Chapter 6: The House He Planned to Give Away
Renee read the sentence twice.
Then she turned the letter over.
There was no return address.
No date on the envelope.
Only Lionel's handwriting.
She unfolded the paper.
Once Renee signs the property transfer, we can finally stop hiding. I know you've waited a long time, and I promise things will be different soon. Mason deserves a stable home, and I want us to have one place where nobody has to pretend.
Renee lowered the letter.
"Property transfer?""
Lionel moved toward her.
"Give me that.""
She held it away.
"Don't.""
"That's a private letter.""
"To your other woman.""
"It's not what you think.""
Renee looked at Beverly.
"Why did you bring this?""
Beverly swallowed.
"Because I think he's planning to sell the house.""
Jada turned toward her mother.
"What?""
Beverly continued.
"Last month, Lionel asked me whether I knew a real estate attorney. He said he wanted to restructure some property arrangements.""
Renee stared at her husband.
"You told me we were going to renovate the basement.""
"We were.""
"With what money?""
Lionel rubbed his jaw.
"I was looking at options.""
Beverly shook her head.
"You told me you wanted to put the house in another name.""
Renee felt her stomach tighten.
"Whose name?""
Beverly looked at Lionel.
"Tasha's.""
The silence was immediate.
Renee stepped back from the table.
Jada whispered, "Dad?""
Lionel finally exploded.
"Enough! You're all acting like I'm some kind of monster!""
He pointed at Beverly.
"You had no right to take those papers.""
Beverly stood.
"I didn't steal anything. You left them in your truck.""
"Those documents were private.""
"So was your marriage.""
Lionel's face turned red.
Renee held up the letter.
"Were you planning to give our house to Tasha?""
"No.""
"Then what property transfer were you talking about?""
"I was exploring a way to protect assets.""
"Which assets?""
"Our house.""
"From whom?""
Lionel stared at her.
"From financial problems.""
Renee gave a disbelieving laugh.
"We have no financial problems.""
He looked away.
That was when Jada noticed something.
"Dad, why is there a bank logo on that letter?""
Everyone turned toward her.
She pointed at the lower corner.
A small printed reference number appeared beneath Lionel's handwritten signature.
Renee took the letter and examined it.
It wasn't just a personal note.
It was a copy of correspondence attached to a financial document.
Beverly pulled another page from the envelope.
"I found this behind it.""
Renee unfolded the page.
It was a preliminary property equity loan application.
The property address was their family home.
The estimated value was listed at $286,000.
The requested loan amount was $95,000.
And under the section asking for the homeowner's authorization, Renee's name appeared.
She stared at the signature.
It looked familiar.
Too familiar.
It was the same imitation she had seen on Mason's medical authorization form.
"Did you submit this?"" Renee asked.
Lionel looked at the page.
"That was only a preliminary application.""
"Did you submit it?""
"I was checking the numbers.""
"Without telling me?""
"I was going to discuss it.""
"When?""
"Renee, stop interrogating me.""
She placed the paper on the table.
"You're applying for a loan against our house using my name, and I'm interrogating you?""
Lionel walked toward the kitchen counter.
"I have responsibilities.""
"To Tasha?""
"To Mason.""
"Then let Tasha and you handle those responsibilities.""
He turned.
"You don't understand what it's like having a child who needs you.""
Jada's face changed.
For a moment, she looked as if someone had struck her.
Renee immediately stepped toward her.
"Don't listen to that.""
But Jada raised a hand.
"No, Mom. Let him finish.""
Lionel looked at his daughter.
"What?""
"Tell me what Mason needs that I didn't.""
He sighed.
"Jada, it's not about comparing you two.""
"Then answer me.""
Lionel looked uncomfortable.
Jada continued.
"Did he need a truck? Did he need an apartment? Did he need you at his birthday parties?""
Lionel said nothing.
"Did he need you to show up when he was sick?""
"Of course.""
"Did he need you to tell him you loved him?""
Lionel looked away.
Jada nodded.
"Because I needed those things too.""
The room became painfully quiet.
"I needed you at my graduation," she continued.
"I needed you when I got my first job. I needed you when I got accepted into the program.""
She swallowed.
"And when I asked whether we could celebrate, you told me money was tight.""
Lionel tried to interrupt.
"I never said—"
"You did.""
Jada's voice cracked.
"You said we'd celebrate after things settled down.""
Renee took her daughter's hand.
Jada wiped her cheek.
"Apparently, things settled down just fine in Westerville.""
Lionel looked at the floor.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Renee picked up her phone.
"I'm calling the bank.""
Lionel's head snapped up.
"Why?""
"To find out whether that application was submitted.""
"It wasn't.""
"Then they can confirm that.""
He stepped toward her.
"Don't make this worse.""
Renee pressed the call button.
A representative answered after several minutes.
Renee explained that she had discovered an application for a loan connected to her home, but she had never authorized it.
The representative asked for identifying information and verified her account.
Then the woman's tone changed.
"Mrs. Carter, I can see a preliminary application associated with your property.""
Renee closed her eyes.
"Was it submitted?""
"Yes, ma'am. We received it eight days ago.""
Lionel immediately shook his head.
Renee looked at him.
"Who submitted it?""
The representative paused.
"The application was submitted by an individual listed as your spouse. However, the co-owner authorization is incomplete.""
Renee exhaled.
"Did you receive a signature from me?""
"We received a digital authorization.""
Renee gripped the phone.
"I did not authorize anything.""
"Understood. We can flag the application for suspected unauthorized activity and begin a review.""
"Please do that.""
The representative asked whether Renee wanted the application placed on hold.
"Yes.""
"Would you also like to add a security restriction to prevent further processing without your direct verification?""
"Absolutely.""
Lionel stepped closer.
"Renee, hang up.""
She turned away from him.
"Do it.""
The representative confirmed the restriction and gave Renee a reference number.
When the call ended, Renee placed the phone on the table.
Lionel stared at her.
"You just ruined everything.""
Renee looked at him.
"What exactly did I ruin?""
He said nothing.
Beverly quietly gathered the remaining documents.
"I should have told you sooner.""
Renee looked at her.
"Yes. You should have.""
Beverly nodded.
"I know.""
"Did you know about the tuition money?""
"No. I swear I didn't know until Jada said it at the cookout.""
"Did you know about the truck?""
"I knew he was buying Mason something. I didn't know where the money came from.""
Renee studied her sister-in-law.
For the first time that evening, Beverly looked less like someone trying to control the damage and more like someone who had finally realized how much damage had already been done.
"Why did you protect him?"" Renee asked.
Beverly's eyes filled.
"Because he's my brother. And because every time I tried to confront him, he reminded me how much he'd helped me after my divorce.""
Renee looked down.
"That's how he kept you quiet?""
Beverly nodded.
"I thought I owed him.""
Renee took a slow breath.
"Nobody owes him silence.""
Beverly wiped her face.
"I know that now.""
Lionel grabbed his keys.
"I'm leaving.""
Renee didn't stop him.
"Fine.""
He looked at her, apparently expecting a different response.
"You're not going to ask where I'm going?""
"No.""
"You're my wife.""
Renee looked at the wedding photograph on the kitchen wall.
"Tonight, I'm not sure I know who I married.""
Lionel opened the front door.
Then he stopped.
"You're going to regret turning everybody against me.""
Renee didn't move.
"You did that yourself.""
He left.
The door slammed.
Jada sat down and covered her face.
Renee immediately pulled her into an embrace.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Renee whispered, "We're going to get your tuition money back.""
Jada shook her head.
"What if we can't?""
"Then we'll find another way.""
"But school starts soon.""
"I know.""
"I worked so hard.""
Renee kissed the side of her daughter's head.
"I know, sweetheart.""
Jada looked at the documents on the table.
"Can we really do something about all this?""
"Yes.""
Renee gathered the papers into separate piles.
"First, we're protecting the house. Then we're finding out exactly what he did with the money. And we're getting professional help to sort out the accounts.""
Beverly stood near the doorway.
"I can give you the contact information for the attorney who reviewed the original apartment lease.""
Renee looked at her.
"Send it to me tomorrow.""
Beverly nodded.
Then she left.
At 11:47 p.m., Renee's phone vibrated.
A message from Lionel.
*You need to call me before you make another mistake. Tasha is coming over tomorrow, and she has documents you need to see.*
Renee frowned.
Another message appeared.
*She knows about the house.*
Then a third.
*And she knows about the money.*
Renee stared at the screen.
She was about to put the phone down when a final message arrived.
This one wasn't from Lionel.
It was from Tasha.
*Renee, I'm sorry. I think he lied to both of us. But there's something you need to know about the $8,000.*
Renee typed:
What about it?
The reply came seconds later.
*Mason never received the truck as a gift. Lionel told me he bought it with money you gave him.*
Renee's fingers went cold.
She looked at Jada.
Then at the tuition records.
Then at the message.
If Tasha was telling the truth, Lionel hadn't merely hidden where the money went.
May you like
He had invented an entirely different story for the woman he had supposedly spent seventeen years protecting.
And tomorrow, Renee was going to meet the woman who had believed she was the other wife.
