Chapter 5 - LAUREN'S FIRST WARNING
Lauren returned on day six to collect winter clothes.
Her access code did not work.
She called Ethan.
“You changed the code?”
“Security company reset the panel.”
“Why wasn’t I told?”
“You don’t live here right now.”
“That is not the question.”
Ethan opened the door eventually.
Eleanor stood behind him.
“She needs to make an appointment.”
Lauren laughed.
“With whom?”
“With Ethan.”
“It’s my house.”
Eleanor smiled.
“You keep saying that.”
Because it was true.
Lauren contacted the security company.
As owner of record and original contracting customer, she restored administrative authority.
Then she called her attorney.
“Do I need to do anything else before the deadline?”
“Yes.”
“Like what?”
“Document access. Do not physically confront anyone. If they are still there after the ordered period, use formal enforcement.”
Boring.
Legal.
Slow.
Lauren hated slow.
But followed it.
Until day fourteen.
When the police asked why Robert had the deed in his briefcase, Ethan became defensive.
“He planned this.”
Robert answered:
“I planned for paperwork.”
The officer almost smiled.
Robert had also brought:
a copy of the divorce order,
Lauren’s driver’s license photocopy,
the security company confirmation,
and the move-out deadline.
Why so much?
Because Robert had spent forty years in commercial construction.
He had seen too many disputes begin with:
Everybody knows.
His rule was:
If everybody knows, write it down anyway.
May you like
Lauren used to call him paranoid.
That day she stopped.
