Chapter 9 - Margaret Could Not Blame Thomas
Margaret first claimed she did not remember the transfer.
Then her attorney requested a break.
When the interview resumed, she changed her answer.
Thomas gave her the money in 2007.
He told her it came from the sale of a small investment.
She believed him.
Years later, after learning about the freight fraud, she realized the
money may have come from Carter Freight.
She still said nothing.
“Why?” Jack asked.
Margaret’s answer was quiet.
“Because the money paid off our house.”
Jack stared.
His childhood home.
The place he remembered as safety.
Part of it may have been funded by fraud.
Margaret had spent years protecting that memory.
Then Robert used the same fear against her.
He warned that if Daniel’s records surfaced, the government could pursue
old claims, the family could lose assets, and Thomas would be remembered
as a criminal.
Some of those threats were exaggerated.
Some were not.
Margaret panicked.
She believed Emily had Daniel’s key because Robert told her so.
That panic became cruelty.
Emily finally spoke.
“You keep explaining why you were afraid.”
Margaret nodded.
“I know.”
“But fear didn’t put me on the floor.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“No.”
“You did.”
“Yes.”
Emily’s voice trembled.
“You could have asked me.”
“Yes.”
“You could have called Jack.”
“Yes.”
“You could have called a lawyer.”
“Yes.”
Margaret began crying.
“I did it.”
Emily nodded.
That was the first answer she had wanted.
Not forgiveness.
Accountability.
Later, Jack asked Emily whether she wanted contact with Margaret.
“Not now.”
He respected it.
His mother’s relationship with him would be his decision.
May you like
Her access to Emily would be Emily’s.
Marriage did not erase individual boundaries.
