Chapter 6 - The Cabin's Secrets
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The lake cabin we owned was also held in both our names, but its financial history was significantly more complicated. We had purchased it as a joint investment property using savings accumulated during our marriage, which included the substantial extra income from my overtime shifts at the clinic.
Andrew insisted on managing the rentals and the financial books, claiming his sales territory frequently took him near the lake anyway. Over the past year, he had casually mentioned that booking numbers had dropped significantly. He still drove up there constantly, however, supposedly to fix broken appliances, meet with unreliable contractors, or prepare the cabin for the few guests we did have.
Sitting at my desk, I began to wonder why a small, relatively new cabin required so much constant, hands-on attention from a man who actively neglected basic repairs in our primary residence.
The green folder contained copies of both property deeds, extensive bank transfer histories, mortgage statements, homeowner's insurance policies, and essential correspondence from my lawyer, Naomi Brooks. I had started quietly organizing these documents several months earlier, right after Lorraine had proudly announced at dinner that Andrew was finally going to "transfer the title of the house into the Parker family trust."
When I calmly asked her what she meant, she had just laughed dismissively.
"Property should belong to blood relatives, Claire," she had said, sipping her wine.
I had pointedly reminded her that my name was on the deed.
She had looked at Andrew.
He had immediately changed the subject to the weather.
That evening, after photographing the damage to the headboard, I texted Naomi.
"I need urgent counsel. I believe today is the day I end my marriage."
May you like
She called me back in exactly two minutes.
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