Chapter 9 - Why Claire Wanted Willow Creek
The motive came from text messages between Claire and her older sister Monica.
No criminal conspiracy.
Monica did not participate.
In fact, her replies became evidence against Claire’s narrative.
CLAIRE:
I cannot do another month like this.
MONICA:
Then tell Daniel you need help.
CLAIRE:
He’ll stay home and we’ll lose bonus.
MONICA:
So?
CLAIRE:
We need bonus for refinance.
Refinance.
Our home mortgage adjusted? We had planned kitchen remodel? Let's see.
We had taken a home-equity line the previous year for renovation and Claire’s freelance business debts.
Balance:
$118,000.
A large balloon? Not exactly. We were planning refinance because rate on line high.
My annual performance bonus could be around $45,000.
I had already told employer I might extend family leave.
Claire opposed.
She said:
“Lily needs routine. You hovering makes her dependent.”
I listened.
Texts continued:
CLAIRE:
If she goes inpatient 60-90 days Daniel works, trust pays, everybody breathes.
MONICA:
Does doctor say she needs inpatient?
CLAIRE:
Not yet.
MONICA:
Then stop.
CLAIRE:
You don’t understand.
MONICA:
I understand you resent a sick kid.
No reply for three hours.
Then:
CLAIRE:
I resent that everything is about her.
There.
Not greed exactly.
Not $68,000 into Claire’s pocket.
She wanted Lily placed elsewhere so I could return fully to work, bonus would remain, financial stress eased, and Claire would no longer be caregiver.
That did not explain forgery.
It explained why she convinced herself forgery was practical.
May you like
She was solving “problem.”
My daughter.
