Chapter 8 - The Decision That Could Not Be Taken Back
Kendra signed the affidavit Monday morning.
Dana reviewed every sentence first.
No accusation against Loretta.
No accusation against Blake.
Only facts.
Kendra had not created or authorized the electronic signature.
She had not knowingly agreed to guarantee Hollis Custom Millwork's debt.
She had been at a medical facility when the signature was created.
She had never used the company-managed email address associated with the signing session.
She requested a formal fraud and authentication review.
Dana slid the document back across the table.
"Once this goes in, you don't control what the lender does next."
"I know."
"You may be interviewed again."
"I know."
"They may restrict the company's access to credit."
Kendra pictured Luis.
Gary.
Melanie.
"I know."
"Do you want another day?"
Kendra thought of Maisie screaming against her wet blouse.
She thought of Loretta pointing at the door.
Then she thought of Blake asking her not to look.
"No."
She signed.
The lender acknowledged receipt at 10:18.
At 12:06, Hollis Custom Millwork's ability to make new draws on its revolving line was temporarily suspended.
Blake called at 12:09.
Kendra answered.
He did not yell.
That somehow made the conversation worse.
"They froze it."
"I heard."
"Payroll is covered this week."
"Good."
"After that, I don't know."
"I'm sorry."
"No, you're not."
Kendra closed her eyes.
"You're right. I'm sorry innocent people are scared. I'm not sorry I told the truth."
Blake breathed out.
"I know."
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then he said, "Mom wants to meet."
"No."
"She says she'll apologize."
"For which part?"
"Kendra."
"The water? The slaps? Calling my baby filthy? Using my name? Lying to your employees?"
"I didn't say she admitted the loan."
"Then we have nothing to discuss."
Blake was quiet.
"What about us?"
The question hurt because it sounded sincere.
"I don't know."
"I moved Mom out."
"After she assaulted me."
"I know."
"You keep describing things you did after the point when you should've done them."
He had no answer.
That evening, Kendra made another irreversible decision.
She told Blake she would not return to the mansion while Loretta retained unrestricted access.
Blake offered to change the locks.
Kendra refused.
"That house is yours."
"It's ours."
"Your mother has treated it like hers since the day we moved in."
"Then I'll stop her."
"You keep saying that like boundaries begin when I'm already bleeding."
"Kendra—"
"I need somewhere that's mine."
Warren immediately offered her one of his investment properties.
She refused.
Two days later, Kendra signed a six-month lease on a furnished two-bedroom townhouse in Davidson.
It was far smaller than the mansion.
The kitchen cabinets were builder-grade maple.
The upstairs carpet was beige.
The washing machine rattled during the spin cycle.
Kendra loved it.
She paid the deposit from her own savings.
Warren helped carry Maisie's portable crib upstairs and did not offer to replace a single piece of furniture.
He was learning.
Blake came by that evening.
Kendra let him see Maisie.
He sat on the living-room floor and rolled a soft ball toward her while she crawled after it.
For twenty minutes, he looked almost peaceful.
Then his phone rang.
He checked it.
Loretta.
He declined the call.
It rang again.
He silenced it.
Kendra watched him.
"Answer."
"I don't need to."
"Answer."
Blake looked at her.
She nodded toward the back patio.
He stepped outside.
Through the glass door, Kendra could not hear Loretta.
She could only see Blake's face.
It changed.
First irritation.
Then confusion.
Then fear.
He came back inside.
"What?"
Blake sat down.
"The lender wants workstation access logs."
Kendra waited.
"They're asking which computers accessed your company email on October fourteenth."
"Good."
Blake rubbed his palms on his pants.
"Mom is telling IT not to release anything until company counsel reviews it."
"Can she do that?"
"She's still CFO."
"Then remove her."
Blake looked at Kendra as though she had suggested removing a load-bearing wall.
Maybe she had.
"She's been there thirty-eight years."
"And?"
"She built the financial side with my dad."
"Blake."
"I know."
"No. I don't think you do."
Kendra leaned forward.
"You keep waiting for a version of this where nobody has to choose."
Blake looked at his daughter on the floor.
Maisie slapped the ball.
"You're going to have to."
The next morning, Hollis's outside attorney instructed IT to preserve the access logs.
By lunchtime, Loretta had been temporarily suspended from the company's financial systems.
For the first time in nearly four decades, she could not open the books bearing her husband's family name.
May you like
And according to Blake, she reacted not like someone who had been insulted.
She reacted like someone who knew exactly what those logs were going to show.
