Chapter 7 - Carla’s video
The birthday video appeared in the family group chat Wednesday night.
Not posted publicly.
At least not yet.
Carla sent it with:
Ernest got upset over a joke. Please don’t pile on Louis. He’s under a lot of pressure.
I watched once.
Then again.
The camera began before Louis entered.
Carla knew the bowl was coming.
That mattered emotionally.
She had framed the shot toward my chair.
Louis walked in holding the kibble.
People laughed.
Carla laughed behind the camera.
Then the bowl.
“Dinner for freeloaders too, old man.”
My face changed.
I could see it.
Not anger.
Something worse.
Humiliation.
Louis sat in my chair.
“Everyone contributes here except you.”
Then I picked up Rocky’s bowl.
Carried it away.
Louis:
“Keep eating! I paid for everything!”
The recording ended before I reached the stairs.
June replied in the group:
This was not funny. Delete it.
Jason:
Why were you filming before he even came in?
Carla did not answer.
I saved the video.
Then called her downstairs.
Louis came too.
I placed my laptop on the table.
“Why did you hire Hearthstone?”
Carla’s face drained.
Louis turned toward her.
“What?”
That surprised me.
I looked at him.
“You don’t know?”
“Know what?”
Carla said:
“Ernest, can we not do this like an interrogation?”
Louis:
“Do what?”
I repeated:
“Hearthstone Senior Transitions.”
Louis stared at Carla.
She crossed her arms.
“I was researching options.”
“For me?”
“Yes.”
“Using my card?”
She looked down.
“Yes.”
Louis stood.
“Carla.”
She turned on him.
“You complained every day that he was impossible.”
“I did not tell you to pay some company.”
“You told me we needed a plan.”
My anger changed shape.
Louis knew there was a plan.
Not the payments.
Important distinction.
May you like
“What plan?”
Nobody answered.
