Chapter 7 - Lana’s Breakfast
Lana demanded to speak with me after learning Michelle had cooperated.
I refused at first.
Then Rachel said:
“She may have relevant knowledge.”
We arranged a recorded attorney conference.
No private meeting.
Lana entered wearing a pale blue suit and an expression that still believed rooms owed her obedience.
“Azalea.”
“Lana.”
“You have destroyed my family.”
I said nothing.
Rachel asked:
“Mrs. Morgan, did you know Hera intended to discuss property with Azalea on her birthday?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know he had prepared a postnuptial agreement?”
“He called it a fairness agreement.”
“What did you understand?”
“That if Azalea ever divorced him, he would not leave with nothing.”
I stared.
“Hera has a retirement account, investments, and half our marital assets.”
Lana shrugged.
“He lived in that house eight years.”
“So?”
“A man shouldn’t be treated like a guest in his own marriage.”
Rachel asked:
“Did you know the house belonged to a trust before marriage?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know Hera signed occupancy acknowledgment?”
“I knew there was paperwork.”
“Did you know Michelle created invoices for work she did not perform?”
Lana’s face changed.
“No.”
“Did you believe MJM performed work?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Hera said Michelle managed renovations.”
“Did you personally see her manage them?”
“No.”
“Did you know the eighteen thousand Azalea questioned went to Michelle’s company?”
“No.”
“Where did Hera tell you it went?”
“My debts.”
“How much?”
“Seventeen thousand eight hundred and something.”
“Did you confirm?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Lana looked offended.
“He told me it was handled.”
Rachel slid bank summary.
“Current evidence indicates approximately six thousand three hundred fifty dollars reached accounts for your benefit.”
Lana went pale.
“That’s impossible.”
“Do you have statements?”
Her lawyer spoke:
“We can produce.”
Lana looked at me.
“You think I stole from you.”
“I think Hera lied.”
Her anger shifted.
For first time, not at me.
At her son.
“I gave him the account information.”
“What?”
“He said he’d pay them directly.”
“What accounts?”
Credit card.
Medical bill.
Homeowner assessment.
The medical bill remained unpaid.
The homeowner assessment too.
Lana had received late notices but assumed processing delays.
She had not told Hera because she did not want to sound ungrateful.
That almost made me laugh.
The family rule worked both directions.
Everyone avoided uncomfortable truths until they became expensive.
Rachel asked:
“Did Hera ask you to be present when Azalea signed the agreement?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He said she listens better when family is around.”
My stomach tightened.
“Did that concern you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Azalea always makes everything harder than it needs to be.”
I looked at her.
“Like what?”
“You wouldn’t let Michelle stay here after her lease ended.”
“She wanted to move in for six months.”
“She had children.”
“So?”
“You refused to add Hera to title.”
“It wasn’t mine to add without trustee.”
“You could have asked.”
“I didn’t want to.”
“There.”
Lana pointed.
“That attitude.”
My no.
Again.
Every story in my life seemed to reduce to other people’s reaction to that word.
Rachel continued.
“What happened at five this morning?”
“I wasn’t there.”
“Did Hera tell you how he planned to wake Azalea?”
“No.”
“Did Michelle?”
“No.”
“Did you instruct Azalea to cook breakfast?”
“I told Hera I wanted everyone together before lake trip.”
“That wasn’t question.”
Lana sighed.
“I said pancakes would be nice.”
“Did Azalea agree?”
“No.”
“Did you ask her?”
“No.”
Exactly.
After conference, Lana waited as her lawyer packed.
Then said:
“I did not know Hera was using my debt.”
I believed her.
Not because she deserved trust.
Because records supported it.
She had been entitled.
Controlling.
Complicit in planned pressure.
But not necessarily part of invoice scheme.
Nuance was annoying.
Necessary.
“Then help prove what you knew.”
She looked at me.
“Will that make you stop divorce?”
“No.”
Her face hardened.
“Then what do I get?”
There.
Transactional to the end.
I stood.
“The truth.”
She laughed bitterly.
“That doesn’t pay my bills.”
“No.”
“Hera was going to.”
“Apparently not.”
I left.
That evening, Lana called Hera.
We did not hear conversation.
But the next morning Hera’s attorney notified Rachel that Hera would amend his financial disclosure.
Why?
Because Lana had demanded statements.
May you like
He could no longer pretend the eighteen thousand had all gone to her.
Family loyalty had finally collided with bank records.
