Chapter 14 - DANA’S LAST VERSION
The final meeting happened at Martin’s office.
Dana had one decision left.
She could continue disputing every transaction, every description of the assault, and every account of Evelyn’s final months.
Or she could accept a negotiated financial resolution and allow the estate to close while the criminal matter followed its own process.
Dana arrived alone except for her attorney.
Megan had not seen her in months.
She looked tired.
Not defeated.
Just tired.
Before signing anything, Dana asked if she could speak directly to Megan.
Megan agreed.
Dana looked at her healing arms.
“I know saying sorry doesn’t fix that.”
“No.”
“I was angry.”
“I know.”
“I didn’t plan it.”
Megan studied her.
“I believe you.”
Dana seemed surprised.
Megan continued.
“I don’t think you woke up that morning planning to hurt me.”
Dana’s eyes filled.
“But once you did, you tried to make me lie about it.”
Dana looked down.
“That’s the part I care about now.”
Not only the water.
The demand afterward.
Tell the hospital it spilled.
Come home with me.
Let me choose the version.
Dana nodded slowly.
“I don’t know how to stop thinking that if people know the worst thing I’ve done, they’ll leave.”
Megan answered:
“You keep making people leave so they can’t decide for themselves.”
Dana flinched.
For years Megan would have softened the sentence after seeing that expression.
She did not now.
Dana signed the financial agreement.
She formally acknowledged the disputed estate transactions.
The neutral administrator would complete distribution.
The house would be sold rather than transferred to any sister because too much conflict had accumulated around it.
Megan hated that choice.
She also knew it was right.
Their mother’s kitchen could not remain the battlefield where they kept trying to prove who belonged.
As Dana left, she stopped at the door.
“Do you hate me?”
Megan thought about the question.
“No.”
Dana looked almost relieved.
Then Megan added:
“But I don’t trust you.”
The relief disappeared.
May you like
That was more honest.
And for once, Dana did not argue with the answer.
