Chapter 9 - My Father Knew Erin
The next surprise didn’t come from the Coles.
It came from my own father.
Erin’s divorce file contained a witness signature.
THOMAS PARKER.
I stared at Nina.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“He told me he barely knew Howard.”
“Then you should ask him.”
I drove directly to my parents’ house.
Mom opened the door and immediately knew.
“Where’s Dad?”
“In his office.”
Thomas looked up when I placed the document on his desk.
His face fell.
“You knew Erin.”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She came to my bank.”
“When?”
“During the lake-house dispute.”
I could barely process it.
“You knew Brandon had been married before.”
“Yes.”
“You knew there was a property fight.”
“Part of one.”
“And you watched me marry him?”
Mom started crying behind me.
Dad stood.
“I did not know everything you know now.”
“You knew enough to hide it.”
“I knew Erin believed Brandon’s family was pressuring her. I knew Howard used structures I considered aggressive. I knew Brenda was difficult.”
“Difficult?”
“Melanie—”
“You let me stand in front of two hundred people and marry a man who lied about ever having a wife.”
His eyes filled.
“I warned him.”
I went still.
“What?”
“The week before your wedding.”
“What did you say?”
“That if he ever treated you the way Erin said she had been treated, I would help you leave.”
I felt sick.
“And he married me anyway.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Dad looked smaller than I had ever seen him.
“Because I thought if I told you I distrusted his family, you would hear that I distrusted your judgment.”
For a long time, nobody spoke.
Then I understood why Dad insisted on the separate wedding account.
Not because he wanted to control my marriage.
Because he suspected I might someday need a door out.
That didn’t make hiding Erin okay.
It made his mistake human.
The distinction mattered.
Before I left, Dad said something else.
“There’s more about Howard.”
I stopped.
“What?”
“I reviewed one of his commercial refinancing applications long before Erin.”
“How long?”
“Almost thirty years.”
My skin prickled.
“And?”
Dad looked toward Mom.
Then back at me.
“I refused it.”
“Why?”
“Because the property supporting the loan was disputed.”
I stared at him.
“Whose property?”
May you like
He hesitated.
That hesitation became the final clue before everything broke open.
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