Then at 7:05:
Please don’t ruin the sale.
There it was.
Not Are you okay?
Not I’m sorry.
Please don’t ruin the sale.
I screenshotted everything and sent it to Rachel.
The next morning, Mom appeared outside my apartment.
I watched through the peephole as she knocked.
“Natalie?”
I stayed quiet.
“I know you’re home.”
Still nothing.
Then her voice cracked.
“Please. Your father hasn’t slept.”
That almost made me laugh.
Neither had I.
She knocked again.
“You don’t understand what’s at stake.”
I opened the door but kept
