Chapter 10 - Diane Under Oath
My mother wore pearls to deposition.
Of course.
She sat straight.
Attorney beside her.
Sarah across.
I attended remotely because I did not want Ella seeing me return angry after hours in same room with Grandma.
Sarah began gently.
“Mrs. Miller, whose name is on deed?”
“Rebecca’s.”
“Who pays mortgage?”
“Rebecca.”
“Who pays insurance?”
“Rebecca.”
“Who paid roof?”
“Rebecca.”
“Who paid furnace replacement?”
“Rebecca.”
Mom’s mouth tightened.
“Because she makes more money.”
“Did she agree those payments were gifts to you?”
“They were family support.”
“That did not answer.”
“No written gift agreement.”
“Did you sign occupancy agreement stating you had no ownership interest?”
“Yes, but…”
“Thank you.”
Mom hated being interrupted.
Then Sarah asked about Nicole.
“Did you promise Nicole the house?”
“I said we would try to keep it in family.”
“Did you accept twenty five thousand dollars?”
“Yes.”
“For what?”
“Future purchase.”
“Did you own property?”
“Morally…”
“Legally?”
“No.”
“Did you tell Nicole Rebecca had agreed?”
“I believed she would.”
“Had Rebecca?”
“She always helps.”
I was watching screen.
That sentence nearly explained my entire life.
She always helps.
Therefore consent assumed.
Sarah moved to portrait.
“Why remove Ella?”
Mom stared.
“That photograph has nothing to do with property dispute.”
“Why?”
“It was aesthetically crowded.”
“Why remove Ella instead of another person?”
“She was on edge.”
“No. Original shows her near center.”
Mom’s lawyer shifted.
Sarah placed proof.
“Did you instruct Nicole to remove Ella?”
“I suggested composition changes.”
“Did you tell Ella there wasn’t room for her?”
“I said photograph was crowded.”
“Did you tell her family portraits should show people who really belong?”
Mom paused.
“No.”
“Ella says yes.”
“She is nine.”
My chest tightened.
Sarah’s voice cooled.
“Are nine year olds incapable of remembering?”
“I did not say that.”
“Did you call studio Christmas morning?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ask them to say edit was accidental?”
“I asked them not to disclose private family matters.”
“That is not what employee recorded.”
Mom’s face changed.
Northstar recorded customer service calls.
The studio had preserved.
Her exact words:
If Rebecca asks, tell her Ella was removed because of crop. Do not tell her Nicole requested it.
There.
Then:
The second portrait was never supposed to be delivered until Rebecca signed the house paper.
Sarah played.
Mom stared.
“Is that your voice?”
“Yes.”
“What house paper?”
“The lender consent.”
“Did Rebecca know?”
“No.”
“Why expect her to sign?”
“She signs things for us.”
Again.
The family had built a financial system around my predictability.
I was the person who solved emergencies.
They stopped differentiating help from surrender.
Sarah asked final:
“Mrs. Miller, if Rebecca refused to sign, what was your plan?”
Mom looked toward camera.
Her eyes hardened.
“We would remind her what family had done for her.”
“What?”
“We raised her.”
I almost laughed.
Raising a child had become collateral.
After deposition, I sat in car outside office.
I did not drive for ten minutes.
Ella called from her father Jason’s house? We haven't established father. Let's avoid. Ella was with my friend/caregiver. Could be after school program, she called from her tablet. She said:
“Mom, are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Grandma?”
“Yes.”
“Did she say sorry?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Then:
“I don’t need her to.”
May you like
I closed eyes.
My nine year old had reached a place I was still trying to find.
