Chapter 6 - THE SETTLEMENT MADE THEM CARE ABOUT PAIGE AGAIN
Once Susan believed a million dollars was coming, she changed.
Flowers arrived at the hospital.
Card:
WE LOVE YOU, PAIGE.
Greg offered to drive her to chemotherapy.
I almost admired the speed.
Paige did not.
“Why now?”
She stared at the bouquet.
“I was bald last week too.”
Then Susan requested a family meeting.
Through Nathan.
I agreed.
Public conference room.
Paige attended only because she chose to.
Susan began:
“We all made mistakes.”
Paige looked at her.
“What was mine?”
Susan froze.
“Excuse me?”
“You said we all made mistakes. What was mine?”
No answer.
Then Susan pivoted.
“The important thing is Damian is home now and there is enough money to fix everything.”
There.
Money.
Again.
She proposed:
$180,000 for Paige’s care.
$250,000 invested into Greg’s shop.
$150,000 to finish improvements on “the family house.”
$100,000 retirement reserve for herself.
The rest for Damian and Paige.
Nathan asked:
“Why are you allocating Mr. Cole’s settlement?”
Susan looked offended.
“Because I'm his mother.”
Not legal authority.
Moral authority.
Her favorite kind.
Then Greg produced a spreadsheet.
He had already calculated what his business could become with additional capital.
Date created:
The morning after I announced the settlement.
Paige whispered:
“They planned it faster than my treatment.”
Susan heard.
“That’s unfair.”
Paige looked at her.
“You knew I needed three hundred dollars for anti-nausea medication.”
Susan looked away.
“And you said there wasn’t money.”
No shouting.
That was worse.
Then Nathan asked about the alleged $26,000 Paige stole.
Susan said:
“We can put that behind us.”
I leaned forward.
“No.”
Her face changed.
“If Paige stole twenty-six thousand dollars, show us.”
Greg said:
“Why are you defending her?”
“Because evidence works in both directions.”
Nathan requested bank documentation.
Greg objected.
Susan said records had been misplaced.
The precise accusation suddenly had no precise paperwork.
That made me curious.
Paige became frightened.
Not relieved.
“Damian.”
“What?”
“There were forms.”
“What forms?”
May you like
“Susan made me sign things when I was sick.”
The room changed.
