Daniel gathered his papers. “I should go.”
At the door, Gavin spoke. “Did Dad ever tell you he forgave me?”
Daniel stopped. “Yes.”
Gavin looked up. “He did?”
“Yes.” Daniel put on his coat. “But forgiveness and trust are not the same thing.”
The front door closed behind him.
Then Alyssa picked up her purse.
“Where are you going?” Gavin asked.
“To my sister’s. I need space.”
“Alyssa.”
“You lied to me about the house.” Her eyes were full. “You let me treat her like she was living in our home. And you knew the whole time we were living in hers.”
She walked out.
Gavin stood alone in the hallway. Then he looked at me. I thought he might apologize.
Instead, he said something that chilled me.
“She’ll come back.”
“Why?”
His eyes slid toward the driveway.
“Because the debt isn’t only mine.”
Alyssa didn’t come home that night. I heard Gavin pacing until three in the morning.
At six-thirty, I found him at the kitchen table in yesterday’s clothes, a cold cup of coffee in front of him.
“Mom. Aren’t you going to ask? About what I said?”
I filled the kettle. “If you want me to know, you’ll tell me.”
His laugh was exhausted. “You’ve changed.”
“No. I stopped pretending.”
That quieted him.
A few minutes later he said, “Alyssa borrowed money. Ninety thousand dollars. She invested it in her brother’s company.”
I knew very little about Alyssa’s brother, Trent. He’d visited twice. Both times he wore an expensive watch and talked confidently about commercial real estate.
“What company?”
“Short-term rentals. Something.”
“Something?”
“I didn’t understand all of it.”
“What happened?”
“It collapsed. Eight months ago.”
Eight months. For eight months they’d lived in my house, complained about my water, replaced appliances, ordered takeout every other night, and said nothing.
“The sixty-two thousand you told me about,” I said. “Was that true?”
His eyes flickered. “It’s what’s on the cards right now.”
“What’s the real total?”
He hesitated a long time.
“About a hundred and seventy-four thousand.”
“And the house?”
He swallowed. “The house would have cleared almost all of it.”
There it was. No more exploring options. The house. Walter’s house. Forty-five years of our life reduced to one line on a debt spreadsheet.
The doorbell rang.
Ethan Blake is a skilled Creative Content Specialist with a talent for crafting engaging and thought-provoking narratives. With a strong background in storytelling and digital content creation, Ethan brings a unique perspective to his role at TheArchivists, where he curates and produces captivating content for a global audience.
Ethan holds a degree in Communications from Zurich University, where he developed his expertise in storytelling, media strategy, and audience engagement. Known for his ability to blend creativity with analytical precision, he excels at creating content that not only entertains but also connects deeply with readers.
At TheArchivists, Ethan specializes in uncovering compelling stories that reflect a wide range of human experiences. His work is celebrated for its authenticity, creativity, and ability to spark meaningful conversations, earning him recognition among peers and readers alike.
Passionate about the art of storytelling, Ethan enjoys exploring themes of culture, history, and personal growth, aiming to inspire and inform with every piece he creates. Dedicated to making a lasting impact, Ethan continues to push boundaries in the ever-evolving world of digital content.