Chapter 4
I should have felt sympathy.
Once, I would have.
If Michael had come to me and said Diane was in financial trouble, I probably would have helped.
Despite everything between us, I would never have wanted his mother homeless.
But he had not asked.
He had forged my name.
He had hidden money.
He had met my sister in secret.
And Diane had slapped me while calling me a gold digger.
“How much does your mother owe?” I asked.
Michael leaned against the kitchen counter.
“Almost four hundred thousand.”
I stared at him.
“On that house?”
He nodded.
“It was paid off after your father died.”
“I know.”
“What happened?”
He looked exhausted.
“Mom borrowed against it.”
“For what?”
“Investments.”
I laughed bitterly.
“What investments?”
He didn’t answer.
“Michael.”
“Lauren introduced her to someone.”
My stomach tightened.
“My sister?”
“It was supposed to be temporary.”
“Why is Lauren involved in your mother’s finances?”
“She knew someone who promised high returns.”
I stared at him.
“And when Diane lost the money, you decided to steal mine.”
“I wasn’t stealing.”
“You forged my signature.”
“The loan never funded.”
“Because you hadn’t finished stealing yet.”
He flinched.
I didn’t care.
“What was the apartment?”
He looked toward the window.
“Mom was going to sell her house before the bank could foreclose.”
“And move into the Oak Brook apartment?”
“For a while.”
“With Lauren?”
“No. Lauren helped find it.”
“Why was she listed as an occupant?”
“She handled the application.”
I suddenly remembered something.
Lauren worked in property management.
She knew leases.
Credit reports.
Applications.
Signatures.
My stomach twisted again.
“How long has she been helping you?”
Michael was silent.
“How long?”
“Six months.”
“Thursdays?”
He nodded.
I sat at the kitchen table because my legs had become weak.
Six months.
Twenty-six Thursdays.
Twenty-six evenings when Michael claimed he was working late or seeing a client.
Twenty-six chances to tell me the truth.
“What did you mean when you said the relationship became emotional?”
He covered his face.
I waited.
Finally he whispered, “We kissed.”
The room seemed to tilt.
“When?”
“Two months ago.”
“One time?”
He looked at me.
I knew.
“How many?”
“A few.”
I stood again.
“Did you sleep with her?”
“No.”
“Did you want to?”
His silence answered.
I walked toward the door.
“Sarah, please.”
I turned.
“Do you know what’s almost worse than the kissing?”
He looked confused.
“You made me question whether my own sister would betray me while you were both planning to take money from my house.”
“That wasn’t the plan.”
“Then what was?”
He grabbed the back of a chair.
“We thought if we could get Mom through the next few months, she could sell, pay everything back, and nobody would ever know.”
“Nobody.”
He lowered his eyes.
“Meaning me.”
He said nothing.
My phone rang.
Lauren.
I answered this time.
“What?”
Her voice shook.
“Can I see you?”
“No.”
“I need to tell you my side.”
“There shouldn’t be sides between sisters.”
“Please.”
“Did you kiss my husband?”
Silence.
I closed my eyes.
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
Michael stared at me.
Lauren started crying.
“It was stupid.”
“Was it more than once?”
“Yes.”
“Did you love him?”
“No.”
Michael’s face changed.
I noticed.
So did Lauren, because she quickly added, “I mean, I was confused.”
I almost laughed.
Two people who had risked destroying my life were suddenly confused.
“Were you helping Diane take money from my house?”
“I thought you had agreed.”
“You saw my signature.”
“I thought Michael had permission.”
“Did you prepare the documents?”
“No.”
That answer came too quickly.
“Lauren.”
“I didn’t forge anything.”
“Did you prepare them?”
She breathed heavily.
“I helped with some forms.”
My heart pounded.
“You used my financial information.”
“Michael gave it to me.”
“You knew it was private.”
“I was trying to help.”
“Everyone keeps helping except me.”
“Sarah—”
“Did Mom know?”
Lauren went silent.
My mother.
Helen.
The thought hit me like another slap.
“Did our mother know you were meeting Michael?”
“She knew I was helping with Diane.”
“Did she know about the kissing?”
“No.”
I wasn’t sure I believed her.
Then Lauren whispered something unexpected.
“There’s another reason I called tonight.”
“What?”
“I found out Michael moved money from your joint savings account.”
I stared at him.
His expression told me it was true.
“How much?”
“Forty-eight thousand dollars.”
I looked at Michael.
He closed his eyes.
My voice became quiet.
“Where is it?”
He answered before Lauren could.
“In Mom’s account.”
I could barely breathe.
“That was Emma’s college money.”
“We can replace it.”
I crossed the room and slapped the countertop with my palm.
“No. I can replace it. Because apparently I’m the only person in this marriage who understands that money doesn’t magically come back.”
Michael stepped toward me.
“I’ll fix it.”
“You’re done fixing things.”
Lauren was still on the phone.
Then she said, “Sarah, there’s something else about Diane’s debt.”
I almost didn’t want to hear it.
“What?”
“The investment wasn’t the reason she borrowed the money.”
Michael’s head snapped up.
“Lauren, stop.”
I looked at him.
“What is she talking about?”
Lauren inhaled shakily.
“Diane already had the debt before I introduced her to anyone.”
Michael grabbed for my phone.
I backed away.
“Tell me.”
Lauren’s voice dropped.
“She’s been paying someone every month for almost three years.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who?”
“I only saw the name once.”
Michael looked terrified.
Lauren said it anyway.
“Claire Bennett.”
I knew the name.
May you like
Every member of Michael’s family knew the name.
Claire Bennett was Michael’s first wife.
