Chapter 7 - JENNA’S VERSION OF FAIR
Jenna arrived with a lawyer three days later.
That was wise.
Her lawyer, Steven Price, was calm, experienced, and visibly unhappy about his client’s texts.
They met in Maya’s office.
Daryl sat across from Jenna.
No children.
No parents.
No wine.
Just facts.
Steven began.
“Jenna recognizes the property is legally owned by Mercer Coastal Holdings.”
Good start.
“She disputes, however, the characterization that her use was unauthorized.”
Maya folded her hands.
“Show authorization.”
Steven glanced at Jenna.
Jenna looked at Daryl.
“Dad told me I could.”
Daryl said:
“Dad doesn’t own it.”
“He acts for the family.”
“Not for my LLC.”
“You always let him manage it.”
“Scheduling holidays is not authority to run rentals.”
Jenna rolled her eyes.
“You are so technical.”
Daryl felt Anna’s voice in his head.
They establish a version of reality where saying no looks rude.
He leaned back.
“This is property ownership. Technical is the point.”
Jenna’s face hardened.
“You have more than all of us.”
There it was.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“You bought this place. You have your company. You have investments. I had a divorce and two boys.”
Daryl looked at her carefully.
“Then ask for help.”
“I shouldn’t have to beg my brother.”
“No. You should not have to steal from him either.”
Jenna flinched.
“I didn’t steal.”
“You collected hundreds of thousands from my house.”
“I used it for the family.”
“Your boys’ camp is not family maintenance.”
“They’re your nephews.”
“So?”
Jenna stared.
It was the first time in years Daryl saw genuine confusion in her face.
Not manipulation.
Confusion.
She truly believed kinship generated claims against excess.
Steven stepped in.
“My client believed there was an informal family arrangement.”
Maya nodded.
“Then produce evidence.”
Jenna looked at Daryl.
“Dad told me this house would be half mine someday.”
“That was not his promise to make.”
“You could make it true.”
Daryl almost laughed.
“You want me to transfer half the house because Dad lied to you?”
“You don’t need all of it.”
That sentence ended the meeting emotionally.
Not legally.
But Daryl was done.
He stood.
“My son asked me if he had to leave because your children were more entitled to a bedroom than he was.”
Jenna rolled her eyes.
“Again with the toy and the room—”
“No. Not the toy. The message.”
Daryl’s voice hardened.
“You taught your boys that what belonged to Eli mattered less because they were louder. Dad taught you the same thing about me.”
Jenna went still.
Steven looked down at his notes.
Daryl continued.
“I’m not doing it anymore.”
Jenna’s face crumpled for half a second.
Then anger rebuilt it.
“You’ll regret making enemies out of your own family.”
Daryl thought of Anna.
Of Eli’s crooked mast.
Of the deed.
May you like
Then he said:
“If family requires surrendering ownership to keep the peace, the peace was fake.”
