask Sancia to handle difficult financial decisions?”
“Yes.”
Good defense.
Then:
“Could those statements cause Sancia to believe you wanted her to take decisive action?”
Eleanor thought.
“Decisive action is not the same as signing my house away.”
There.
Then:
“Were you considering Linden Court?”
“Yes.”
“Are you still?”
“Maybe someday.”
Sancia looked stunned.
Eleanor was not anti-assisted-living.
She was anti-being moved without deciding.
Then:
“Do you intend Radnor to remain in your home forever?”
“No.”
I smiled despite myself.
“Do you intend to leave him the house?”
Objection.
Sustained.
Estate irrelevant.
Good.
Then Eleanor said:
“I want my children to stop treating my death like an upcoming business meeting.”
Judge almost smiled.
Then:
“Why hire Melissa?”
“Because neither child needs my bank account as a weapon against the other.”
That included me.
Correct.
Then the most important question:
“Did you want Sancia removed from your family?”
“No.”
“From financial authority?”
“Yes.”
May you like
Different.
The whole case could have ended there.
