I rubbed the indentation my wedding band had left years ago. It was still faintly visible.
“If I report it, he could lose everything.”
Nora waited.
I looked at his imitation of my name.
“He was willing to let me lose my home.”
Then I asked her to help me make the report.
CHAPTER 3 – What They Had Spent
My neighbor June met me in my driveway that afternoon.
She had seen me leave with the papers clutched against my coat. She asked no questions until I tried three times to fit my key into the lock.
“Would you like me to come in?”
“Yes.”
Rebecca sat at the kitchen table with her laptop open. Andrew stood beside the sink.
“You called the title company,” Rebecca said.
I placed my bag on a chair.
“Yes.”
“They’ve suspended everything.”
“Yes.”
June took the chair beside mine. She folded her hands on the table as if we had come to discuss the weather.
Rebecca looked at her.
“This is private.”
“She’s staying,” I said.
Andrew’s phone kept lighting up beside the sink. He turned it facedown.
I told them there would be no sale. All communication about the house would go through Nora. The notices remained in effect, and the legal process would continue if they did not leave.
Rebecca laughed once.
“You’re really going to make your son homeless.”
Andrew stared at the floor.
I nearly answered for him.
Instead, I waited.
“I can rent somewhere,” he said eventually.
Rebecca turned so sharply that her coat sleeve knocked against the laptop.
