“So what do I do?”
“You take away her story,” Marisol said. “You pay it back. All of it. Today. As a loan repayment, in full, in writing. I’ll draft the letter. Once she’s been repaid every penny, she’s got nothing left to say she bought.”
I closed my eyes.
“It’s coming out of Someday,” I said.
There was a long pause on the line. Marisol knew about Someday. She’d been in my wedding.
“Lauren,” she said softly. “Are you sure?”
“She’s been walking through my house for four years like she owns a piece of it,” I said. “I’m buying it back.”
At 8:21, I sent the transfer.
Thirty-nine thousand, nine hundred dollars. From SOMEDAY to Diane Mercer’s checking account.
In the memo line, I typed: Loan repaid in full. Thank you for your help. — Lauren.
At 9:58, Marisol emailed Diane a letter on her firm’s letterhead. One page. It said the money had been repaid in full, that it fully satisfied any debt, and that Diane had no ownership interest of any kind in the property at 14 Holloway Court. It said, very politely, that any future visits would be as a guest of both homeowners.
