Chapter 16 - Lucas Tells The Part He Hid
Lucas asked to meet after Brandon sentencing.
I considered no.
Claire said:
“Personal, not legal.”
I agreed at café.
He looked older.
“I owe apology.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“I knew more than I said at first.”
I waited.
He admitted after duplex purchase, he realized Elena probably did not know title.
Why?
At Christmas, I asked:
“How’s rental?”
He froze because I had no idea what he meant.
He covered:
“My client rental.”
I moved on.
Lucas understood.
That night he texted Brandon:
She doesn’t know.
Brandon:
She knows enough.
Lucas:
That’s not answer.
Brandon:
Stay out.
Lucas stayed out.
Then management fees continued.
“So you knew.”
“I knew something was off.”
“Why not tell?”
“He was my brother.”
There.
Then:
“And I liked money.”
Honest.
Not criminal necessarily.
But moral.
Then he returned $8,400 fees voluntarily? The court allowed. But if he did work, he didn't owe. He chose donate? No need. He paid $5k to restitution fund? Could appear buying forgiveness. Let's say he stopped management immediately once discovered and accepted court adjustment.
Then:
“Did you think I was rich enough not matter?”
“Yes.”
That answer.
He had seen my promotions.
Stock.
Thought:
She'll be fine.
The phrase used to excuse.
I said:
“Being able to survive loss does not authorize loss.”
He nodded.
Then:
“Do you hate our family?”
“No.”
“Do you want relationship?”
“Not right now.”
He accepted.
Then Liam sent text apology.
No meeting.
Diane more complicated.
She had been mother to me.
After everything, she asked if I would visit.
I did once.
Her house looked same.
The guest room where I slept after surgery.
She made tea.
“I kept your mug.”
I almost cried.
Then:
“I failed you.”
“How?”
“I had chances to ask.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“I didn’t know forged, but I knew things didn’t make sense.”
“Yes.”
“I chose my son’s explanation.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Do you forgive?”
“I don’t know.”
She nodded.
Then:
“Do you want the $6,400 surgery money?”
“No.”
“You paid while he moved more.”
“That was my choice.”
She cried.
“Thank you.”
Then:
“I don’t want you paying me to make past clean.”
She understood.
Then Brandon from prison wrote mother.
Diane shared? Not without permission. She did not.
Good.
Then my own Mom asked:
“Do you think Diane is victim too?”
“In some ways.”
“Also benefited.”
“Yes.”
Both.
Then Claire.
She had become more than lawyer friend.
But we set legal billing properly. She referred divorce litigation to colleague? Maybe she can be lawyer friend but conflict if friend not issue. Fine. She charged reduced? No need.
After case she said:
“You know I can stop being lawyer now.”
“Please.”
We went to concert.
I did not talk Brandon until halfway.
Progress.
Then therapy.
I realized my anger at myself focused on $170k, not slap.
Because money felt measurable.
Violence was obvious.
Numbers offered illusion if I had checked, could prevent.
Therapist:
“You can learn controls without making yourself perpetrator.”
Yes.
Then I started financial workshop at work? Maybe no.
I simply changed habits.
Separate emergency fund.
Joint if future relationship, but transparency.
Then I dated? Not yet.
No need.
Then Brandon’s appeal? He waived major under plea.
No trial.
Sentence final.
Then restitution payments came through asset settlement. No prison wages meaningful.
No open.
Then one afternoon, Mom called.
“Someone is at door.”
My heart jumped.
“Who?”
“Diane.”
Why?
Diane had come to return something.
A sealed envelope from Brandon.
Addressed to Margaret.
She did not open.
Mom asked:
“Do I read?”
Her choice.
She did.
Inside one page.
Margaret,
You did not steal from me.
I accused you because you had seen Blue Harbor paperwork and I wanted Elena to distrust you.
Then:
I hit you because you said the name out loud.
No excuse.
Then:
I am sorry.
Mom cried.
Not because she needed confession legally.
Because he finally stated.
She folded.
“Do I reply?”
May you like
“No obligation.”
She didn’t.
