Chapter 7
The answer came from one of Margaret’s closest friends.
Not willingly.
Rachel Sloan, Vincent’s outside attorney, discovered that Margaret had consulted an educational advisor about David.
The advisor had been told David might remain in Chicago while his mother relocated.
Nothing illegal about that.
But the timing mattered.
Margaret contacted the advisor one week after learning Laura was house hunting.
She asked about college preparation, residency, and whether a seventeen-year-old could remain with extended family during senior year if his parent moved locally.
Laura was not moving out of state.
She was planning to move less than thirty miles.
There was no educational need for David to separate from her.
Margaret was creating one.
Another estate employee remembered Margaret recently asking which bedroom David would use “once Laura takes the little one.”
The little one.
Emma.
Not both children.
The assumption was consistent.
Laura and Emma would leave.
David would stay.
Vincent confronted Margaret through attorneys.
Her response was simple:
“David is old enough to decide where he belongs.”
Vincent replied:
“Not after you spend eight months telling him there’s only one honorable answer.”
There was no response.
That evening David admitted another detail.
Before the banquet, Margaret had called him upstairs.
She adjusted his tie.
Told him he looked like his grandfather at sixteen.
Then said:
“Whatever your mother does tonight, stay in your chair.”
Vincent stopped breathing for a moment.
“What did you think she meant?”
“I thought Mom might argue with somebody.”
“Did Margaret tell you who?”
“No.”
“Did she mention Emma?”
“No.”
David’s eyes filled.
“I swear.”
Vincent believed him.
The sentence was important.
Whatever your mother does tonight, stay in your chair.
Margaret had expected something.
Not merely an insult that got out of hand.
May you like
Something she believed would make Laura react.
And she had already instructed David not to follow his mother.
