“Diane—”
I raised one hand.
“Please.”
For once, she stopped.
Then I connected my laptop to the television.
The first recording began.
Judith’s voice filled the room.
She spoke about my memory.
Mark discussed getting doctors to document my confusion.
Then came the house.
The inheritance.
Guardianship.
Karen covered her mouth.
Steve stared at his brother.
Mark’s face hardened.
“Where did you get this?”
I played another recording.
Then another.
Each one removed another possible excuse.
Finally, Mark struck his palm against the table.
“This is ridiculous.”
Harold looked at him.
“No, son.”
Mark turned.
Harold’s voice remained quiet.
“But it’s true.”
Judith tried to speak.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain it,” I said.
She couldn’t.
Then Tom entered.
He had been nearby because we had arranged for him to be.
Mark looked at him.
“Who are you?”
“Someone who has been helping Diane understand what happened.”
Tom played another audio recording.
This one was harder to hear.
Judith complained that the plan was taking too long.
Mark warned her they had to be careful.
They discussed my increasing alertness.
Then guardianship again.
The house.
My inheritance.
Mark’s debts.
The insurance policy.
Finally, Harold stood.
He looked at Judith with an expression I had never seen before.
