Vanessa’s expression changed completely.
“June. Go upstairs.”
But my granddaughter remained where she was.
“The one with Grandma’s writing on it?”
The silence that followed was unlike anything I had ever experienced.
Vanessa stepped toward the stairs.
“I said go upstairs.”
Daniel stood between them.
“Leave her alone.”
It was the first time in months that I had heard my son challenge his wife.
Vanessa turned toward him, her voice suddenly cold.
“You have no idea what I’ve done to keep this family afloat.”
Daniel looked down at the application again.
Then he asked a question that made her grip the edge of the table.
“How much money have you lost?”
Vanessa looked at him for a long moment.
Then something in her expression collapsed.
“One hundred and twelve thousand dollars,” she said.
I heard June gasp behind me.
Daniel stared at his wife.
“How?”
“My real estate business wasn’t doing well. I had expenses. Clients backed out. I borrowed money to cover one problem, and then I borrowed more to cover the next.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you would have panicked!”
Daniel stepped backward as though she’d struck him.
“You told me we needed Mom’s house because it was our only chance to start over.”
“It is our only chance!”
Vanessa pointed toward me.
“She sits on nearly a million dollars in property while we’re struggling. What difference would a little loan make to her?”
I felt my stomach tighten.
