Chapter 5: My Son's Secret
I didn't tell Caleb to sit back down.
I didn't need to.
He was already standing beside the dining table, staring at me as though he'd accidentally opened a door he could no longer close.
"What did you just say?"" I asked.
He pressed a hand against his forehead.
"I shouldn't have said that.""
"No, you shouldn't have. But you did.""
"Mom, I can't explain everything right now.""
"Then explain what you can.""
He looked at the balcony doors.
The dark water beyond them reflected scattered lights from the neighboring buildings. A couple walked along the beach below, their silhouettes moving slowly through the sand.
Caleb had always been a terrible liar.
As a child, he'd hidden broken lamps behind the sofa and insisted he had no idea why the living room smelled like burnt plastic. At sixteen, he'd tried to conceal a speeding ticket inside a textbook. At twenty-five, he'd pretended he wasn't nervous before proposing to Harper.
I had always been able to read his face.
Tonight, however, I wasn't sure whether I wanted to.
"Caleb," I said, "what is the second appraisal?""
He dragged a hand through his hair.
"It was part of a proposal.""
"What proposal?""
He looked at me.
"Harper's father wanted to acquire several properties in this building.""
I frowned.
"Acquire them for what?""
"Redevelopment. He thought some of the units could be combined or renovated and sold at a higher price.""
I looked around the living room.
"My condo was one of those properties?""
"Yes.""
"Did he approach me about buying it?""
"No.""
"Did Daniel?""
Caleb hesitated.
"Not directly.""
I stood.
"Then how did my property become part of a redevelopment proposal?""
He exhaled sharply.
"Mom, please let me finish.""
I folded my arms.
He sat down again.
"Richard had been looking at properties in the area for a while. Daniel knew him professionally. They'd discussed the building before you bought your unit.""
My stomach tightened.
"Before I bought it?""
"Yes.""
"And Daniel never told me?""
"I don't know what Daniel told you.""
"Caleb.""
He closed his eyes.
"Harper said there was a potential issue with the purchase documents. She thought it would be better if we waited until you weren't using the condo before bringing it up.""
I stared at him.
"Waited until I wasn't using my own property?""
"She said it would make things easier.""
"For whom?""
He had no answer.
I walked to the kitchen, poured water into a glass, and drank half of it before turning back.
"Did you know about the appraisal when you agreed to send me to a motel?""
"No.""
"Did you know about it before today?""
He looked down.
"Yes.""
The glass stopped halfway to my mouth.
"When?""
"About six months ago.""
I set the glass on the counter.
Six months.
Half a year of holidays, phone calls, and family dinners. Six months in which my son had visited me, accepted meals I'd cooked, and listened to me talk about how much I loved the condo.
And all that time, he had known there was a document concerning the property.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't think it was important.""
"Then why did Harper hope I'd never find it?""
His silence answered the question more clearly than words could have.
I walked back to the dining table.
"Did she ask you to keep it from me?""
"Not exactly.""
"What does that mean?""
He rubbed his jaw.
"She said you would misunderstand. She said Richard was looking into a business opportunity and that the appraisal was just a preliminary document.""
"Did she show you the document?""
"Yes.""
"Did you read it?""
"A little.""
I felt my heart beating harder.
"What did it say?""
"I don't remember every detail.""
"Then tell me what you do remember.""
He looked miserable.
"There was a section about the current owner. A section about the estimated market value. And something about an option to negotiate a future sale.""
I stared at him.
"An option to negotiate with whom?""
"You.""
"Did I agree to sell?""
"No.""
"Did I sign an option agreement?""
"I don't know.""
"Did you ask me?""
He shook his head.
I sat down slowly.
For years, I'd tried to believe that Caleb's passivity was simply the result of a difficult marriage. He disliked arguments. Harper was assertive. He preferred to smooth things over rather than confront her.
I'd made excuses for him because I remembered the little boy who used to fall asleep on my shoulder.
But there was a difference between avoiding conflict and helping someone hide information from your own mother.
"Caleb," I said, "did you receive money from Richard?""
His head snapped up.
"What?""
"Did he pay you for anything related to this condo?""
"No!""
His answer was so immediate that I believed it.
Then his expression changed.
"Mom, why would you ask me that?""
"Because I need to understand how far this goes.""
He paced toward the balcony, then turned back.
"Richard offered to help us with a down payment on a house. That's all.""
"When?""
"Earlier this year.""
"How much?""
He hesitated.
"Fifty thousand dollars.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Fifty thousand dollars?""
"He said it was a gift. He wanted us to have a place of our own.""
"Did you accept it?""
"Yes.""
"Was there a written agreement?""
"Not that I know of.""
"Was the money conditional on anything?""
"No.""
He answered too quickly.
I looked at him.
"Caleb, I am not asking these questions to hurt you. I am asking because I need the truth.""
He sank into a chair.
"Richard said the money would help us get started. He said he might be able to find us a property near the beach. Harper was excited about it.""
"And did you know he was considering my condo?""
He nodded.
"When I found out, I asked Harper whether you knew about the proposal. She said Daniel had already discussed it with you during the purchase.""
I stared at him.
"Daniel never discussed a redevelopment proposal with me.""
"I know that now.""
"How?""
"Because Harper told me you wouldn't remember the details.""
The words struck me like a slap.
I had never suffered from memory problems. My doctor had praised my cognitive health at my last physical, and I still managed my finances, appointments, and household affairs without assistance.
Yet Harper had apparently decided that my age made it easy to dismiss my recollection of events.
"Did she say I was confused?"" I asked.
Caleb looked away.
"She said you were getting older and might not remember every conversation.""
I stood so quickly that the chair scraped behind me.
"Getting older is not the same as losing my mind.""
"I know, Mom.""
"Then why didn't you defend me?""
He flinched.
For a moment, I saw genuine shame in his face.
"I was wrong.""
The words came quietly.
They weren't enough to undo what had happened, but they were the first honest words he'd given me all evening.
I sat again.
"Where is the fifty thousand dollars now?""
"In our savings account. We haven't used it.""
"Good. Don't spend it. Don't move it. And don't make any decisions about that money until my attorney has reviewed the circumstances.""
His face tightened.
"Are you saying we have to give it back?""
"I'm saying I don't know what it was for, and neither do you. We need to find out.""
He stared at me for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
"I'll cooperate.""
I wanted to ask whether Harper would.
Instead, I picked up the blue folder and placed it beside him.
"Tell me everything you remember about the appraisal.""
He took a breath.
"Harper showed it to me on her laptop. It had a date, a property description, and a proposed valuation. There was also a section about a future transfer. She said it was only an internal planning document.""
"Did it have my signature?""
"I don't remember.""
"Did it have Daniel's?""
"I think so.""
I opened the folder and took out the business card.
"Do you recognize this?""
He examined it.
"Daniel Price. Yes.""
"Did you ever meet him with Richard?""
Caleb nodded slowly.
"Once.""
"When?""
"At Harper's parents' house. Last spring.""
My pulse quickened.
"What was he doing there?""
"Richard had invited him to dinner. He said they were discussing a commercial property, but Harper asked me to join them because she wanted to talk about the condo.""
"And did you?""
"Not that night. I left early.""
"Why?""
He looked ashamed.
"Because they were arguing.""
"About what?""
"Daniel said something about the documents not being what Richard expected. Richard told him to stop worrying about details. Harper said the paperwork could be handled later.""
I leaned forward.
"What paperwork?""
"I don't know, Mom. I swear.""
I believed he didn't know the full story.
But I also believed he had chosen not to ask questions because the answers might have forced him to confront his wife.
My phone rang.
Patrick.
I answered immediately.
"Barbara," he said, "I've obtained a copy of the preliminary document. I need you to look at something, but don't panic.""
I placed him on speaker.
"What is it?""
"The document includes a proposed future acquisition of your unit. It is not, by itself, proof that you agreed to sell. But there are references to a separate instrument that we haven't located yet.""
I glanced at Caleb.
He had gone pale again.
"What kind of instrument?"" I asked.
"A proposed option agreement. It appears someone intended to create a period during which a buyer could negotiate for the property under specified conditions.""
"Did I sign it?""
"We haven't found an executed copy. I'm contacting the title company to establish whether it was ever finalized.""
I closed my eyes.
"All right.""
"There is another issue," Patrick continued.
"The appraisal contains a note stating that the owner had expressed interest in selling within twelve months.""
I opened my eyes.
"I never said that.""
"I know. That's why I'm investigating.""
Caleb rose from his chair.
"Mom, I need to tell you something.""
I looked at him.
He swallowed.
"Harper told me she had a copy of a letter from you. She said it proved you'd been considering selling the condo.""
My heart pounded.
"What letter?""
"I don't know. She wouldn't show me the whole thing. She said it was private correspondence between you and Daniel.""
"I have never written Daniel a letter saying I intended to sell.""
"I know.""
"Then why would she claim that?""
He stared at the floor.
"Because she said if you changed your mind, Richard could lose the money he'd already spent planning the redevelopment.""
I gripped the phone.
"Patrick, did you hear that?""
"I did.""
His voice had become very controlled.
"Caleb, I need you to answer one question. Did you personally see this letter?""
Caleb shook his head, then remembered Patrick couldn't see him.
"No. Harper showed me a photograph of the first page.""
"Did you recognize your mother's signature?""
"I thought I did.""
I felt the room tilt slightly.
Patrick spoke slowly.
"Barbara, do not contact Harper about the letter. We need to preserve whatever evidence exists before anyone has a chance to alter or delete it.""
I looked at my son.
"Caleb, can you get a copy of that photograph?""
He hesitated.
"Harper will know I told you.""
"She already knows I'm asking questions.""
He picked up his phone.
"I'll try.""
He typed for several seconds.
Then he stopped.
His face changed.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He turned the screen toward me.
Harper had replied.
If your mother is asking about the letter, don't send her anything. She has no idea what she signed.
I read the message twice.
Then a second message appeared.
And if she contacts Daniel, tell her to ask why he kept the original.
I looked at Patrick's number on my phone.
My hands had gone cold.
"Patrick," I whispered, "what original?""
He didn't answer immediately.
May you like
When he finally spoke, his words were measured and grave.
"Barbara, I think we need to find Daniel Price before anyone else does.""
