Chapter 4: The House That Was Never Hers
For several seconds, Derrick couldn't take his eyes off the document.
His father's name.
His own name.
And a signature that looked almost exactly like his.
He read the final paragraph again, then looked at Gloria.
"Mom, what does she mean she's trying to sell the house?""
Gloria swallowed.
"Your father left this house to you. He wanted you to have somewhere secure, somewhere nobody could take away from you.""
Derrick looked toward Patrice.
"Is that true?""
Patrice gave a tired sigh.
"Your mother is twisting everything.""
"Then explain the document.""
"It's complicated.""
"Make it simple.""
Patrice walked toward the bed and picked up the glass of water she had brought earlier.
"Your father left the house in a trust. Your mother was supposed to manage it until everything was settled. But she refused to cooperate.""
Gloria shook her head.
"That's not true.""
Patrice turned sharply.
"Please, Gloria. You've had enough attention for one evening.""
Derrick moved between them.
"Don't speak to her like that.""
Patrice placed the glass down harder than necessary.
"You have no idea what I've sacrificed for this family.""
Derrick looked at the document again.
"Why is my signature here?""
"Because you signed it.""
"I don't remember signing anything about selling this house.""
"You signed several documents when we refinanced the property.""
"Which documents?""
Patrice stared at him.
"The ones I gave you.""
Derrick shook his head.
"I remember signing insurance papers. I remember signing the paperwork for the kitchen renovation. I don't remember agreeing to sell my father's house.""
Patrice's expression hardened.
"Maybe you should remember how busy you were. You told me to handle the paperwork.""
That was partly true.
Six months earlier, Derrick had been working overtime at the construction company. Patrice had brought home a folder and asked him to sign several pages.
He had trusted her.
He had barely glanced at the documents.
Now he looked at the signature.
Something was wrong.
The letter D was unusually narrow. His real signature always had a long upward stroke.
"Where did you get this?""
Patrice crossed her arms.
"From the attorney.""
"Which attorney?""
"Mr. Collins.""
Derrick immediately pulled out his phone.
"Give me his number.""
"Not tonight.""
"Why?""
"Because your mother needs medical attention, and you're standing here interrogating me like I've committed a crime.""
A knock sounded at the front door.
Two paramedics entered carrying medical equipment.
One of them, a woman with dark hair tied in a neat bun, introduced herself as Sarah.
"Who's the patient?""
Derrick pointed toward the bed.
"My mother. She fell, and she says she can't stand.""
Sarah approached Gloria and crouched beside her.
"Hello, Gloria. I'm Sarah. Can you tell me where you're hurting?""
"My hip," Gloria whispered.
"How long have you been in this room?""
Gloria looked at Derrick.
Then she looked at Patrice.
Sarah noticed.
"It's okay. You can speak freely.""
Gloria lowered her voice.
"Since yesterday morning.""
Derrick turned.
"Yesterday?""
Patrice immediately interrupted.
"She gets confused about time.""
Sarah didn't look up.
"I'd like to hear from Gloria, please.""
She checked Gloria's blood pressure and asked about her medications. When she examined the bruising on Gloria's wrist, her expression became serious.
"Has anyone contacted her doctor?""
"No," Derrick answered.
Sarah looked at him.
"Do you know what medications she's supposed to be taking?""
Derrick shook his head.
Patrice answered instead.
"Everything is in the bathroom cabinet.""
Sarah nodded.
"We'll need to take her in for a proper assessment. She may have an injury that requires imaging.""
As the paramedics prepared the stretcher, Gloria reached for Derrick.
"Don't let her take my papers.""
Derrick leaned closer.
"I won't.""
Sarah looked toward Patrice.
"What papers?""
"Nothing," Patrice said quickly.
"She's confused.""
But Derrick had already noticed something.
Patrice was staring at the bedside cabinet.
At the photocopy.
When the paramedics lifted Gloria carefully onto the stretcher, Patrice stepped aside.
Then she reached for the document.
Derrick caught her wrist.
"Leave it.""
She looked at him.
"That's private family business.""
"Then we'll discuss it with a lawyer.""
Her eyes narrowed.
"You wouldn't dare.""
Derrick released her.
"Watch me.""
The paramedics wheeled Gloria toward the hallway.
As she passed the birdcage, the parrot began flapping its wings.
"Dre! Mama! Dre!""
Gloria turned her head.
A weak smile appeared on her face.
"That's my boy," she whispered.
Derrick followed the stretcher outside.
Behind him, Patrice called his name.
"Derrick!""
He stopped at the doorway.
She stood beneath the hallway light, holding her phone.
"You're making a mistake.""
He looked at her.
"No, Patrice. I think I made one a long time ago.""
Then he walked out.
At the hospital, Gloria was taken for examination while Derrick waited in the corridor.
He called his aunt Denise.
She answered on the fourth ring.
"Dre? What's wrong?""
"Is Mom with you?""
There was a pause.
"What?""
"Patrice told me Mom was staying at your house.""
"Your mother hasn't been here in weeks.""
Derrick closed his eyes.
"Thank you, Aunt Denise.""
"Baby, what's happening?""
He looked through the glass at Gloria.
"Something I should have noticed sooner.""
Before he could explain, another call appeared on his screen.
Mr. Collins.
The attorney Patrice had mentioned.
Derrick answered immediately.
"Mr. Collins, this is Derrick Hayes. I need to ask you about a document involving my father's property.""
The attorney sounded confused.
"Mr. Hayes, I was actually hoping to speak with you.""
"About what?""
A short silence followed.
Then Mr. Collins said something that made Derrick grip the phone.
"Your wife submitted a transfer application three weeks ago. But there's one problem.""
"What problem?""
"The signature on your authorization doesn't match the original documents.""
Derrick stared at the hospital floor.
Mr. Collins continued.
"And there's something else. Your father left specific instructions concerning your mother's right to remain in that house.""
Derrick's voice dropped.
"What instructions?""
The attorney hesitated.
"Before I tell you, I need to know something. Is your mother safe?""
Derrick looked through the glass again.
"She's at the hospital.""
"Good. Then please listen carefully. Patrice has been trying to get your mother to sign something, hasn't she?""
Derrick felt the blood drain from his face.
"What?""
"Because if Gloria signed that document, the entire situation would be very different.""
And suddenly, Derrick understood that the locked bedroom might not have been about keeping his mother quiet.
May you like
It might have been about forcing her to surrender something.
Something his father had deliberately protected.
