Chapter 8: Renee Calls
I drove for about forty minutes and then parked near a lake about twelve miles from the house.
I sat with the windows down and let the morning come in.
A pair of ducks moved along the edge of the water.
Someone was walking a dog on the far path.
Ordinary Saturday things.
My phone rang.
It was Renee.
I almost didn't answer.
Then I thought about what Marcus had said: *Don't give her the scene she's written.* Renee calling me was not in anyone's script.
I answered.
"Ray," she said.
"I'm sorry to call you directly.
I didn't know what else to do."
"It's all right, Renee."
"She called me this morning." Her voice was tight.
"About twenty minutes ago.
She told me you know about the account."
"I know about the account."
A long pause.
"Ray, I want you to know — she told me it was for emergencies.
She told me she was protecting Kayla in case something happened.
I didn't know she was taking it without telling you.
I want you to believe that."
I thought about the text thread.
*I need you to back me up if this gets messy.
You've seen how he gets, right?*
"She asked you to say you'd seen me lose my temper," I said.
"In the messages."
Renee was quiet for a moment.
"Yes."
"Are you going to?"
"No." Her voice was very firm.
"No, I'm not.
And I told her that.
I told her what she was doing was wrong.
That's — that's part of why I'm calling you." She paused.
"I'm not going to lie for her, Ray.
Whatever she's planning.
I won't do it."
I watched the ducks for a moment.
"Thank you, Renee."
"I know that doesn't fix anything."
"It doesn't," I said.
"But it means something."
"How is Kayla?"
"She's at a friend's house right now.
She's—" I stopped.
"She called me Dad last week.
First time in over a year.
She did it on purpose, in front of her mother."
Renee made a small sound.
"That girl," she said softly.
"She's always known exactly who loves her."
I didn't say anything to that.
I didn't need to.
"Ray," Renee said carefully, "she's going to fight.
You know that.
She doesn't know how to stop when she's already committed to something.
And she's been planning this for a while."
"I know."
"She may try to involve Kayla.
Try to get her to say things, or see things a certain way."
"I know that too."
"Kayla won't," Renee said.
"I know her.
She won't."
"I know she won't," I said.
"But thank you for saying it."
After I hung up I sat by the lake for another half hour.
Then I called Marcus and told him about Renee's call.
"That's significant," he said.
"An eyewitness who refuses to cooperate with the opposing party's narrative, and who has direct knowledge of the financial account.
If this goes to litigation, we may want to speak with her formally."
"She'll cooperate," I said.
"She's not happy about any of this."
"Good." A pause.
"How are you holding up?"
It was an unexpected question from an attorney.
I thought about it honestly.
"I'm okay," I said.
"I think I was grieving something that was already gone before I knew it was gone.
The knowing just makes it — concrete."
"That's a reasonable way to put it," Marcus said.
"Are you clear on next steps?"
"Move forward," I said.
"Carefully.
And don't give her the scene she's written."
"Exactly right," he said.
"I'll have the formal petition ready by Wednesday."
I started the car.
The ducks were still at the edge of the water when I pulled out.
Unhurried.
Unbothered by anything on the far shore.
I thought about the second stair in our house.
May you like
The creak I had heard for nine years and never thought to question.
The house was going to be very quiet soon.
