Chapter 2 - The Money I Was Still Waiting For
“What loan?”
Judith looked confused.
“The seventy-eight thousand dollars you gave Parker Catering after Nathan died.”
I knew exactly which loan she meant.
Eight years earlier, my husband Nathan had died from an undiagnosed heart condition at thirty-three.
Ethan had been fourteen months old.
The life-insurance policy kept us from losing our apartment.
A year later, Dad’s catering company nearly collapsed after he suffered a stroke.
Caleb was twenty-seven and desperate to keep it alive.
I loaned the business $78,000.
Mom called it temporary.
Caleb promised I would be repaid.
For six months, small payments arrived.
Then they stopped.
Diane told me payroll was tight.
Caleb said vendors were threatening lawsuits.
I stopped asking.
I picked up weekend shifts at a rehabilitation clinic instead.
“Judith,” I said slowly, “I haven’t received a payment in six years.”
Her face drained.
“That isn’t possible.”
She opened her handbag and pulled out her phone.
“The company made every payment.”
“To whom?”
“The family repayment account.”
I had never heard of it.
Before Judith could explain, Caleb came through the ballroom doors.
“Grace.”
He looked wrecked.
“Not tonight,” I said.
“Please. Tiffany was trying to be funny.”
“And Mom?”
He looked away.
“Mom is Mom.”
I almost walked past him.
Then he saw Judith.
His expression changed.
It lasted less than a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
“What are you two talking about?”
Judith answered before I could.
“Grace’s loan.”
Caleb swallowed.
“Can we do this after the honeymoon?”
I stared at him.
That was not the reaction of a man hearing surprising news.
“Why after the honeymoon?”
“Because tonight has already become a disaster.”
“Did the company repay me?”
Caleb glanced toward the ballroom.
“Grace—”
“Yes or no?”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“The company made payments.”
My stomach tightened.
“Where did they go?”
May you like
He whispered:
“Mom handled that.”
