Chapter 3: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
I read the message again.
Then I turned my phone toward Jason.
"Do you want to explain this?""
He didn't take the phone.
Olivia reached for her champagne, but her hand was shaking enough that the liquid spilled over the rim.
"Who sent that?"" she asked.
"Someone from Mountain West Property Group.""
Her eyes flicked toward Jason.
It was quick.
Almost invisible.
But I'd spent three years negotiating with contractors, insurance adjusters, and people who thought a woman alone in a business meeting was an easy target.
I knew what a guilty glance looked like.
"Rebecca," my mother whispered, "maybe we should all sit down.""
"No.""
"Please.""
"Mom, someone has submitted a property transfer request using my personal information. I would like to know why.""
Olivia laughed nervously.
"You're blowing this completely out of proportion.""
"Then you'll have no problem explaining it.""
Jason finally spoke.
"There's a perfectly reasonable explanation.""
"Wonderful. Let's hear it.""
He looked toward the guests.
"Can everybody give us a minute?""
Nobody moved.
Aunt Carol folded her arms.
"I think we've all been involved long enough.""
Jason's expression hardened.
"This is a private family matter.""
Michael shook his head.
"Not anymore.""
I took a screenshot of the message and called the number.
Mark Ellis answered on the second ring.
"Mountain West Property Group, this is Mark.""
"Hi, Mark. This is Rebecca Hart. You just texted me about a transfer request.""
His tone immediately became serious.
"Ms. Hart, thank you for calling. I've been trying to reach you since yesterday afternoon.""
"What's happening?""
"We received an application to prepare a transfer of ownership for your property on Red Mountain Pass.""
I glanced at Olivia.
She was staring at the floor.
"Who submitted it?""
"A representative identifying herself as Diane Hart.""
My mother's hand flew to her mouth.
I felt the room tilt.
"That's my mother.""
"I understand. The application states that you authorized the transfer and that your mother was acting on your behalf.""
"I didn't authorize anything.""
"That's what concerned us.""
I gripped the edge of the island.
"What exactly was requested?""
Mark paused.
"According to the application, ownership was to be transferred to Olivia Hart and Jason Hart as joint owners.""
I looked directly at my sister.
She had gone completely pale.
"Was it approved?""
"No. The application was incomplete, and we couldn't verify your authorization. We contacted the number listed for you, but it didn't match the number in our existing records.""
"Was there a signature?""
Another pause.
"Yes.""
"Can you send it to me?""
"We'll need to follow our verification process, but I can send you a copy of the submitted documents through our secure channel.""
"Please do.""
"Ms. Hart, I recommend you contact a property attorney before proceeding. Also, if you believe your identity has been used without authorization, consider reporting it.""
"I will.""
I ended the call.
Nobody spoke.
The fireplace crackled behind Olivia.
Then my mother began crying.
Not loudly.
Just enough to make sure everyone noticed.
"Rebecca, I never wanted this to happen.""
I looked at her.
"Then why did you submit a transfer request?""
She shook her head.
"I was trying to help.""
"Help whom?""
"Your sister.""
"By giving her my house?""
"She has two children. You don't understand what it's like to raise a family.""
I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing.
I had spent years helping Olivia whenever she needed money.
I had paid for emergency plumbing at her house once when Jason was between jobs. I'd bought Christmas presents for her children when she told me they were having a difficult month.
And now my own mother was standing in my kitchen explaining why my sister deserved my home more than I did.
"Did you sign my name?"" I asked.
Mom looked at me.
"No.""
"Did you submit my information?""
She hesitated.
"Olivia handled the paperwork.""
I turned toward my sister.
"Did you forge my signature?""
Olivia put her glass down.
"Don't use that word.""
"What word would you prefer?""
"You don't understand how these things work.""
"Then explain them.""
She walked toward the kitchen island.
"We were going to talk to you.""
"When?""
"After Christmas.""
I stared at her.
"After Christmas?""
"Once everyone had settled in.""
"Settled into my house?""
She threw her hands up.
"God, Rebecca! You act like we were going to steal it and disappear!""
I looked at the cardboard box beside the staircase.
My father's measuring tape was still lying on the counter.
"You packed my belongings.""
"We were making room.""
"You changed the locks.""
Jason's head snapped up.
I hadn't known for certain until I said it.
But his expression told me everything.
I had tried my key outside.
It had turned, but the deadbolt hadn't moved.
I'd assumed the cold had affected the mechanism.
Now I understood.
"Jason," I said slowly, "did you change my locks?""
He looked at Olivia.
"She wanted better security.""
"Without telling me?""
"We were planning to give you a key.""
I stared at him.
"You changed the locks on a property you don't own and planned to give the owner a key?""
Aunt Carol whispered, "Oh, my God.""
Jason's face reddened.
"Look, this was supposed to be temporary.""
"Temporary?""
Olivia stepped closer.
"Rebecca, please listen. The kids love it here. They saw the pictures I posted and they've been talking about Christmas in the mountains for weeks.""
"Then you should have bought them a mountain house.""
"We can't afford one!""
The words came out louder than she intended.
Silence followed.
There it was.
The truth.
I looked at my sister.
"So you decided I should pay for it?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"You've always had everything.""
I almost laughed again.
"Everything?""
"You have your career. You have your savings. You have this beautiful house. You never have to worry about anyone but yourself.""
"I worked for this.""
"Exactly!"" she snapped.
"You always work. You never help anyone unless you can make them feel guilty about it.""
I stared at her.
"How much money did you spend preparing for this housewarming?""
She blinked.
"What?""
"The party. The food. The decorations.
The champagne. How much?""
"That's none of your business.""
"Did you pay for it?""
Jason looked away.
My mother began twisting her wedding ring.
I took a breath.
"Did you tell the guests you had purchased the property?""
Olivia didn't answer.
"Did you tell the real estate company I had authorized a transfer?""
Still nothing.
Then Michael quietly pulled his phone from his pocket.
"Rebecca," he said, "I think you should see something.""
He walked over and showed me a photograph.
It was a screenshot from a family group chat.
The message was from Olivia, sent two weeks earlier.
**Big news! Jason and I are finally taking over Mom's mountain place. Becca is helping us with the transition.
We're planning to make it our permanent Christmas home. Please don't mention anything to her until everything is finalized. We want it to be a surprise!**
I read it twice.
Then I looked at Michael.
"Why did you send this to me?""
He swallowed.
"Because I thought you knew.""
I handed the phone back.
Aunt Carol was now looking at Olivia as if she had never met her before.
"Olivia, you told us Rebecca agreed.""
"She was going to.""
"That's not the same thing.""
Olivia's face hardened.
"Everyone needs to stop acting like I'm some criminal.""
I placed the original deed back inside my folder.
"Nobody has called you a criminal.""
"You're threatening me.""
"No. I'm telling you to leave my house.""
Jason stepped forward.
"You can't just throw us out. We've got nowhere to go tonight.""
I looked at him.
"You have a house in Boulder.""
"We brought the kids here.""
"Then take them home.""
Olivia shook her head.
"You're unbelievable.""
I picked up my phone.
"Mark told me to contact an attorney. I'm doing that now.""
Jason's voice dropped.
"Rebecca, think carefully about what you're doing.""
I looked at him.
"I have been thinking carefully about this house for three years.""
I walked toward the fireplace and picked up one of the family photographs Olivia had placed on the mantle.
It was a picture of my father and me on the day we finished installing the original support beams.
He was wearing his old army jacket.
I was covered in sawdust.
We were both laughing.
I put it back where it belonged.
Then I turned around.
"Everyone who doesn't live here needs to leave.""
Aunt Carol immediately picked up her coat.
Michael followed.
The two women from Boulder hurried toward the door.
My mother remained beside the island.
"Rebecca, please don't do this.""
I looked at her.
"Mom, you gave Olivia my key. You helped her submit a transfer request. You stood here while she told twenty-four people she owned my home.""
Her face crumpled.
"I thought you would eventually agree.""
I stared at her.
"That's the problem. You never thought you needed my permission.""
Olivia suddenly grabbed her purse.
"Fine. We'll leave.""
Jason started collecting his coat.
But before they reached the door, my phone rang again.
Mark Ellis.
I answered.
"Hi, Mark.""
His voice was different now.
More urgent.
"Ms. Hart, I've just reviewed another document attached to the transfer request.""
My stomach tightened.
"What document?""
"A notarized authorization letter. It claims you granted your mother power of attorney over the property.""
I looked at Diane.
She stopped moving.
"That's impossible," I said.
"I thought you should know. There's something else.""
"What?""
"The authorization letter includes a copy of your driver's license and a signature that appears to be yours.""
I looked at my sister.
Then at my mother.
"Who submitted it?""
Mark hesitated.
"Your mother.""
I slowly lowered the phone.
Diane was crying now.
Olivia had stopped halfway to the door.
And suddenly I understood why my mother had looked so frightened when I first walked into the lodge.
She hadn't been worried that I'd hear Olivia's toast.
She'd been worried I'd discover what they'd already done.
I took one step toward her.
"Mom," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Where did you get my driver's license?""
She opened her mouth.
But Olivia answered first.
"From the folder Dad left us.""
I froze.
"What folder?""
My sister looked at Jason.
Jason shut his eyes.
May you like
And then my mother said the one thing that made the entire situation even worse.
"Rebecca, your father left something else when he died. Something you were never supposed to find.""
