Chapter 17 - What Mom Knew
Mom did not deny sending the email.
She denied understanding what it would become.
“I only told her the address,” she said.
The email included more than an address.
It included my purchase price, the fact that Unit B was vacant, and the name of my property manager.
Mom had gathered pieces from conversations I never realized she was storing.
“Why?” I asked.
“Dileia said she wanted to help you rent it.”
“I already had Gretchen.”
“I know that now.”
“You knew it then.”
Mom looked down.
The truth came slowly.
Dileia had been complaining that I was “getting ahead” while she was drowning.
Mom thought giving her a connection to my property might make her feel useful.
So she handed over information that was not hers to give.
“I wanted you two closer,” she whispered.
“You cannot build closeness by giving one daughter access to the other daughter’s life.”
She started to apologize again.
I stopped her.
“I need different behavior, not another apology.”
That evening, I changed my emergency contacts, removed my parents from financial accounts where they had view access, and created a separate document folder nobody in my family could reach.
It felt harsh for about five minutes.
Then it felt peaceful.
The criminal case moved forward.
The commission suspended Dileia’s license pending final discipline.
Frank resigned from his brokerage before they could fire him.
Red Birch released its claim against Caldwell Street.
My title was clean again.
Then Patricia called with one last financial surprise.
“Remember the five-thousand-dollar deposit from the Holts?”
“Yes.”
“It wasn’t the only one.”
My stomach tightened.
“How many?”
“Three couples sent money.”
“How much total?”
“Fourteen thousand five hundred.”
I stared at the wall.
May you like
Patricia continued.
“And one of them says Dileia promised closing would happen tomorrow.”
