Chapter 8: The Truth Came With a Witness
At 8:15 the next morning, Leon walked into a small conference room at the title company's Myrtle Beach office.
He hadn't slept.
Camille sat beside him, holding her phone and a folder of printed messages.
Across the table sat Denise Carter, Nadine's attorney, who had joined the meeting remotely and was represented in person by a local colleague.
The title company's representative, Mr. Harris, opened a file.
“Before we begin, I want to clarify that no completed ownership transfer has been recorded through our office.””
Leon released a breath.
“So the house is still ours?””
“The existing deed remains unchanged based on the records we've reviewed. However, we received documents requesting preliminary processing.””
Denise's voice came through the conference speaker.
“Mr. Harris, have you received a written authorization from both current owners?””
“No, ma'am.””
“Have you independently verified the signatures?””
“We are reviewing that issue.””
Leon leaned forward.
“I never knowingly authorized a transfer of my ownership interest.””
Mr. Harris nodded.
“We have documented your statement.””
Camille placed her phone on the table.
“We also have a recording of Patrice discussing the documents.””
Leon looked at her.
“Are you sure you want to submit that?””
Camille nodded.
“I'm sure.””
Denise spoke again.
“Please preserve the original recording and provide it through the appropriate channel. Don't circulate it to family members or post it anywhere.””
Mr. Harris wrote something down.
Then he turned to Leon.
“There's another issue. The documents were accompanied by a letter stating that the proposed trust had been discussed and approved by the family.””
Leon frowned.
“Who wrote the letter?””
Mr. Harris checked the file.
“Marcus Reed.””
Leon leaned back.
“Of course.””
Denise asked for a copy.
Mr. Harris agreed to provide the available documents to the authorized parties.
When the meeting ended, Leon stepped outside.
The morning air was humid.
He looked at his phone.
A message from Nadine had arrived.
*NADINE: Denise says the title company has confirmed the deed hasn't changed. Please don't contact my attorney separately.*
He typed a response.
*LEON: I'm glad the deed is safe. I'm sorry.*
He stared at the message before sending it.
Then he added:
*LEON: I know an apology doesn't fix what I did.*
He sent it.
There was no reply.
Camille joined him outside.
“Are you going back to the hotel?””
“I'm going to find Marcus.””
“Why?””
“To get the original documents.””
Camille shook her head.
“Leon, don't go looking for a fight.””
“I'm not fighting. I want answers.””
“Then let the attorney handle it.””
He looked at his sister.
She was right.
For once, he decided not to act on impulse.
He called Denise.
She advised him to avoid any confrontation and let the formal process continue.
Leon agreed.
But that afternoon, something unexpected happened.
Marcus called him.
“Meet me at the parking lot behind the hotel.””
Leon frowned.
“Why?””
“I have the original folder.””
“Then send it to Denise.””
Marcus laughed.
“You really think your lawyer is going to help you?””
“She represents Nadine.””
“Exactly. She doesn't care about you.””
Leon looked through the hotel window.
Patrice was sitting in the lobby, speaking animatedly with another guest.
“I'm not meeting you.””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Fine. Then I'll tell Mom you refused to cooperate. She'll know what to do.””
Leon ended the call.
Ten minutes later, Camille received a message.
It was from Patrice.
*PATRICE: Your brother is trying to save this family. Don't let Leon ruin everything because of a woman who doesn't respect us.*
Camille showed him.
Leon read it.
Then he noticed another message beneath it.
*PATRICE: I have the papers from Thanksgiving. If Nadine wants to involve lawyers, we'll show them everything she agreed to.*
Camille frowned.
“What papers?””
Leon looked at her.
“I don't know.””
They went downstairs.
Patrice was standing near the lobby seating area, speaking with Marcus through her phone.
When she saw them, she immediately ended the call.
“What are you doing here?”” she asked Leon.
“Mom, what papers are you talking about?””
Patrice smiled.
“Nothing you need to worry about.””
“Did Nadine sign something at Thanksgiving?””
Patrice adjusted her necklace.
“She signed a lot of things over the years.””
“What things?””
Patrice looked toward Camille.
“Your sister knows.””
Camille shook her head.
“Mom, stop lying.””
Patrice's smile disappeared.
“Excuse me?””
“You're making everything worse.””
Patrice stepped closer.
“You need to remember who paid for your college.””
Camille's eyes filled with tears.
“And you need to remember that I'm not twelve anymore.””
Leon placed a hand gently on his sister's shoulder.
“Mom, give us the documents.””
Patrice laughed.
“You think I'm stupid?””
“No. I think you're hiding something.””
For a moment, she looked almost frightened.
Then she opened her handbag and pulled out a folded envelope.
“This is what you want?””
Leon reached for it.
Patrice held it back.
“First, you listen to me.””
He waited.
“I never wanted Nadine to suffer. I wanted my son to have something that belonged to him.””
“Mom, the house belongs to both of us.””
“And that's the problem.””
Leon stared at her.
Patrice continued.
“Your wife has her own money. Her own career. Her own plans.
She doesn't need you. But you need your family.””
Leon slowly shook his head.
“You don't get to decide that.””
Patrice finally handed him the envelope.
Inside were several pages.
One was a printed financial statement.
Another was a handwritten list of expenses.
And the third was a signed document dated Thanksgiving.
Leon looked at the signature.
It was Nadine's.
He recognized the elegant way she wrote the letter N.
“What is this?””
Patrice crossed her arms.
“An agreement.””
Leon read the heading.
*FAMILY CONTRIBUTION ACKNOWLEDGMENT.*
The document appeared to state that Nadine had voluntarily agreed to contribute toward future family housing arrangements.
He read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
His face changed.
“Mom, this says Nadine agreed to provide funds toward a property for you.””
Patrice nodded.
“She said she wanted to help.””
Leon looked at the date.
Thanksgiving.
Then he looked at the signature.
He remembered Nadine signing birthday cards, Christmas packages, and a guest book at Patrice's house.
But he had never seen this document.
“Did Nadine sign this in front of you?””
Patrice hesitated.
“She signed it.””
“Did you explain what it was?””
“It was a family agreement.””
Leon looked at Camille.
She shook her head.
“Mom, you told Nadine it was a birthday contribution form.””
Patrice's face tightened.
Camille continued.
“I was there. You said you wanted everyone to write down what they were contributing to the family celebration.””
Patrice turned toward her.
“Be quiet.””
Leon looked down at the document again.
The amount listed was $40,000.
He felt his hands go cold.
“Nadine never agreed to give you forty thousand dollars.””
Patrice raised her chin.
“She offered to help us.””
“Not like this.””
“She has the money!””
Leon folded the document.
“That doesn't make it yours.””
Patrice's eyes flashed.
“Your father would have wanted me protected.””
Leon looked at his mother for a long moment.
Then he said:
“Dad left you his life insurance. You sold the house he left you. You received the money from the sale. What exactly are you trying to protect yourself from?””
Patrice's mouth opened.
No answer came.
Camille stepped forward.
“Mom, what happened to that money?””
Patrice looked away.
Leon noticed.
And suddenly, another possibility emerged.
Maybe his mother wasn't simply trying to secure a future home.
Maybe she was trying to replace money she had already lost.
He looked at the handwritten financial statement inside the envelope.
There were several entries.
Credit card balances.
Personal loans.
A line labeled PROPERTY DEBT.
And at the bottom, one number had been circled in red.
*$68,500.*
Leon looked up.
“Mom, why do you owe sixty-eight thousand dollars?””
Patrice snatched the paper from his hand.
“That's none of your business.””
But Camille had already seen it.
“Mom,” she whispered, “what did you do?””
Patrice backed away.
And for the first time, Leon understood why his mother had been so desperate to get access to their home.
May you like
She wasn't trying to build an inheritance.
She was trying to escape a financial disaster.
