Chapter 5 - THE RENTALS DARYL NEVER AUTHORIZED
The property manager’s name was Carmen Ruiz.
She had managed maintenance for Daryl for six years.
She answered immediately.
“Everything okay?”
“No.”
Daryl looked at his parents.
“Have there been short-term rentals at Pacific Crest?”
Silence.
Then Carmen said:
“I thought you knew.”
Daryl closed his eyes.
Of course.
“How many?”
“I don’t handle them.”
“Who does?”
“Your sister. Through a private concierge.”
Daryl gripped the counter.
“How many?”
Carmen hesitated.
“Maybe ten or twelve weekends a year?”
Robert swore under his breath.
Daryl felt the room narrow.
“For how long?”
“Three years.”
Three.
Daryl looked toward the ceiling.
Three years.
The first year Anna was sick.
The second year after she died.
The third year his children were learning how to sleep without hearing their mother in the hallway.
And Jenna had been turning the beach house into income.
“Carmen, send me every date you know.”
“I’m sorry, Daryl.”
“You don’t have anything to apologize for.”
He ended the call.
Then he looked at Robert.
“How much?”
Robert sat down.
Elaine’s face had gone gray.
“Robert.”
He ignored her.
“Jenna handled it.”
“How much?”
“She used some for taxes.”
“I paid the taxes.”
“Then repairs.”
“I paid repairs.”
“Family travel.”
Daryl stopped breathing.
The rental money had not maintained the house.
It funded the family’s use of it.
Flights.
Wine.
Catering.
Jenna’s summer expenses.
Maybe more.
Daryl’s hands shook.
Not because he needed the money.
Because once again, his ability to afford loss had been mistaken for consent.
Robert said:
“You never asked.”
Daryl laughed.
“You rented my property and your defense is that I never investigated my own family?”
Elaine began crying.
“Please don’t tear us apart.”
Daryl turned to her.
“This was already torn. I just didn’t look under the rug.”
He called his attorney.
Not later.
Right there.
Maya Feldman had handled the LLC acquisition and every major property document since.
When Daryl explained, she went quiet.
“How many rentals?”
“Potentially dozens.”
“Any written authorization?”
“No.”
“Did your father or sister ever represent themselves as owners?”
“I don’t know.”
“Find out.”
Robert interrupted.
“This is ridiculous.”
Maya heard him through speaker.
“Mr. Mercer, with respect, unauthorized commercial use of an LLC-owned residential property is not ridiculous.”
Robert went silent.
Daryl almost smiled.
External language.
Clear.
Unmoved by family hierarchy.
Then Maya asked:
“Any insurance incidents?”
Daryl looked at Robert.
Robert looked away.
Daryl’s stomach dropped.
“What happened?”
Elaine whispered:
May you like
“There was a party.”
Of course there was.
