Chapter 5 - THE DOCUMENT
James's head snapped toward the door.
“My husband signed what?”
Dad said quickly, “Nothing.”
Derek pounded again.
“You better tell her before I do!”
Lauren screamed something outside.
Then another crash hit the door.
Mom whispered, “Don't let them in.”
James looked at my father.
“Who is he talking about?”
Dad shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“Dad.”
“I said I don't know.”
James walked toward the front door.
Mom grabbed his arm.
“Please don't.”
He looked down at her hand.
She immediately released him.
“If Derek has something to say about me,” James said, “I'd like to hear it.”
He opened the door.
Cold December air rushed inside.
Lauren stood on the porch, furious, mascara streaked beneath her eyes.
Derek stood beside her.
He was six foot two, broad, loud, and already half-drunk.
“You think you can throw my wife out?” he demanded.
James stepped into the doorway.
“Yes.”
Derek blinked.
That clearly wasn't the answer he'd expected.
“This isn't your house.”
“We've covered that.”
Lauren pointed at me.
“She turned everyone against me!”
I laughed from the dining room.
“You slapped my baby.”
“For God's sake!”
Derek frowned.
“You hit Emma?”
Lauren hesitated.
“It was nothing.”
Even Derek looked shocked.
Interesting.
Then Lauren recovered.
“She was screaming.”
Derek stared at her.
“You slapped a six-month-old?”
“Don't start with me.”
For the first time that night, Lauren looked genuinely cornered.
So she attacked.
She pointed at James.
“Ask Captain Perfect about the papers Dad gave him.”
I turned to James.
“What papers?”
James frowned.
“I don't know what she's talking about.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No, Lauren. I don't.”
Derek laughed.
“Oh, this is rich.”
James's expression changed.
“What papers?”
Derek reached into his coat.
My father suddenly moved.
“Derek, don't.”
And there it was.
Guilt.
Derek smiled.
“Oh, now you care?”
He pulled out a folded document.
Lauren grabbed his wrist.
“Don't.”
Derek shook her off.
“You dragged me back here. We're finishing it.”
He held the document toward me.
I didn't take it.
“What is that?”
“A loan agreement.”
Dad closed his eyes.
Derek continued.
“Your father borrowed against the house six months ago.”
I looked at Dad.
“How much?”
“One hundred thousand,” Derek said.
My stomach dropped.
“What does that have to do with James?”
Derek gave me a strange look.
“He's listed as guarantor.”
The room went dead silent.
I looked at my husband.
James's face hardened.
“No, I'm not.”
Derek handed him the paper.
James read the first page.
Then the second.
I watched the blood drain from his face.
“James?”
He didn't answer.
“Did you sign it?”
“No.”
Lauren laughed.
“There's your signature.”
James stared at the bottom of the page.
Then looked at my father.
My dad took one step backward.
James's voice became dangerously quiet.
“That is not my signature.”
Mom covered her mouth.
I stared at Dad.
“Did you forge his name?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Nobody spoke.
Lauren's anger suddenly disappeared.
And that was when I realized she knew.
“Lauren.”
She looked toward me.
“Who signed it?”
She said nothing.
Derek gave a bitter laugh.
“Tell her.”
“Shut up.”
“Tell your sister what you did.”
Lauren's face twisted.
“Derek.”
He looked directly at me.
“Your sister signed your husband's name.”
My heart stopped.
May you like
“And that's not the worst part.”
---
