Chapter 2 - THE HOUSE I PAID FOR
Nobody moved. The fire pit made a small snapping sound, as if even the flames were embarrassed.
“Sell?” Michael repeated. “Jess, what are you talking about?”
Jessica touched her cheek. “Your mother just attacked me. Are we seriously talking about paperwork?”
“Yes,” I answered. “We are.”
Five years earlier, when Michael and Jessica couldn't qualify for a larger down payment, I sold the little lot my mother left me near Denton. Frank had wanted that money kept safe. I lent them $286,000, with a written agreement and a recorded second lien. They could live in the house as long as they wished, but they couldn't erase my loan simply because we shared a last name.
Michael had signed the papers himself. Now he rubbed his forehead. “Mom, I thought we agreed we'd discuss the loan later.”
“We did. I didn't agree to make it disappear.”
Jessica turned toward the guests. “She's confused. She forgets things all the time.”
Lois, sixty-eight and looking magnificent in lavender, stepped forward. “I was with Eleanor when she signed the original loan at Mr. Patel's office. Her memory is fine.”
“Stay out of this,” Jessica snapped.
My son tightened his hold on Jessica. “Mom, just go home. We'll talk tomorrow.”
“For once, Michael, look at me instead of the person you're trying to calm.” He did, briefly. “Did you authorize a sale?”
“No.” A pause. “Not exactly.”
I understood then that my son was frightened of something more than an argument at a party.
Jessica pulled out her phone. “I'm calling the police. I want a report about what she did to me.”
“Call them,” I said. “Tell them everything, including the picture you broke.”
I wasn't proud of pushing her. I'd answer for that. But being ashamed of my response didn't mean her cruelty had become an accident.
My phone vibrated. Unknown number. A message filled the screen: ELEANOR HART, I AM THE NOTARY NAMED ON YOUR RELEASE. YOU NEED TO CALL ME BEFORE MONDAY.
Monday was two days away.
And below the message was an image of a signature that looked exactly like mine.
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