**She hadn’t said it was a mistake.**
She hadn’t asked what Richard was talking about.
She’d said she could explain.
“Then come here,” I answered.
***
Madison arrived forty minutes later.
Evan came with her.
My daughter looked exhausted.
She was wearing jeans and the green sweater I’d bought her for Christmas.
When she walked through the door, she stopped at the sight of the guests.
“Dad,” Evan said sharply, “what is going on?”
Richard turned.
“Your mother-in-law is creating a scene.”
I looked at Madison.
“Did you give him permission?”
She glanced at Richard.
Then at me.
“Mom, we thought this might help.”
I stared at her.
“Help whom?”
She swallowed.
“You’ve been saying for months that you can’t afford the property anymore. Richard thought if we could show you how much money it could make, you might reconsider selling.”
I felt my hands go cold.
“So you rented it without asking?”
“It was supposed to be a trial.”
“A trial?”
“Just a few weekends.”
I stared at my daughter.
“Madison, I told you I was meeting a buyer today.”
She looked away.
