Chapter 8 - Nicole’s Version
Nicole asked to meet me.
Her lawyer proposed mediation room.
Sarah agreed.
Nicole entered wearing beige trousers and a camel coat.
No smug smile.
“Rebecca.”
“Nicole.”
“I didn’t forge your signature.”
Straight to it.
“Then who did?”
“I used a signature Dad gave me.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“He said you signed an insurance form and told me to attach it.”
Sarah raised hand.
“Be precise.”
Nicole looked irritated.
“I prepared the memorandum.”
There.
“On Dad’s instructions?”
“Mostly.”
“What does mostly mean?”
“Mom and Dad both wanted something in writing.”
“Did I agree?”
“They said you had.”
“Did you ever hear me?”
“No.”
“Then why put my signature?”
Nicole’s eyes filled with anger.
“Because they told me you already agreed!”
“So why need fake signature?”
“It wasn’t fake to me.”
“That makes no sense.”
“They said you had signed the understanding informally before and lost copy.”
“Then why date it while I was at hospital?”
Nicole looked away.
“Dad picked date.”
Sarah wrote.
I stared at sister.
“Did you tell Mark you watched me sign?”
She went pale.
“I was trying to get him comfortable.”
“So you lied.”
“Yes.”
Finally.
“Why did you remove Ella from picture?”
Her jaw tightened.
“Mom asked.”
“Why?”
“She said Ella wasn’t part of what house represented.”
I nearly stood.
Sarah’s hand touched my sleeve.
Stay.
“What does that mean?”
Nicole swallowed.
“She said the house should stay with Miller blood.”
My chest went cold.
Ella was my daughter.
My parents’ granddaughter.
Why would she not be Miller blood?
Then I understood.
Ella carried my ex-husband’s surname, Morgan.
So did I, because I kept married name after divorce.
But blood? She was biologically mine. This makes no sense. Maybe Diane meant "Miller line" because Ella would inherit through Rebecca, but Nicole's children have Harris surnames. So inconsistent. Could be because Ella's father was not "family" enough? Hmm.
Nicole clarified bitterly:
“Mom said when you sold house someday, Ella would inherit your share. She wanted property to stay with someone who would keep it as Miller family home. She thinks I will. My kids spend more time there.”
There.
Not blood exactly.
Legacy.
“Then why are your kids Harris?”
Nicole looked annoyed.
“You know what she means.”
“Yes. She means whichever branch obeys her.”
Silence.
Nicole started crying.
“I was losing my house.”
“What?”
“Mark wanted divorce.”
“You had an apartment.”
“We sold our house last year because of debt.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you’d judge.”
“I paid Mom and Dad’s mortgage seven years.”
“Exactly.”
“What exactly?”
“You always get to be the responsible one.”
I stared.
This was old.
“You think I wanted that role?”
“You loved it.”
“No.”
“You loved being the one they needed.”
I almost laughed.
“Nicole, they call me when bills are due. They call you when they want fun.”
Her face shifted.
For a second, we were children again.
Different injuries from same parents.
Then she said:
“Mom promised me house.”
“She couldn’t.”
“I know now.”
“Did you know title was mine?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Since Mark checked county records in October.”
That mattered.
“You took twenty five thousand from joint account after knowing.”
“I believed Mom when she said you were transferring.”
“And photo?”
“She wanted a version for after.”
“After what?”
“After you signed deed.”
“Why remove Ella before me?”
Nicole looked ashamed.
“Mom said Ella needed to understand the house wasn’t hers.”
A nine year old.
My mother used a portrait to teach a child she would not inherit property she had never asked for.
I could barely process cruelty.
Then Nicole said:
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Mom wasn’t planning for you to sign a deed Christmas morning.”
“What was I supposed to sign?”
“A revised occupancy agreement.”
Sarah’s head lifted.
Nicole continued:
“Dad said once you signed that, he could show it to a lender.”
“What lender?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why?”
“He wanted to borrow against the house.”
My stomach dropped.
They had already sold Nicole an option.
May you like
Now they wanted to borrow against property they did not own.
The family dispute was becoming financial risk.
