Chapter 4 - WHAT LORRAINE KNEW
Lorraine called me after discharge.
Not Daniel.
“Audrey?”
“Yes?”
“Could you come to my condo?”
I almost said no.
Then:
“Why?”
“I need to show you something.”
I went in daylight.
Jenna knew where I was.
Boundary, not paranoia.
Lorraine looked embarrassed when she opened the door.
Her condo was clean.
Organized.
Completely livable.
A walker stood near the sofa.
The elevator repair had already begun.
Temporary assistance would make sense.
Moving into my house for months never had.
Lorraine brought me to the dining table.
On it sat a white envelope.
Inside were checks from Lawson Advisory Group.
I recognized the amounts.
“What did you do for the company?”
She looked down.
“Nothing.”
I sat back.
“Daniel told me he needed to move money temporarily.”
“Why?”
“He said taxes.”
That explanation made no sense yet.
“What did he ask you to do with it?”
“Deposit the checks.”
“And then?”
Lorraine swallowed.
“Some I sent back to him.”
“How?”
“Personal checks.”
The rest?
She had kept part of it.
Daniel told her it was compensation for helping him when the business started.
She believed him.
Or wanted to.
“How much did you keep?”
“About fifteen thousand.”
The remainder flowed back to Daniel personally.
Now the accounting problem looked more serious.
I did not accuse her of crimes.
Neither did Priya later.
We documented what Lorraine said and gave the information to the forensic accountant.
Lorraine looked at me.
“Are you divorcing him?”
“Yes.”
She cried.
Not loudly.
“I thought you’d cool down.”
“So did Daniel.”
“I told him you would.”
“I know.”
She looked ashamed.
Then she said:
“I was cruel to you that morning.”
“Yes.”
No automatic rescue.
She waited.
I continued:
“You’ve been cruel before.”
Her eyes lowered.
“When?”
“You’ve called my job a hobby.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“You told me good wives put family first when I turned down that promotion.”
“I thought—”
“You told Daniel he shouldn’t have to wash laundry because he worked too hard.”
“He does.”
“So did I.”
Silence.
Then:
“You walked into my bedroom at four-forty in my robe and told me a good wife should already be cooking for you.”
Lorraine covered her face.
“I’m sorry.”
I believed she was sorry in that moment.
That did not erase anything.
“I need you to understand something.”
She looked up.
“I didn’t leave because you needed help.”
She nodded.
“I left because both of you treated my help like ownership.”
May you like
Her face crumpled.
That was the first time I think Lorraine understood the difference.
