“Mrs.
Manning, did you contribute money toward the purchase of Hollow Pine Road?”
“No.”
“Taxes?”
“No.”
“Repairs?”
“No.”
“Insurance?”
“No.”
“Were you present when Tracy allegedly signed the agreement being relied upon today?”
My mother’s mouth tightened.
“No.”
“Did you see her sign it?”
“No.”
“Did Tracy ever personally tell you, ‘I am giving this house to Nicole’?”
Another pause.
“Not in those exact words.”
“In any words?”
Mr.
Bell stood.
“Asked and answered.”
Judge Brown looked at my mother.
“She may answer.”
My mother stared at her hands.
“She said family could use it.”
Mr.
Johnson nodded.
“Thank you.”
My father did no better.
Richard Manning approached the stand with the confidence of a man who had spent most of his life assuming volume could replace evidence.
He said I had become “secretive” after I started buying property.
He said Nicole needed the mountain house more than I did.
Then he said something that made Judge Brown put down her pen.
“Tracy has always been the one who can handle herself,” he said.
“Nicole has a family to provide for.”
Mr.
Johnson looked at him.
“So your view is that because Tracy is financially successful and unmarried, she should transfer an asset she owns to her married sister?”
My father’s face darkened.
“That’s twisting my words.”
“Then please correct me.”
He couldn’t.
Chris testified next.
He was polished at first.
He told the court that Nicole and I had discussed “keeping the property in the family.” He claimed they had planned future vacations there.
He talked about their children loving the lake.
Then Mr.
Johnson asked him one question.
“Mr.
Irving, where were you when Tracy signed this agreement?”
Chris blinked.
“At home.”
“Your home?”
“Yes.”
“And Tracy was there?”
“Yes.”
