Chapter 3 — Ruth Mercer’s Six Chairs
Ruth Mercer was seventy-eight years old.
She had recently moved into a smaller apartment after selling the house where Elliot and Aaron grew up.
For most of the past year, the twins had barely spoken.
The problem began when Ruth fell in her kitchen.
She wasn’t seriously injured.
But the incident frightened both sons.
They reacted very differently.
Elliot began organizing.
Doctors.
Medication delivery.
Transportation.
Home modifications.
A weekly cleaning service.
Aaron believed Ruth should remain independent.
He thought Elliot was turning their mother into a schedule instead of a person.
Elliot thought Aaron was being irresponsible.
Arguments became frequent.
Then Aaron made things worse.
Without telling Elliot, he took Ruth on a weekend trip to the coast.
Elliot called her apartment and couldn’t find her.
For almost two hours, he believed something had happened.
When he finally learned Aaron had taken her away, he exploded.
Aaron responded:
“She is our mother, not your patient.”
Elliot answered:
“And you treat responsibility like an optional hobby.”
They stopped speaking.
Ruth became furious with both of them.
“So she planned dinner?” Noah asked.
Aaron nodded.
The arts reception seemed perfect.
Ruth had volunteered with the Riverton Arts Foundation for years.
She already planned to attend.
She asked Aaron to reserve a small private room after the reception.
Six chairs.
Ruth.
Elliot.
Aaron.
Elliot’s wife, Claire.
Aaron’s daughter, Sophie.
And Ruth’s longtime friend Margaret.
“Why six people?” Harrison asked.
Aaron smiled faintly.
“Mom said witnesses reduce the amount of nonsense twins can produce.”
Noah almost laughed.
Elliot did not.
“She could have asked me.”
Aaron stared at him.
“Would you have agreed?”
Elliot said nothing.
Aaron nodded.
“Exactly.”
But Harrison shook his head.
“That still doesn’t explain using Elliot’s name.”
Aaron’s expression became uncomfortable.
Because there was one additional problem.
When Aaron first attempted to reserve Salon C under his own name, the foundation coordinator rejected it.
Reason:
Guest restriction requested by primary sponsor.
The primary sponsor was Elliot.
He had specifically instructed organizers:
AARON MERCER IS NOT TO BE ADMITTED UNDER MY GUEST ALLOCATION.
Aaron became angry.
Instead of contacting Ruth…
instead of confronting Elliot…
he decided to defeat the restriction.
He called catering directly.
Said he was Elliot.
Reserved Salon C.
Then arrived early and signed the receipt in Elliot’s name.
Noah looked at him.
“You knew that could get staff in trouble.”
Aaron went quiet.
“Yes.”
“But you did it anyway.”
“Yes.”
The motive had been family reconciliation.
The method was still deception.