\u201cYour mother?\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s lips barely moved.
\nI stared at the security footage.
\nThe woman standing in my driveway was perhaps sixty, with silver threaded through dark hair and one hand still raised from slapping my son.
\n\u201cYes,\u201d Sarah whispered.
\n\u201cHer name is Diane.\u201d
\nArthur was already moving toward the door.
\n\u201cWe need to get back to the house.\u201d
\nRachel grabbed the folder from the bank table.
\n\u201cAnd we call the police on the way.\u201d
\nSarah caught my arm.
\n\u201cWait.\u201d
\nI looked at her hand.
\nShe released me immediately.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s something you need to know before we go.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Arthur stopped.
\nRachel did too.
\nSarah looked terrified.
\nNot nervous.
\nNot embarrassed.
\nTerrified.
\n\u201cMy mother knew Richard.\u201d
\nThe room seemed to tilt.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nSarah swallowed.
\n\u201cShe knew your husband before I ever met David.\u201d
\nI stared at her.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s impossible.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nHer voice cracked.
\n\u201cIt isn\u2019t.\u201d
\nArthur slowly turned toward her.
\n\u201cHow?\u201d
\nSarah looked at him.
\nThen at me.
\n\u201cMy mother worked at First National Bank.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Nobody spoke.
\nI looked toward the vault behind us.
\n\u201cThis bank?\u201d
\nSarah nodded.
\n\u201cLoan processing. Property accounts. She worked here for almost twenty years.\u201d
\nRachel\u2019s expression sharpened.
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cUntil about ten years ago.\u201d
\nMy stomach dropped.
\nThe forged loan had happened eleven years ago.
\nArthur understood at exactly the same moment.
\n\u201cWas Diane involved in David\u2019s loan?\u201d
\nSarah covered her face with both hands.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cSarah.\u201d
\n\u201cI swear I don\u2019t know.\u201d
\nShe lowered her hands.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cBut three weeks ago, David asked me something strange.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cHe asked whether my mother still had contacts at First National.\u201d
\nRachel immediately pulled out her phone.
\n\u201cWhat did you tell him?\u201d
\n\u201cThat we barely speak.\u201d
\nSarah looked down.
\n\u201cMy mother and I haven\u2019t had a real relationship in years.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\nShe hesitated.
\n\u201cBecause she lies.\u201d
\nA chill moved through me.
\n\u201cAbout what?\u201d
\n\u201cEverything.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s voice became bitter.
\n\u201cMoney. People. Why she lost her job. Why my father left. She always has a version where someone else ruined her life.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Arthur glanced at the security footage on my phone.
\n\u201cApparently she and David have been talking.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s face tightened.
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t know.\u201d
\nWe hurried outside.
\nRachel called the police while Arthur drove.
\nI sat in the passenger seat watching my security cameras.
\nDavid and Diane were arguing in the driveway.
\nThe camera had no audio from that distance.
\nBut their body language told me enough.
\nDavid pointed toward the safe.
\nDiane pointed toward the house.
\nThen she grabbed his arm.
\nHe jerked away.
\nSuddenly David opened the safe.
\nMy breath caught.
\n\u201cHe got it open.\u201d
\nArthur accelerated.
\nDavid pulled something from inside.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
An envelope.
\nThen another object.
\nA flash drive.
\nDiane reached for it.
\nDavid pulled back.
\nThen my camera froze.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nI tapped the screen.
\nNothing.
\nThe backyard feed went black.
\nThen the front camera.
\nThen the hallway.
\nEvery camera disconnected.
\n\u201cHe cut the internet,\u201d Arthur said.
\nRachel leaned forward from the back seat.
\n\u201cPolice are on the way.\u201d
\nSarah stared out the window.
\n\u201cCall David.\u201d
\nI did.
\nHe answered on the first ring.
\n\u201cMom.\u201d
\n\u201cPut the safe down.\u201d
\nSilence.
\n\u201cI can explain.\u201d
\n\u201cYou broke into my house.\u201d
\n\u201cI used the basement entrance.\u201d
\n\u201cThat is called breaking into my house.\u201d
\n\u201cI needed to get something before you found it.\u201d
\n\u201cRichard\u2019s recording?\u201d
\nDavid went silent.
\nThat silence answered me.
\nI continued.
\n\u201cWho forged my signature?\u201d
\n\u201cMom\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cWas it Diane?\u201d
\nSarah leaned closer.
\nDavid exhaled.
\n\u201cWhere\u2019s Sarah?\u201d
\n\u201cBeside me.\u201d
\nAnother silence.
\nThen he said something strange.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t bring her here.\u201d
\nSarah grabbed the phone.
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cSarah, listen to me.\u201d
\n\u201cIs my mother involved?\u201d
\n\u201cJust stay away.\u201d
\n\u201cAnswer me!\u201d
\nDavid\u2019s voice cracked.
\n\u201cYour mother is not who you think she is.\u201d
\nSarah laughed bitterly.
\n\u201cI figured that out twenty years ago.\u201d
\n\u201cNo. You don\u2019t understand.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat don\u2019t I understand?\u201d
\nThere was movement on David\u2019s end.
\nThen Diane\u2019s voice.
\nFaint.
\nBut unmistakable.
\n\u201cGive me the phone.\u201d
\nDavid said something I couldn\u2019t hear.
\nThen a crash.
\nThe call ended.
\nSarah stared at the screen.
\nArthur pressed harder on the accelerator.
\nWe reached my street seven minutes later.
\nTwo police cars were already approaching from the opposite direction.
\nMy driveway came into view.
\nDavid\u2019s SUV was there.
\nDiane\u2019s car was there.
\nBut neither of them was outside.
\nThe basement storm door stood open.
\nAn officer stepped from his cruiser.
\nI pointed toward the house.
\n\u201cMy son entered without permission. There\u2019s another woman inside.\u201d
\nThe officer told us to remain outside.
\nArthur stayed beside me.
\nSarah ignored everyone and started toward the porch.
\nRachel caught her.
\n\u201cLet them clear the house.\u201d
\nThose next minutes felt endless.
\nThen an officer emerged.
\n\u201cMrs. Bennett?\u201d
\n\u201cYes?\u201d
\n\u201cYour son is inside.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd the woman?\u201d
\n\u201cAlso inside.\u201d
\n\u201cAre they okay?\u201d
\nHe hesitated.
\n\u201cThey\u2019re both okay.\u201d
\nThat hesitation frightened me.
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cYou should come inside.\u201d
\nI entered my own house feeling like a stranger.
\nThe hallway was littered with splintered wood from the morning.
\nWe passed the kitchen.
\nThen the officer led us toward my office.
\nThe built-in bookcase had been pulled away from the wall.
\nBehind it was a recessed steel compartment I had never known existed.
\nThe safe sat open on my desk.
\nDavid was sitting in a chair.
\nDiane stood near the window.
\nThe moment Sarah entered, Diane looked at her.
\n\u201cSweetheart.\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t call me that.\u201d
\nDiane\u2019s face hardened.
\nSarah pointed at David.
\n\u201cHow do you know him?\u201d
\nDiane said nothing.
\nDavid looked exhausted.
\n\u201cTell her.\u201d
\n\u201cDavid,\u201d Diane warned.
\n\u201cTell her.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s voice rose.
\n\u201cTELL ME!\u201d
\nDiane slowly sat down.
\nThen she looked at me.
\n\u201cI suppose Richard finally got his revenge.\u201d
\nMy hands curled into fists.
\n\u201cDo not speak about my husband like that.\u201d
\nShe smiled sadly.
\n\u201cYou think Richard was protecting you?\u201d
\n\u201cHe was.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nDiane looked toward the safe.
\n\u201cHe was protecting David.\u201d
\nArthur stepped closer.
\n\u201cFrom you.\u201d
\nDiane nodded.
\n\u201cFrom everyone.\u201d
\nDavid rubbed his face.
\n\u201cStop.\u201d
\nBut Diane continued.
\n\u201cEleven years ago, your son owed money.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cNot $185,000.\u201d
\nI froze.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThe loan was $185,000.\u201d
\nShe looked at David.
\n\u201cThe debt was much larger.\u201d
\nDavid stared at the floor.
\n\u201cHow much?\u201d
\nI asked.
\nDiane answered.
\n\u201cAlmost four hundred thousand.\u201d
\nSarah whispered,
\n\u201cDavid\u2026\u201d
\nHe closed his eyes.
\nI felt something inside me sink.
\n\u201cWhat kind of debt?\u201d
\nDavid answered this time.
\n\u201cA business.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat business?\u201d
\n\u201cI invested in a development project.\u201d
\nArthur frowned.
\n\u201cAt twenty-seven?\u201d
\n\u201cI thought I knew what I was doing.\u201d
\n\u201cWith whose money?\u201d
\nDavid didn\u2019t answer.
\nDiane did.
\n\u201cSeveral people\u2019s.\u201d
\nDavid shot her a furious look.
\n\u201cYou promised.\u201d
\nDiane laughed.
\n\u201cThat was before you tried to steal the evidence.\u201d
\nI stepped closer.
\n\u201cTell me everything.\u201d
\nDavid looked at me.
\nHis eyes were wet.
\n\u201cI invested money for some friends.\u201d
\n\u201cHow much?\u201d
\n\u201cAbout two hundred thousand.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd lost it?\u201d
\nHe nodded.
\n\u201cI thought I could recover it.\u201d
\n\u201cSo you borrowed against my house?\u201d
\n\u201cI panicked.\u201d
\n\u201cYou forged my signature?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nThat word came instantly.
\nI looked at Diane.
\nShe didn\u2019t move.
\nDavid pointed at her.
\n\u201cShe did.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s face collapsed.
\nDiane stared at him.
\n\u201cYou ungrateful little\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cYou forged it.\u201d
\n\u201cI saved you!\u201d
\n\u201cYou committed fraud!\u201d
\n\u201cFor you!\u201d
\nSarah stepped backward.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nDiane turned toward her daughter.
\n\u201cSarah, listen\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cI was trying to help him.\u201d
\n\u201cYou knew David eleven years ago?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nSarah looked at her husband.
\n\u201cThen you knew my mother before you met me.\u201d
\nDavid couldn\u2019t look at her.
\nSarah\u2019s voice became smaller.
\n\u201cHow long?\u201d
\n\u201cSarah\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cHow long?\u201d
\n\u201cAbout a year.\u201d
\nHer face went white.
\n\u201cYou told me you met her at our engagement dinner.\u201d
\n\u201cI lied.\u201d
\nThe room went completely silent.
\nSarah looked from David to Diane.
\nThen back again.
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\nDavid stood.
\n\u201cBecause your mother made me promise never to tell you.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy would my mother care whether I knew?\u201d
\nDiane interrupted.
\n\u201cBecause it had nothing to do with you.\u201d
\nSarah spun toward her.
\n\u201cEverything you touch somehow has something to do with me!\u201d
\nDiane flinched.
\nGood.
\nSarah deserved to land that blow.
\nI looked at the safe.
\n\u201cThe second recording.\u201d
\nDavid\u2019s face changed.
\nI walked toward it.
\nHe stepped in front of me.
\n\u201cMom.\u201d
\n\u201cMove.\u201d
\n\u201cPlease.\u201d
\n\u201cMove.\u201d
\nThe officer shifted closer.
\nDavid stepped aside.
\nInside the safe were several photographs.
\nA flash drive.
\nAnd another recorder.
\nI picked it up.
\nThis one had no batteries either.
\nArthur opened the desk drawer and found some.
\nThe recorder came alive.
\nThree files.
\nI pressed the first.
\nRichard\u2019s voice filled my office.
\n\u201cSeptember fourteenth.\u201d
\nHe sounded weak.
\n\u201cDiane came to the house today.\u201d
\nDiane closed her eyes.
\nRichard continued.
\n\u201cShe admitted she processed the false collateral documents. David says he never asked her to forge Lisa\u2019s signature.\u201d
\nDavid whispered,
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d
\nThe recording continued.
\n\u201cDiane claims she did it because David would have been destroyed financially if the loan failed.\u201d
\nThen another voice entered.
\nDiane\u2019s.
\n\u201cYou paid it off, Richard. It\u2019s finished.\u201d
\n\u201cNo,\u201d Richard said. \u201cIt isn\u2019t finished until Lisa knows.\u201d
\n\u201cShe doesn\u2019t need to know.\u201d
\n\u201cShe owns half this house.\u201d
\n\u201cShe\u2019ll hate David.\u201d
\nRichard answered immediately.
\n\u201cNo. She\u2019ll forgive him.\u201d
\nA pause.
\n\u201cBut I\u2019m not sure she\u2019ll forgive you.\u201d
\nThe recording ended.
\nI pressed the second file.
\nThis time David\u2019s younger voice came through.
\n\u201cDad, please.\u201d
\nRichard coughed.
\n\u201cYou will tell your mother.\u201d
\n\u201cI will.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cAfter you get better.\u201d
\nSilence.
\nMy chest tightened.
\nRichard already knew he wasn\u2019t getting better.
\nThen his voice softened.
\n\u201cI\u2019m not getting better, son.\u201d
\nDavid began crying on the recording.
\nSo did the David standing in front of me.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Dad.\u201d
\n\u201cYou made a foolish decision.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cYou nearly cost your mother her home.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd Diane committed a crime trying to hide it.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\nThen Richard said the words that broke me.
\n\u201cI will protect your mother. I will not protect you from the truth forever.\u201d
\nThe recording ended.
\nI wiped my eyes.
\nThere was one file left.
\nDavid suddenly moved toward me.
\n\u201cMom, you don\u2019t need to hear that one.\u201d
\nEvery person in the room looked at him.
\nI stared at the recorder.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s on it?\u201d
\nHe shook his head.
\n\u201cNothing about the loan.\u201d
\n\u201cThen why are you afraid?\u201d
\nSarah looked at him.
\nDavid\u2019s face twisted.
\n\u201cBecause it\u2019s about her.\u201d
\nHe pointed at Sarah.
\nShe froze.
\n\u201cMe?\u201d
\nDiane stood abruptly.
\n\u201cThat recording is private.\u201d
\nSarah laughed in disbelief.
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t get privacy anymore.\u201d
\nShe reached for the recorder.
\nDiane grabbed her wrist.
\nArthur immediately stepped forward.
\n\u201cLet go of her.\u201d
\nDiane released Sarah.
\nI pressed PLAY.
\nFor several seconds there was nothing.
\nThen Richard\u2019s voice.
\n\u201cOctober second. Diane came back.\u201d
\nA chair scraped in the recording.
\nThen Diane spoke.
\n\u201cYou need to destroy everything.\u201d
\n\u201cI won\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cIf Sarah ever finds out, it will destroy her.\u201d
\nMy eyes moved toward Sarah.
\nHer face was completely blank.
\nRichard answered.
\n\u201cShe deserves the truth too.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t understand.\u201d
\n\u201cI understand perfectly.\u201d
\nThen Richard said:
\n\u201cYou introduced David to your daughter deliberately.\u201d
\nSarah stopped breathing.
\nDavid covered his face.
\nDiane whispered,
\n\u201cTurn it off.\u201d
\nI didn\u2019t.
\nRichard continued.
\n\u201cYou thought if David married Sarah, he would never expose what you did at the bank because exposing you would destroy his wife\u2019s mother.\u201d
\nDiane\u2019s recorded voice cracked.
\n\u201cI was protecting my daughter.\u201d
\n\u201cYou were protecting yourself.\u201d
\nSarah stumbled backward.
\nRachel caught her.
\nThe recording continued.
\n\u201cSarah thinks meeting David was an accident.\u201d
\nDiane started crying.
\n\u201cIt became real.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat became real?\u201d
\n\u201cThey fell in love.\u201d
\nRichard was silent for several seconds.
\nThen he said,
\n\u201cAnd that is exactly why you must tell them.\u201d
\nThe file ended.
\nSarah stared at David.
\n\u201cYou knew?\u201d
\nDavid shook his head.
\n\u201cNot at first.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen did you find out?\u201d
\n\u201cAfter our wedding.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s face crumpled.
\n\u201cYou\u2019ve known our entire marriage?\u201d
\n\u201cI loved you.\u201d
\n\u201cThat wasn\u2019t my question.\u201d
\n\u201cI love you.\u201d
\n\u201cTHAT WASN\u2019T MY QUESTION!\u201d
\nDavid\u2019s voice broke.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nSarah stared at him.
\nTwelve years of marriage seemed to collapse across her face.
\nThen she turned toward Diane.
\n\u201cYou arranged for me to meet him?\u201d
\nDiane began crying.
\n\u201cI thought he was a good man.\u201d
\n\u201cYou used me as insurance.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cYou tied me to the one person who could expose you!\u201d
\n\u201cI wanted you to be happy!\u201d
\nSarah laughed through tears.
\n\u201cYou wanted yourself to be safe.\u201d
\nDiane reached toward her.
\nSarah backed away.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t touch me.\u201d
\nI thought that was the end.
\nI was wrong.
\nRachel was examining the flash drive.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s something else.\u201d
\nDavid immediately looked toward her.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nShe pointed at a label taped to it.
\nIt contained a date.
\nNot eleven years ago.
\nThree weeks ago.
\nMy blood went cold.
\n\u201cThat can\u2019t be Richard\u2019s.\u201d
\n\u201cNo,\u201d Rachel said.
\n\u201cIt isn\u2019t.\u201d
\nDavid stared at Diane.
\nDiane stared back.
\nArthur looked between them.
\n\u201cWho made it?\u201d
\nDiane\u2019s shoulders dropped.
\n\u201cI did.\u201d
\nSarah looked at her mother.
\n\u201cThree weeks ago?\u201d
\nDiane nodded.
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause David contacted me.\u201d
\nEvery eye turned toward my son.
\nI felt sick.
\n\u201cYou contacted her?\u201d
\nDavid said nothing.
\nDiane continued.
\n\u201cHe wanted help.\u201d
\n\u201cWith what?\u201d
\nShe looked directly at me.
\n\u201cGetting your house.\u201d
\nMy knees almost gave way.
\nDavid rushed forward.
\n\u201cMom, it wasn\u2019t like that.\u201d
\nDiane laughed.
\n\u201cOh, now you want honesty?\u201d
\n\u201cShut up.\u201d
\n\u201cYou called me because you knew I still understood property paperwork.\u201d
\n\u201cStop.\u201d
\n\u201cYou wanted to know how difficult it would be to have Lisa declared incapable of managing her finances.\u201d
\nSarah stared at her husband.
\nDavid looked trapped.
\nThen Diane delivered the final blow.
\n\u201cAnd that wasn\u2019t Sarah\u2019s idea.\u201d
\nEverything stopped.
\nI looked at Sarah.
\nShe looked at me.
\nAll those conversations.
\nAll those comments.
\nAssisted living.
\nThe deed.
\nPower of attorney.
\nI had assumed Sarah was driving everything.
\nDiane pointed at David.
\n\u201cHe planned it before he ever mentioned it to his wife.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s lips parted.
\nDavid shook his head desperately.
\n\u201cShe\u2019s lying.\u201d
\nDiane reached into her handbag.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nShe pulled out her phone.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I came here this morning.\u201d
\nShe unlocked it.
\nOpened a message thread.
\nThen handed the phone to me.
\nAt the top was David\u2019s name.
\nThere were dozens of messages.
\nI scrolled.
\nMy stomach turned.
\nThen I reached one from three weeks earlier.
\nDAVID: I need Mom out of the house before she changes the will.
\nAnother:
\nDAVID: Sarah thinks assisted living is about safety. Keep it that way.
\nSarah made a strangled sound beside me.
\nAnd then I reached the final message.
\nSent Thursday night.
\nDAVID: Once I have Mom\u2019s signature, we destroy Dad\u2019s evidence and nobody ever knows what happened.
\nI slowly lifted my eyes.
\nMy son stood across from me.
\nThere was nowhere left for him to hide.
\nBut then Rachel took Diane\u2019s phone from my hand.
\n\u201cLisa.\u201d
\nSomething in her voice made me look at her.
\nShe had scrolled farther back.
\nMuch farther.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nRachel looked at David.
\nThen Diane.
\nAnd finally at me.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s another message.\u201d
\n\u201cFrom David?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nShe turned the screen toward me.
\nThe message was dated eleven years earlier.
\nThe sender was Richard.
\nMy husband.
\nAnd the first sentence made my blood run cold.
\nDIANE, DAVID STILL DOESN\u2019T KNOW WHY I REALLY PAID THAT LOAN.
\nI stared at the words.
\n\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d
\nDiane began shaking her head.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d
\nArthur looked stunned.
\n\u201cDiane, what did Richard know?\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t do this.\u201d
\nI stepped toward her.
\n\u201cWhat did my husband know?\u201d
\nHer eyes filled with tears.
\nFor the first time since I had met her, every trace of defiance disappeared.
\nShe looked frightened.
\nTruly frightened.
\nThen she whispered,
\n\u201cThe loan wasn\u2019t the secret Richard was protecting.\u201d
\nI could hear my own heartbeat.
\n\u201cWhat was?\u201d
\nDiane looked at David.
\nThen at Sarah.
\nThen finally at me.
\nAnd when she answered, her voice was barely audible.
\n\u201cThe reason David needed that money in the first place.\u201d………………………………<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mother?\u201d Sarah\u2019s lips barely moved. I stared at the security footage. The woman standing in my driveway was perhaps sixty, with silver threaded through dark hair and one hand … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aita","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7336"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7339,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7336\/revisions\/7339"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}