I realized how long I had mistaken dramatic declarations for care. The people helping me now were not making speeches. They were showing up, carrying groceries, and remembering the appointment time.
CHAPTER 14: JESSICA’S MESSAGE
Jessica sent me an email with the subject line BE REASONABLE. She said Michael had suffered enough and accused me of using the pregnancy to punish him. At the bottom she added that the house would be better suited to the family she and Michael intended to create.
I forwarded it to Camille. Her reply was brief: Don’t engage. Preserve it.
Later that week Jessica contacted me again, this time asking whether I would agree to sell the house quickly. She said the market was strong and everyone could move on. I wondered whether she knew the home-equity loan was under investigation.
Camille requested that Jessica’s business preserve records relating to the disputed funds. Jessica’s attorney responded that the payments were legitimate business investments. The competing accounts would have to be examined through discovery.
