Chapter 3 - Noah had called Daniel at 1:58
Daniel told me the full story the next morning.
I was at my condo.
Leg elevated.
Ice.
Coffee.
Three staples itching.
Daniel sat across from me.
He had not slept.
“Yesterday, Noah called me at one fifty-eight.”
“Before I got there.”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
Daniel looked toward the kitchen.
Then back.
“He asked when I was coming home.”
“That’s normal.”
“Then he whispered.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“He said Mom and Grandpa were talking about you.”
I waited.
Daniel continued:
“He said Rachel told Dad, ‘Rebecca either signs today or we stop asking nicely.’”
I stared.
“Those exact words?”
“As close as he remembered.”
“Did you ask him what that meant?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s eight.”
Good.
Daniel said he told Noah:
“Don’t get involved. Stay with your friends. I’m leaving now.”
Then Noah said:
“Mom has papers with your name.”
That changed things.
Daniel had not signed any refinance consent.
He had explicitly told Rachel two weeks earlier:
Do not use my name to pressure Rebecca.
I asked:
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I did.”
I checked.
One missed call.
1:59 p.m.
I had been driving.
Then he texted:
Call me before you sign anything at Dad’s.
I had not seen it.
My phone had been in my bag.
Daniel left Indianapolis immediately.
Three-hour drive became a little over two and a half.
Too fast.
I told him so.
He said:
“Noted.”
Then:
“I called Dad.”
My eyes lifted.
“What did he say?”
“That Noah misunderstood.”
“Of course.”
“Then he said you had been ‘difficult about the duplex for months.’”
I laughed.
“There it is.”
Daniel asked whether I knew what refinance Rachel wanted.
“I knew she wanted one.”
“How much?”
“I don’t know.”
May you like
“Why would my signature already be on anything?”
That was the first question neither of us could answer.
