Chapter 2 — Margaret Bennett
Daniel looked at the registration screen again.
Reservation arranged by: Margaret Bennett.
There was no mistake.
His mother’s full name.
“Why is her name on your reservation?”
Peter looked around the lobby.
“Can we discuss this somewhere private?”
Daniel’s voice became colder.
“You lied to me thirty seconds ago.”
“You don’t get to control where I ask questions now.”
Claire stepped between the two men slightly.
“Mr. Bennett, we can use my office.”
Daniel looked toward Oliver.
“You okay?”
Oliver nodded.
Claire brought them into a small office beside reception.
Peter sat opposite Daniel.
Oliver remained beside his father.
Daniel placed his phone on the desk.
“Start talking.”
Peter took a breath.
“My name really is Peter Lane.”
“I gathered that.”
“I’m a professional family mediator.”
Daniel stared.
“A what?”
“A mediator.”
“I help relatives communicate when direct conversations have broken down.”
Daniel laughed once.
“And my mother hired you?”
Peter nodded.
“Yes.”
Daniel leaned back.
For eight years, Daniel and Margaret had barely spoken.
Their last conversation had ended with Daniel walking out of her house.
There had been no dramatic mystery.
No missing person.
No secret inheritance.
Just years of arguments about boundaries.
Margaret repeatedly involved herself in decisions Daniel believed belonged to him and his wife.
Where they lived.
How they raised Oliver.
Which school he attended.
How often they visited.
Every disagreement became larger than it needed to be.
Eventually Daniel told her:
“If you cannot respect that I am Oliver’s father, then you cannot keep treating our family like a decision you get to manage.”
Margaret became furious.
Daniel left.
Neither handled what followed particularly well.
Weeks became months.
Months became years.
Now Peter Lane was sitting in front of him.
“Why here?” Daniel asked.
Peter hesitated.
“Margaret knew you would be staying at this hotel.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“How?”
Peter looked toward Oliver.
Then back at Daniel.
“Because she was told about your conference.”
“By who?”
Peter did not answer immediately.
Daniel leaned forward.
“Peter.”
Finally, Peter said:
“Your sister Rachel.”
Daniel went completely still.
Because Rachel had promised him she was no longer carrying messages between the two sides of the family.
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