Three weeks later, the lawyers scheduled mediation.
Thomas joined by video from Craig Hollister’s office in Dallas. I sat next to Amanda in a conference room in San Diego with a big screen on the wall.
When the video connected, Brenda was sitting right next to Thomas.
She was wearing a cream-colored blazer. She kept leaning over and whispering in his ear.
Amanda noticed.
“Before we begin,” Amanda said, “is Ms. Price a party to this divorce?”
Craig Hollister cleared his throat. “No.”
“Then she shouldn’t be in the room.”
Brenda stood up. She was furious. You could see it even through the screen.
Before she left, she leaned in close to the camera.
“Emma,” she said. “This has gone far enough.”
I looked right at her.
“I agree,” I said.
She walked out.
The mediator was a retired family court judge named Harold Wiggins. Seventy years old. Bow tie. Half-moon reading glasses.
He started with the house.
Thomas said he’d paid the mortgage on the Lakewood house through his salary.
Amanda put the down payment records up on the shared screen. Then the monthly transfers. From my separate account. Into our joint account. Every month. Right before the mortgage payment was due.
Craig Hollister asked for a private break.
When they came back twenty minutes later, Thomas had changed his story.
“The down payment was a gift,” he said. “To the marriage. Emma wanted to help.”
Judge Wiggins wrote something down.
Then they moved on to household expenses.
Thomas said I’d “contributed inconsistently.”
Amanda opened Tasha’s spreadsheet on the shared screen.
Tuition. Thirty-five thousand.
Insurance. Fourteen thousand.
Medical support for Joan. Twenty-six thousand.
Groceries. Eleven thousand.
Repairs. Property taxes. The roof. The air conditioner.
One category after another, filling up the screen.
Thomas stopped looking at the camera.
Then Amanda put up the bank statements. The forty thousand dollars. The Capital One payment. Park Cities Toyota.
“Were these payments authorized by my client, Mr. Carter?” Amanda asked.
Thomas rubbed his jaw.
“We discussed helping Brenda. As a family.”
“Where did you discuss it?”
“At home.”
“Do you have a text message, an email, or any document showing that Emma agreed to these transfers?”
“Not everything in a marriage is documented,” Thomas said.
Amanda nodded slowly.
“Fortunately,” she said, “some things are.”
And she pressed play.
Ethan Blake is a skilled Creative Content Specialist with a talent for crafting engaging and thought-provoking narratives. With a strong background in storytelling and digital content creation, Ethan brings a unique perspective to his role at TheArchivists, where he curates and produces captivating content for a global audience.
Ethan holds a degree in Communications from Zurich University, where he developed his expertise in storytelling, media strategy, and audience engagement. Known for his ability to blend creativity with analytical precision, he excels at creating content that not only entertains but also connects deeply with readers.
At TheArchivists, Ethan specializes in uncovering compelling stories that reflect a wide range of human experiences. His work is celebrated for its authenticity, creativity, and ability to spark meaningful conversations, earning him recognition among peers and readers alike.
Passionate about the art of storytelling, Ethan enjoys exploring themes of culture, history, and personal growth, aiming to inspire and inform with every piece he creates. Dedicated to making a lasting impact, Ethan continues to push boundaries in the ever-evolving world of digital content.