Chapter 8 - Diane’s Confession
At the sheriff’s station, Diane asked to speak with Carter alone.
Carter almost refused.
Then she entered the interview room and sat across from her mother.
Without the cream cardigan and carefully arranged white hair, Diane looked smaller. The officers had given her a gray blanket and a cup of water.
“Chloe created the document,” Diane whispered.
“I know.”
“Your father found Samuel.”
“I know that too.”
Diane stared at her hands.
“They said it wasn’t stealing because the house should have belonged to the family.”
“Did you believe that?”
“I believed we were desperate.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Diane’s eyes filled with tears.
“Yes,” she admitted. “I believed you had more than you deserved.”
The honesty hurt more than any excuse could have.
Carter leaned back.
“I worked for everything I have.”
“You had Evelyn.”
“So did all of you.”
Diane looked away.
Carter continued.
“She called you. She asked Dad to visit. She invited Chloe every Christmas. You treated her like an inconvenience until you learned what the house was worth.”
“We made mistakes.”
“No. A mistake is forgetting an appointment. You planned to enter my home using a forged deed.”
Diane began to cry.
“What will happen to us?”
“For once, that depends on your choices.”
Carter stood.
Diane reached across the table.
“Please don’t let them charge Chloe.”
Carter looked at her mother’s hand but did not take it.
“Chloe paid a former notary to forge a dead woman’s signature. She tried to use the document to take my property. I am not responsible for protecting her from the consequences.”
“Then what are you responsible for?”
“My home. My peace. My own life.”
Carter walked to the door.
Behind her, Diane whispered, “I don’t know how to fix this.”
May you like
Carter paused.
“Start by telling the truth without asking for a reward.”
