the chain latched.
Mom looked ten years older.
“What’s at stake?”
She lowered her voice.
“Everything.”
“Whose everything?”
“Natalie…”
“Was my signature forged?”
She froze.
That answered me.
“Was it Dad?”
Her eyes filled.
“I need you to understand what things were like back then.”
“Was it Dad?”
“We were desperate.”
The hallway seemed to shrink.
She rushed on.
“Kayla’s business was failing. Your father had already put money into it. We were behind on the mortgage. You had the best credit. We knew you would help if we explained—”
