Chapter 3 - ELEANOR THOUGHT AUDREY HAD ALREADY SAID YES
Eleanor arrived at noon carrying lemon cake.
Julian was waiting alone.
Audrey learned what happened later.
Eleanor walked into the house and immediately asked:
“Where is she?”
Julian said Audrey was “having another episode.”
Eleanor put down the cake.
“What kind of episode?”
“She left.”
Eleanor stared at him.
“Left where?”
“With Natalie.”
That frightened Eleanor.
Not because Natalie was dangerous.
Because Eleanor knew Natalie handled Audrey’s property.
“Why?”
Julian rubbed his forehead.
“Because Audrey is being impossible.”
Eleanor’s expression changed.
“Did she sign?”
“No.”
“Julian.”
“I said no.”
“You told me she agreed.”
“She did.”
“When?”
“Mom, not now.”
Eleanor began to understand that the lunch she had been invited to was not the lunch she believed she was attending.
She thought Audrey had agreed to move into the McLean house for six months.
She thought Audrey had agreed to pledge the Vienna property temporarily to help Julian’s company stabilize.
She thought the paperwork was largely complete.
Most importantly:
she thought Audrey had proposed part of the arrangement herself.
Why?
Because Eleanor had an email.
Audrey did not know that yet.
At 1:24 p.m., Natalie’s office received a call.
Eleanor.
Audrey almost refused.
Then answered on speaker.
“What?”
Eleanor’s voice was cold.
“I want to know why you told Julian you agreed to move in and are now pretending you didn’t.”
Audrey stared at Natalie.
“I never told Julian that.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“Send me what you’re talking about.”
“You know exactly—”
“Send it.”
Eleanor hung up.
Three minutes later an email arrived.
Forwarded message.
Sender name:
Audrey Hale.
The address looked almost correct.
Almost.
Audrey’s actual address ended:
audrey.m.hale
The sender ended:
audrey.n.hale
One letter.
Natalie leaned closer.
“When did Eleanor receive this?”
“Two months ago.”
Audrey read the message.
I’ve thought about it. Moving into McLean for a while makes sense. If my house can help Julian get through this contract mess, I’m willing to sign what we discussed. I don’t want Julian thinking I don’t believe in him.
Audrey felt physically sick.
“I never wrote that.”
Natalie nodded.
“I know.”
The next message was worse.
Please don’t make a big thing about the property. Julian gets defensive when he feels like I’m questioning his ability to provide.
Audrey stared at the words.
It sounded enough like her to work.
But not completely.
She hated the phrase ability to provide.
She never used it.
Eleanor did.
Julian knew that.
Audrey called her back.
“Eleanor.”
“What?”
“The email is fake.”
Silence.
“Don’t insult me.”
“I’m looking at it with the attorney who has had my correct email address for eleven years.”
Eleanor said nothing.
Audrey continued:
“There is one wrong letter.”
Another silence.
Then:
“Julian forwarded it.”
“No. Look.”
Eleanor apparently did.
Audrey heard her breathing change.
“That isn’t your address.”
“No.”
“Then whose is it?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Eleanor’s voice became softer.
“Did you ever agree to move here?”
“No.”
“The house as collateral?”
“No.”
“The appraisal?”
“No.”
Eleanor said:
“Julian told me you were embarrassed to discuss money directly with me.”
Audrey closed her eyes.
Of course he had.
He had built a reason for the two women never to compare notes.
Eleanor whispered:
“I signed papers too.”
Audrey looked at Natalie.
“What papers?”
“My house.”
The McLean house.
The one Julian kept telling Audrey they needed to move into because Eleanor “needed family.”
May you like
Eleanor’s voice broke.
“I put my house into the same collateral package.”
