Sarah nodded. “Doing the right thing rarely feels good when it involves family,” she said. “But it feels better than being bullied.”
Back at the house, the management company resumed bookings. The next renters arrived with apology and gratitude. The ocean returned to being beautiful instead of threatening.
But Brandon wasn’t done trying to salvage his own story.
Two weeks after the contempt hearing, a certified letter arrived from an insurance adjuster.
It was brief and confusing: a claim had been initiated related to “storm damages” on my property, filed by someone claiming to be authorized to act on my behalf.
My stomach went cold.
I called the adjuster immediately. “This is Eleanor Sterling,” I said. “I did not initiate any claim.”
A pause. “Ma’am,” the adjuster said cautiously, “the claim was filed by a Brandon Sterling. He provided identifying information.”
Of course he did.
Brandon couldn’t get into my house, so he tried to get into my money.
“Flag it as fraud,” I said. “And I want the documentation of the filing.”
The adjuster’s tone shifted. “Yes, ma’am,” he said. “We will.