He had done that for years.
Mom deleted her search history but forgot to delete a draft message she’d started writing to my aunt.
Richard found it.
The next morning, before the party, things escalated.
Richard confronted her.
Brandon arrived early.
Mom locked herself in the bathroom and called 911.
Richard forced the door.
By the time police entered the house, there had been a fight.
Not between Mom and Richard.
Between Richard and Brandon.
That surprised me.
“Why were they fighting?”
Officer Miller said, “We’re still sorting that out.”
Later, Mom told me.
Brandon had apparently thought Richard wanted to scare me.
Control me.
Maybe force me to hand over money.
He claimed he did not understand how far Richard meant to go.
I don’t know whether I believe that completely.
But when Mom screamed that she had already sent me away, Richard lost control.
He struck her.
Brandon tried to pull him away.
