Chapter 9 - Caleb Tried to Reach Mason Directly
Caleb did not wait for Brenda’s silence to become suspicious.
The next afternoon, a package arrived for Mason.
No return address.
Claire opened it with him.
Inside was a new baseball glove.
Expensive.
Exactly Mason’s size.
And a card.
Your dad would want you to remember family takes care of family. Call me. — Caleb
Mason looked uncomfortable.
“He knows I wanted this.”
“How?”
“I told Brenda.”
Of course.
Claire put the card down.
“Do you want the glove?”
Mason thought.
“Can I keep it if I don’t call him?”
Claire smiled slightly.
“Yes.”
Objects were not guilty.
That mattered too.
She did not want Mason growing up believing accepting a gift created an obligation.
Then the phone rang.
Unknown number.
Claire answered on speaker.
Caleb.
His voice came warm, almost wounded.
“Claire, what the hell happened? I heard Brenda went crazy.”
Not:
Is Ellie okay?
Not:
Is Mason okay?
He distanced himself immediately.
Claire said nothing.
Caleb continued.
“I recommended her because she helped a friend once. If she hurt the kids, I had no idea.”
Claire looked at Mason.
He listened silently.
Then Claire said:
“Aaron left a recording.”
Silence.
Just enough.
Caleb recovered.
“About what?”
“You.”
Another pause.
Then a laugh.
“That sounds dramatic.”
“You sound scared.”
“I’m concerned you’re letting grief turn family history into something it isn’t.”
Exactly the technique.
Reframe perception.
Make the other person doubt.
Claire almost admired how automatic it was.
Caleb continued.
“Mason is a kid. Aaron was sentimental. Ben has had a grudge for years. You’re a veteran who just kicked a nanny through a cabinet. Maybe now isn’t the moment to decide everyone else is lying.”
Mason’s eyes changed.
He heard it.
The same structure Brenda used.
Make Claire the problem.
Make Mason too young.
Make Aaron sentimental.
Make Ben bitter.
Discredit everyone separately.
Then remain the only reasonable narrator.
Claire replied:
“You’ve been using Brenda to ask my children questions.”
Caleb went quiet.
“Who told you that?”
There.
Not denial.
Source hunting.
Claire smiled without humor.
“You just did.”
She hung up.
Mason stared at the phone.
“He talks like Brenda.”
“No,” Claire said.
May you like
“Brenda talks like him.”
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