Chapter 13 - Patricia Without Power
I saw Patricia again six years after wedding.
My choice.
Why?
Because she had requested nothing for years.
Because I wanted answers not available in texts.
Neutral mediation office.
She was sixty-seven.
Gray hair.
No navy gown.
She looked ordinary.
“Claire.”
“Patricia.”
No hug.
First question:
“Did you want Derek to marry me for money?”
She inhaled.
“At first? No.”
“Later?”
“When Bennett Urban got into trouble, yes, money became part of how I thought about marriage.”
“Did Derek start relationship for my shares?”
“No.”
I believed.
Then:
“When did plan start?”
About six months before wedding.
Derek’s permit delays.
Debt.
Eastpoint opportunity.
Patricia suggested:
“Claire could guarantee.”
Derek said I would never.
Patricia:
“She’s marrying you. Why wouldn’t she?”
Then he asked me casually.
I said no.
They did not stop.
Then:
“Why copied signature?”
Patricia:
“Derek said it was only preliminary.”
“You knew I hadn’t signed.”
“Yes.”
“Why acceptable?”
“I believed final signature would make earlier harmless.”
Wrong.
Then:
“Why keep me from Rachel?”
“Because Rachel would tell you not sign.”
There.
“Why trial data?”
Patricia closed eyes.
“I was terrified of losing $310,000.”
Honest.
“So you were willing to threaten my career?”
“I told myself we would never actually send.”
“That still threat.”
“Yes.”
Then cake.
“Why suggest?”
“I disliked how controlled you were.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Controlled?”
“You planned everything. Menu. Timing. Speeches. Derek felt like guest.”
“It was our wedding.”
“I know.”
Then:
“I wanted him to reclaim moment.”
By humiliating bride.
She nodded.
“Did you expect face slam?”
“No.”
“Did you laugh when blood appeared?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She cried.
“Because admitting he had hurt you would have forced me to act against my son in front everyone. I chose him automatically.”
There.
Same family reflex.
Then Erica.
“Did you know?”
“Yes.”
“Why defend?”
“I believed Erica threatened leaving to manipulate him.”
“Did Derek take her phone?”
“Yes.”
“Block?”
“Yes.”
“And you thought normal?”
“I thought if women stopped leaving during fights, he wouldn’t block.”
Victim adaptation demanded.
Then:
“Do you love Derek?”
“Yes.
“Do you think he changed?”
“I hope.”
“Do you forgive me for helping put him prison?”
Patricia looked startled.
“You didn’t.”
Good.
She learned.
Then:
“Do you forgive me?”
I thought.
“Yes.”
She covered mouth.
“But I do not want relationship.”
“I understand.”
“No holidays.”
“Yes.”
“No checking on me through Lena.”
“I haven’t.”
“Good.”
Then:
“You can live.”
She smiled sadly.
“I was planning.”
Meeting ended.
No hug.
I went home lighter.
Then Derek.
I was not ready.
Years more.
Then Patricia died? Not yet. Let her live ordinary.
She eventually moved near sister.
Volunteered at library.
No new offenses.
Paid remaining restitution/fees.
Did not become saint.
Then once sent birthday card through attorney? We said no contact. She didn’t.
Good.
Then my company.
I sold 5% of my Crestline shares to employee trust at fair value when I was forty.
Why?
Diversification.
Liquidity.
Employee ownership.
Not because Derek.
Retained 26%.
Later more.
Good.
Then I created estate plan.
Independent trustee.
No spouse? At that time maybe not married.
Lena contingent healthcare agent? Could.
No one automatically gets company control due romance.
Good.
Then I remembered Derek’s suitcase.
I asked Rachel if evidence could be destroyed after final appeals.
Official copies retained.
My personal copies?
Yes.
I shredded duplicates.
Kept one clean copy prenup? Not needed after divorce final, but legal archive.
The black suitcase had been returned to Derek after evidence release, not mine.
Fine.
No trophy.
Then one day Lena asked:
“Do you still have recorder?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
May you like
I placed in drawer.
Later.
