Chapter 4
The appraisers had arrived with a real estate agent.
Daniel had scheduled them.
For my house.
While I was supposed to be at work.
While Madison sat on my sofa wearing my robe like a preview of the life he had promised her.
I opened the door before Daniel could stop me.
A woman in a gray blazer smiled professionally.
“Mrs. Carter?”
“Yes.”
Her smile faltered when she saw my cheek, Madison in the robe, Daniel pale behind me, and the blue folder in my hand.
I said, “Are you here to appraise my home based on forged documents?”
The woman stopped smiling completely.
Daniel pushed forward.
“This is a misunderstanding.”
The appraiser looked at him.
“Mr. Carter, you represented that your wife consented to the valuation and sale preparation.”
“I did.”
I held up the deed.
“I did not.”
Karen spoke from my phone.
“This is attorney Karen Holt. Please preserve all communications with Daniel Carter regarding this property.”
The real estate agent took a step back.
“I think we should leave.”
“Good idea,” I said.
Before she left, she handed me her card.
“And for what it’s worth, I’ll cooperate.”
Daniel looked like he might explode.
The door closed.
The room felt smaller.
Madison slowly untied my robe.
Under it, she wore a red dress.
Probably for the fantasy Daniel sold her.
She took the robe off and laid it on the sofa.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
I did not answer.
Not yet.
She had slapped me.
She had sat in my mother’s house wearing my clothes.
But she was starting to understand she had been bait.
May you like
Understanding did not erase harm.
It only changed the direction of the fire.
