“It isn’t what it sounds like.”
Barbara looked at her.
That sentence almost made her laugh.
“What does it sound like?”
“We weren’t stealing anything.”
“You were selling my home.”
“It was going to work out.”
“To whom?”
Harper’s mouth opened.
No words came.
Barbara turned toward Daniel.
“Did you take their money?”
Daniel looked at the floor.
That was the answer.
Catherine began crying.
Not dramatically.
Quietly.
Richard placed one hand over hers.
Barbara’s anger shifted.
For the first time she saw them not as demanding wealthy parents arriving to displace her, but as two frightened people who had trusted their daughter.
“What did she tell you?”
Catherine wiped her cheek.
“That you wanted to sell.”
Barbara closed her eyes.
“She said you didn’t use the condo much anymore,” Richard continued. “That maintaining it was becoming difficult for you.”
Harper interrupted.
“That was going to become true eventually.”
Barbara opened her eyes.
Harper realized too late what she had said.
Barbara walked toward her.
“You were waiting for me to become old enough for your lie?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“It sounded very clear.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Mom, please.”
Barbara rounded on him.
“Did you sign anything?”
Daniel hesitated.
“An agreement.”
“With what authority?”
Daniel said nothing.
Barbara’s gaze moved toward the brown leather folder.
And suddenly Daniel followed it.
His face changed.
He remembered.
“Mom.”
Barbara had never heard fear enter his voice so quickly.
“What’s in the folder?”
Barbara almost felt Robert standing beside her.
She answered softly.
“You know.”
Daniel crossed the room.
“Mom, listen to me.”
“No.”
“Whatever you’re thinking—”
“It is already done.”
Daniel stopped.
“What did you do?”
Barbara held his gaze.
“I revoked every piece of property-management authority you had.”
The color left his face.
Harper looked confused.
“What authority?”
Daniel ignored her.
“When?”
“Approximately an hour ago.”
“You can’t.”
“I can.”
“Mom—”
“Alan is filing notice with the county, the association, the bank, and every entity connected to my properties.”
Daniel’s breathing became shallow.
Harper turned toward him.
“Daniel, what is she talking about?”
He still did not answer.
Barbara understood something then.
Harper had not known.
Not everything.
Perhaps Daniel had allowed his wife to believe he possessed far more legal authority than he actually did.
“Tell her,” Barbara said.
Daniel looked at Barbara with something close to pleading.
“Tell me what?” Harper demanded.
Barbara spoke instead.
“Your husband never owned this condominium.”
Harper scoffed.
“I know it’s technically—”
“No. Apparently you don’t.”
Barbara pointed toward the folder.
“Daniel was authorized to manage certain property matters eleven years ago when Robert became ill. That authority never included selling anything.”
Richard stood.
“You signed a sales agreement.”
Daniel’s shoulders sagged.
“It was preliminary.”
