When I discovered a lace robe hidden in my husband’s closet, I could never imagine a shocking chain of events that would move.
What I thought was a simple surprising gift, soon disintegrated into a distracting network of fraud, manipulation and betrayal. When I tried to understand the origin of the robes, I found that I was challenging not only my marriage,
but also the real intentions of the closest to me. Here is how simple misunderstandings have turned into a fight for the home that my father left – and the revelation that shook my world into its core.
After my father died, my husband Jason, our daughter Emma, my stepmother Lorraine, we all moved to his house.
A few weeks ago, when I put off Jason’s clothes, I noticed the hidden boxes in his wardrobe. Inside I found a clear lace robe. At first I thought it was a surprising gift for me, so I didn’t say anything about it.
Fast move forward to last weekend. Lorraine called me in her room and grinned from ear to ear. “You won’t believe what my new friend got me,” she said.
When I walked, I was shocked when I saw the lace robe from Jason’s wardrobe. “Do you like it?” She asked with a smug smile. “He has an excellent taste.” Her eyes shone with a touch of anger. I froze, my mind is racing. Did Jason cheat me? With her? I could hardly stutter, “Where did you take it?”
Lorraine only grinned deepened. “Oh my friend gave me it. I told you, Callo! You don’t give up attention
I came from her room and her laughter came to me. My heart was racing, my hands were shaking.
“Jason,” I said, trembling my voice. “I have to ask you something and I want the truth.”
“What’s the matter, honey?” He replied and stopped the film he watched.
“Did you do … gave Lorraine robe? Lace I found in your wardrobe?”
“What? In any case! What are you talking about?” He replied and looked confused.
“She showed me a robe tonight,” I said, and tears in my eyes increased. “I found the same in your wardrobe.”
“Do you think I would buy her something like that?
“How did she get it?” I demanded.
“I don’t know,” he said, pulling his hand. “I really don’t know what to say.”
They gnawed on me.
“I swear, I didn’t give her anything! Seriously, Callo. The only thing I gave today Lorraine was a piece of garlic bread at dinner.”
Over the next few days, infinity did not disappear.
One afternoon, when I organized the artistic needs of Emmy in the dining room, I heard Lorraine over the phone.
“Yes, Kerry, of course I planted it,” she whispered. “Her idiotic husband didn’t even notice. It’s just a matter of time before they are on the other’s neck. Once they leave, this house will finally be mine. I tell you, so they moved. They want my house.”
She was planning it! She placed the robe in the Jason’s cabinet to make it look as if they had a ratio. She tried to drive us out of the house my father left. That night I told Jason everything I heard. His face darken with anger.
“They are trying to destroy our marriage,” he said. “And to think we’ve seen Emma for it? It’s over now.”
My husband and I came up with the plan.
The next morning, during breakfast, I carefully mentioned Lorraine that Jason and I was thinking about moving out. Her face turned on with excitement.
“Oh, well, if you think it’s the best …” she said, hardly able to hide her joy.
We invited a friend of a lawyer to dinner that evening – someone didn’t know Lorraine. We told her that he was a “real estate broker” that helps us look for new homes, but we just tried to figure out where we stood. Lorraine spent most of the dinner talking about how much she rather lived herself.
“I’m old now,” she said. “I need my space. And I’m sure you need your kids. You don’t want to give Emma a brother or sister?”
Jason convinced me to fight for what was mine.
“Well, honey,” he said. “It is important that you have a piece of your father’s reference. You are his legacy, yes.
“I don’t know,” I said. “Honestly, I’m not sure what I want.”
Seven days later we called the “family meeting” in the living room.
Jason handed Lorraine a lot of papers.
“What is that?” She asked and overturned them.
“It’s a deed to the house,” Jason said calmly. “We should have checked it and it turned out that Calla and I are primary recipients. You do not own this house, Lorraine. We do.”
Lorraine’s face paled.
“It’s not possible. Callo! What did you do? Your father will never leave me with anything …”
“He didn’t leave you with anything, Lorraine,” I said. “He left you a lot of money. But this is my children’s home. Of course he would like me to have it.”
Lorraine began to protest.
“And before you think about pulling another stuntman, you know: We don’t do it anywhere. But you may want to start packing,” Jason said.
“Or maybe you will see if your friend will take you in?” I added carelessly.
Lorraine Koktala.
“What? There is no friend there?” I asked.
“I planned it! I organized the whole thing! There is no friend, Callo. There was no affair. I wanted you to think something was happening,” she admitted.
“I know,” I said. “I heard you. But look, you have a week. I’ll give you it because that’s what my father expected from me.”
“I’ll be better. I’ll do everything – cooking, cleaning, homework with Emma, anything you want!” She begged.
“I don’t want my baby around you,” I said firmly. “I’m sorry, but I feel so.”
During the week, Lorraine was gone. Finally, I had the peace in the house that my father appreciated so much.
In the end, the truth came to light, and Lorraine’s manipulative scheme was exposed to what it was. Her misleaders almost managed the wedge between my husband and me, but with patience, determination and little help from our plan, we were able to take control of the situation.
Lorraine’s plot that drove us out of my father’s house was thwarted and she was forced to leave. Now, Jason, Emma and I can finally enjoy the peace and safety of the house that my father left – a place where we can make new memories without betraying betrayal over us. While the road was difficult, I am grateful for the strength I found to stand up for what was rightly ours.