CHAPTER THREE

WHAT MY HUSBAND KNEW

The signature was mine.

At least, it looked like mine.

Catherine Collins.

The C curved the way I had written it for forty years.

The final S dipped slightly beneath the line.

Even the pressure marks appeared convincing.

But I had never signed the document in Henry’s hand.

I knew that before I read a single word.

“What is that?”

Henry did not take his eyes off David.

“A personal guaranty amendment.”

“For what?”

David answered before Henry could.

“Mom—”

“For what?”

My voice filled the room.

Alice appeared at the top of the stairs.

My eight-year-old granddaughter stood barefoot in pink pajamas, clutching the wooden railing.

“Grandma?”

Every adult froze.

I immediately softened my voice.

“Go back to bed, sweetheart.”

“Are you leaving?”

Emily hurried toward the stairs.

“Alice, upstairs.”

The little girl ignored her mother.

Her eyes stayed on my suitcase.

“Are you leaving because Mommy said your room is going to be hers?”

Emily stopped cold.

Children have an extraordinary ability to destroy lies without understanding them.

I looked at Alice.

“No, darling.”

It was not entirely true.

But it was the kindest answer available.

“I’m going somewhere for a little while.”

Her lower lip trembled.

“Who’ll make my pancakes?”

That nearly broke me.

Not the house.

Not the money.

Not even David.

Pancakes.

Saturday mornings.

Tiny chocolate-chip smiles.

The ordinary things love builds when nobody is watching.

I climbed three steps and kissed her forehead.

“You know how Grandma always tells you that you can learn hard things?”

She nodded.

“You’re going to learn pancakes.”

“But yours are round.”

I smiled.

“Practice.”

She hugged my neck.

Over her shoulder, I saw David watching us.

For the first time that evening, he looked ashamed.

Emily eventually took Alice upstairs.

When she returned, Henry was still standing near the table.

I sat again.

“Tell me.”

Henry handed me the document.

The paperwork referenced David’s business.

A commercial expansion loan.

Collateral.

Guarantees.

Property.

My name.

I looked at the signature.

“Someone forged this.”

Henry nodded.

“I believe so.”

I looked at David.

He stared at the floor.

“Did you do it?”

“No.”

“Look at me.”

He did.

“No, Mom.”

“Did Emily?”

“No.”

Emily laughed nervously.

“This is insane.”

Henry turned to her.

“Then you will both have no objection to a forensic review.”

Emily’s mouth closed.

David began pacing.

“I was going to fix everything.”

Henry’s eyes narrowed.