Chapter 12 - What They Were Really Protecting
The attorneys arranged a settlement conference before the protection-order hearing.
Erin sat across from Frank and Linda in a county mediation room.
Owen attended as a potential witness but chose a chair against the wall.
Frank appeared smaller without the garage, the company office, or the family home around him.
Linda wore the same blue blouse from the motel recording.
Erin wondered whether that was defiance or punishment.
Frank’s attorney offered no-contact orders and payment of Erin’s medical expenses if she agreed not to oppose reduced charges and stopped cooperating with the company’s lender.
“You still think money is the part I care about,” Erin said.
Frank looked directly at her.
“You want revenge.”
“I want you to say what you did.”
“You attacked me.”
The lie came without hesitation.
Erin turned toward Linda.
“And you?”
Linda’s hands remained folded.
“I never wanted you hurt.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“I wanted you to delete the video and stay out of our marriage.”
“You told him to scare me.”
“I thought he would shout. Break the phone. I didn’t think—”
“You watched him hit me.”
Linda looked down.
Frank interrupted.
“She was trying to save the family.”
“From what?” Erin asked. “The affair everyone already knew about?”
“From losing the house,” Linda said sharply. “From losing the company. From spending retirement in some rented room while Rebecca got everything I helped build.”
Rebecca, seated beside her attorney, flinched.
Frank’s voice hardened.
“Linda, stop.”
But Linda continued.
“I knew what he was. I stayed because I had no career, no pension of my own, and no desire to start over at fifty-six. You were going to blow up my life because you needed everyone to know you were right.”
Erin felt the old desire to explain herself.
She let it pass.
“You could have chosen yourself,” she said. “Instead, you chose him over me.”
Linda’s face tightened.
“I chose survival.”
“No. You chose who would pay for it.”
Frank stood, ending the conference.
Rebecca watched him leave.
May you like
Then she turned to the prosecutor.
“I’ll testify in open court. I’m done letting him decide what embarrassment costs more.”
