Chapter 5 - The Party I Paid For
I stared at the engagement photo until my eyes hurt.
Melanie wore a dress I remembered her sending me a picture of.
At the time she had written, Found it on clearance! Can you believe it?
Now I knew better.
Greg told me not to confront anyone in person.
So naturally, Dad showed up at my hotel.
He pounded on the door at three that afternoon.
“Aaron! Open up.”
I cracked it with the security latch still on.
He looked exhausted. His hair was wet from the rain.
“Your mother is falling apart.”
“Did you forge my name?”
His face changed.
That was answer enough.
I opened the door wider.
Dad stepped inside and shut it behind him.
“It wasn’t supposed to hurt you.”
I actually laughed.
“You took out twenty-four thousand dollars in my name.”
“Melanie needed help.”
“For an engagement party?”
“She wanted something nice.”
“So you stole from me.”
“We were going to pay it back.”
“With what?”
He looked away.
I felt something inside me go very still.
“Who signed the lease renewal?”
Dad sat down.
“Aaron—”
“Who?”
“Your mother handled the paperwork.”
“Did she sign my name?”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“We thought you’d agree.”
“You didn’t ask.”
“You always agree.”
That sentence hit harder than the porch.
Not because it was cruel.
Because it was true.
They hadn’t thought of me as a person with a choice. I was a function. A signature. A balance. A backup plan.
Dad reached into his coat.
“Your mother wanted me to give you this.”
It was an envelope.
Inside was a typed letter.
Three paragraphs about forgiveness, Christmas, and family unity.
At the bottom, Mom had written:
IF YOU KEEP FREEZING ACCOUNTS, WE MAY LOSE THE HOUSE. YOU DON'T WANT THAT ON YOUR CONSCIENCE.
I handed the letter back.
Dad didn’t take it.
Then his phone lit up on the table.
A text preview appeared from Melanie.
DID HE AGREE TO COVER THE JANUARY PAYMENT?
I looked at Dad.
“What January payment?”
May you like
He closed his eyes.
And I knew there was another bill.
