Chapter 9 - Under Oath
Kelsey’s deposition took place four months after the wedding.
I did not attend in room.
Laura did.
I watched later where allowed through transcript, not as entertainment.
The questions were simple.
“When did you first decide you wanted Cedar Hollow as your wedding venue?”
Kelsey:
“Maybe spring.”
“Did Claire know?”
“I mentioned it.”
“When?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Did Claire agree?”
“Not directly.”
“Did Mark?”
“He said he’d make it happen.”
There.
“What were his exact words?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he tell you you could file a county permit using Claire’s signature?”
“No.”
“Did he give you the signature image?”
“No.”
“Where did you obtain it?”
“I don’t remember.”
That answer repeated fourteen times.
“Did the Larkspur Room flood?”
“No.”
“Why did you tell Claire it did?”
“Because I was desperate.”
“Why not ask three weeks earlier when you canceled?”
“She would say no.”
“So you waited until forty eight hours before wedding?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought she’d feel bad.”
There.
Calculated pressure.
“Did Mark know there was no flood?”
“No.”
“Did Mark know you planned approximately ninety guests?”
“Yes.”
“Before Claire agreed?”
“Yes.”
That hurt.
I already knew.
Still.
“Did Mark know you intended to remove garden flowers?”
Kelsey:
“Not beforehand.”
Good.
“Did Mark help remove them?”
“He helped carry the arch after.”
“Did he object?”
“Not much.”
“Did Mark know about Cedar Hollow Events LLC?”
Long pause.
“Yes.”
My stomach dropped.
Transcript continued.
“When?”
“Before wedding.”
“How long before?”
“Maybe a month.”
“Did he know you intended to offer future events at Claire’s property?”
“He knew I wanted to.”
“Did he agree?”
“He said Claire would never go for it unless the wedding went perfectly.”
That was not agreement.
But it proved he knew.
“Did Mark agree to persuade Claire after your wedding?”
“Yes.”
“What exact words?”
“He said, ‘If you don’t wreck anything, maybe I can show her this could make money.’”
I closed transcript.
Enough.
Mark had not known about fake permit.
Not fake flood.
Not garden removal.
But he knew Kelsey wanted to turn Cedar Hollow into a venue and withheld that when pressuring me to allow her wedding.
He had used my property as a trial run for a business plan I never approved.
I called him.
“Did you tell Kelsey the wedding could convince me to rent Cedar Hollow?”
Silence.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I knew you hated idea.”
“So your plan was to show me after.”
“I thought if wedding went well…”
“It didn’t.”
“No.”
“And you knew ninety people were coming.”
“Yes.”
“You knew it was a test for a business.”
“Yes.”
“Mark.”
“I’m sorry.”
“That word again.”
“I know.”
I hung up.
The next day, I met divorce attorney.
Not to file immediately.
To understand.
House? Cedar Hollow was inherited property solely mine, separate property.
Our apartment had marital equity.
Retirement.
Savings.
No children.
The marriage could end cleanly enough financially, though not painlessly.
I gave Mark one month to decide what he actually wanted.
Not between me and Kelsey.
Between being accountable and continuing to treat family loyalty as an excuse.
He said:
“I want us.”
“That answer doesn’t mean anything unless behavior changes.”
“I know.”
I did not promise reconciliation.
Meanwhile, Ryan filed for annulment? Too dramatic. Better separation? The marriage strains but they stay initially. Perhaps he discovers financial lies. Let's ground: Ryan moved out temporarily after learning Kelsey used refund and deposits.
Ryan called Laura voluntarily.
He had discovered Kelsey used $18,400 Larkspur refund partly to pay personal credit cards and bridal expenses while telling him it was lost to venue.
Their wedding budget had been built on lies too.
He was not suing.
He was reconsidering marriage.
Kelsey’s world was shrinking because everyone had compared notes.
Then the county investigator completed review of owner authorization.
Potential charge:
Falsifying a public record / forgery depending statutes.
The district attorney offered Kelsey chance for precharge restitution? We need not rush.
Civil case remained strongest.
And my restoration contractor found something under the torn garden bed.
A buried metal marker.
Grandma’s handwriting scratched into it:
EVELYN’S WHITE PEONY, DIVIDED 1998.
Dr. Michelle Grant smiled.
May you like
“These were documented.”
That tiny piece of metal would help us bring part of the garden back.
