Chapter 3: The Contract in Her Purse
Marcus opened the office door so quickly Vanessa almost fell forward.
She had been leaning against it.
“Marcus.””
He stepped into the hallway.
“What buyer?””
Vanessa’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But he saw it.
“What?””
“My mother’s house.””
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.””
Marcus held up the power-of-attorney document.
The color drained from her face.
Vanessa glanced behind him.
Evelyn was visible through the open doorway.
“You went through her private papers?””
Marcus stared at her.
“That’s your response?””
“I’m asking a question.””
“So am I. Who is the buyer?””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“I don’t know.””
Aunt Lorraine appeared beside Evelyn.
“Liar.””
Vanessa snapped, “Nobody was talking to you.””
Marcus raised the document.
“You told my mother I wanted her to sign this?””
“I explained something you and I had already discussed.””
“No, you forged a conversation that never happened.””
“I didn’t forge anything.””
“You put your name down as her future agent.””
“Because we are getting married!””
Marcus laughed.
The sound held no humor.
“So marrying me gives you financial authority over my mother?””
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“Can we please stop discussing private family matters in a church hallway?””
Marcus looked toward the sanctuary.
“You didn’t mind making private family matters public when you kicked her wheelchair.””
Her eyes hardened again.
“I barely touched the chair.””
“Who is the buyer?””
“I said I don’t know.””
A voice came from behind Vanessa.
“I might.””
Everyone turned.
Vanessa’s maid of honor, Nia Brooks, stood ten feet away.
She looked sick.
Vanessa stiffened.
“Nia.””
Nia held a cream leather purse.
Vanessa’s purse.
“You left this in the bridal room.””
“Give it to me.””
Nia did not move.
“Nia.””
“I was trying to bring it to you.””
Vanessa advanced.
“Then bring it.””
A large envelope protruded from the purse.
Marcus noticed Vanessa looking at it.
So did Nia.
The maid of honor swallowed.
“What’s in the envelope?””
“Nothing.””
“Then why do you look terrified?””
“I do not look terrified.””
Nia pulled the envelope halfway out.
Vanessa lunged.
Marcus stepped between them.
“Stop.””
“That is my property!””
Nia released the purse.
Marcus caught it.
“Give me that!”” Vanessa shouted.
Her voice carried into the sanctuary.
Guests began standing.
The pastor hurried toward them.
“Folks, please.””
Vanessa grabbed for the bag.
Marcus held it behind him.
“Don’t touch my things!””
“You want this private?”” he said.
“Fine.””
He returned to the pastor’s office and closed the door behind Vanessa, Evelyn, Lorraine, Nia, Darnell, and the pastor.
Seven people.
One room.
No audience.
Marcus placed the purse on the desk.
Vanessa stood across from him.
“If you open that envelope,” she said, “we are done.””
Marcus looked at her.
“I thought we were supposed to be getting married.””
“I mean it.””
“So do I.””
He removed the envelope.
Inside was a contract.
Not finalized.
But close.
Marcus recognized the address before he read anything else.
His mother’s property.
Twelve acres.
Proposed purchase price: $1.95 million.
Buyer: Langley Development Group.
Marcus flipped pages.
His breathing changed when he reached the signature section.
Seller approval required.
Evelyn Carter.
Below it was another line.
Authorized representative.
Vanessa Reed.
A yellow sticky note had been attached.
*Sign after ceremony. Call Eric Monday.*
Marcus read it aloud.
Vanessa’s eyes flashed.
“That is not what it looks like.””
Darnell muttered, “That sentence has never saved anybody.””
Vanessa ignored him.
Marcus held up the contract.
“Explain it.””
“It was an opportunity.””
“For who?””
“For all of us.””
Evelyn stared at her.
“That is my home.””
Vanessa turned.
“It is a giant house you can barely move around in!””
Marcus stepped between them.
“Don’t.””
Vanessa looked back at him.
“You know I’m right.””
“No. What I know is that you tried to make my mother sign legal authority over to you, and you lined up a buyer for land you do not own.””
“I was trying to build our future.””
“With her money.””
“With family money!””
The words exploded out of Vanessa.
Evelyn flinched.
Vanessa pointed toward her.
“She is sitting on almost two million dollars while you and I are trying to start our lives!””
Marcus could barely believe what he was hearing.
“I own a house.””
“We have a mortgage.””
“I have a business.””
“A business you pour everything back into.””
“I make more than enough to support us.””
“That is not the point!””
“What is the point?””
Vanessa’s eyes shone with tears.
“I am tired of struggling.””
Marcus stared.
“You live in a four-hundred-thousand-dollar townhouse.””
“That you owned before me.””
“You drive a new Lexus.””
“In your name!””
“I paid your credit cards off last year.””
She went silent.
Marcus felt everyone in the room listening.
“What struggle are you talking about?””
Vanessa’s face twisted.
“The struggle of knowing everything depends on you.””
Marcus frowned.
She continued.
“If you decide tomorrow that you don’t love me, what do I have?””
“So this was insurance?””
“I wanted security.””
“You wanted my mother’s house.””
“I wanted something that belonged to us!””
Evelyn spoke.
“My home does not belong to you.””
Vanessa turned sharply.
“It will belong to Marcus someday.””
The room became silent.
Evelyn’s expression changed.
Not anger.
Pain.
“You were waiting for me to die?””
Vanessa’s mouth opened.
“No.””
But nobody believed her quickly enough.
She shook her head.
“That is not what I meant.””
Evelyn looked down at her hands.
Marcus moved to her side.
Vanessa panicked.
“Mama Evelyn, please.””
Evelyn looked up.
“Do not call me that.””
The words were soft.
They hit harder than shouting.
Vanessa began crying.
“I made mistakes.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Mistakes?””
“Yes.””
“You arranged a two-million-dollar sale of property you had no authority to sell.””
“I never signed anything!””
“You wanted my mother to.””
“I thought it made sense!””
“You lied to her.””
“I was scared!””
“Of what?””
“Of marrying a man whose mother will always come first!””
Marcus went still.
Vanessa wiped her face.
“There. I said it.””
Evelyn whispered, “Marcus.””
He held up his hand.
Vanessa continued.
“Every relationship has priorities. A wife is supposed to come before everybody else.””
“That doesn’t mean you get to hurt my mother.””
“I did not hurt her!””
“You kicked her wheelchair.””
Vanessa screamed, “BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT MOVE!””
The entire room froze.
Vanessa froze too.
There was no taking it back.
No misunderstanding left to hide behind.
Nia slowly removed the maid-of-honor corsage from her wrist.
Vanessa looked at her.
“What are you doing?””
“I can’t stand beside you.””
“Nia.””
“I can’t.””
“You are my best friend.””
Nia’s eyes filled.
“That’s why I should’ve told you the truth a long time ago.””
Vanessa stared.
“What truth?””
Nia looked at Marcus.
Then at Evelyn.
“I knew about the contract.””
Marcus’s face tightened.
Vanessa whispered, “Shut up.””
Nia started crying.
“And I know something else.””
“Nia.””
“It wasn’t just the house.””
Vanessa crossed the room.
Darnell moved between them.
Nia wiped her cheeks.
Marcus asked, “What else?””
Nia took a shaky breath.
“Vanessa has another debt.””
Marcus frowned.
“How much?””
Nia looked at Vanessa.
May you like
Then answered.
“Two hundred and seventy-six thousand dollars.””
