Chapter 5: The House Was Never Supposed to Be His
Nobody moved.
Frank kept his finger on the handwritten appointment date.
"Answer me, Wade.""
Wade exhaled sharply.
"It's not what you think.""
Frank gave a bitter laugh.
"Then explain what I should think.""
Wade pulled out a chair.
"Look, Dad. You've been getting older. The house is too much responsibility. Someone needs to make sure everything is handled properly.""
Frank stared at him.
"I've lived here for thirty-two years.""
"And that's exactly why we need to plan ahead.""
"Plan what?""
"Your future.""
Frank glanced toward Erin.
She was watching Wade carefully.
Her brother had changed his tone. The anger was disappearing, replaced by something smoother.
It was the voice he used when he wanted someone to agree before they fully understood what they were agreeing to.
"Dad," Wade continued, "you know I love you. I live here. I take care of you. I thought it would make sense to put the house in my name eventually.""
Frank's expression didn't change.
"Eventually?""
"Yes. It would make everything easier.""
"For whom?""
"For everyone.""
Erin shook her head.
"Why didn't you discuss this with me?""
Wade turned toward her.
"Because it's between Dad and me.""
"Then why did you need my money?""
"Here we go again.""
"No, answer the question.""
Wade stood.
"You're not living here. You don't see what happens every day. You come in once a week, bring groceries, and leave. I deal with the emergencies.""
Frank looked at his son.
"What emergencies?""
"The roof. The plumbing. The insurance.""
"Which I paid for.""
"Not everything!""
Erin opened her phone.
"Tell me one expense you paid with your own money.""
Wade stared at her.
She scrolled through her records.
"Just one.""
"You're unbelievable.""
"One, Wade.""
He grabbed the back of his chair.
"You want a list? Fine. I spend my time here.
I lose my weekends. I can't go anywhere without worrying about Dad.""
Frank listened quietly.
Then he asked, "Did I ask you to give up your weekends?""
Wade hesitated.
"No, but—"
"Did I ask you to move into my house?""
Wade's eyes flickered.
Frank continued.
"Did I tell you to stop working?""
"No.""
"Then why do you keep talking as if I owe you my property?""
Wade looked furious.
"Because I'm the one who's here!""
Frank nodded.
"And Erin is the one who has been paying.""
Wade turned away.
Dawn sat down at the far end of the table.
She looked exhausted.
Frank picked up the financial summary.
"Where did the money go after it entered your account?""
Wade rubbed his jaw.
"I told you. Household expenses.""
"Show me.""
"I don't have every receipt.""
"Then we'll ask the bank.""
Wade suddenly looked at Dawn.
"Can you please tell them how much I've done for this family?""
Dawn stared at him.
"What do you want me to say?""
"Tell them I paid for things.""
"You paid for some things.""
"And?""
"And you also used the money Erin sent for things that had nothing to do with Frank.""
Wade's eyes narrowed.
Dawn continued.
"I told you to stop.""
Frank looked at her.
"When?""
"Months ago.""
Wade shook his head.
"Don't bring that into this.""
Dawn ignored him.
"He told me Erin was sending money because she felt guilty about not visiting. He said she wanted to contribute but didn't want to know how it was spent.""
Erin's eyes filled with anger.
"I never said that.""
"I know," Dawn whispered.
Wade slapped his hand against the table.
"Because you're both twisting my words!""
Dawn flinched.
Frank stepped forward.
"Lower your voice.""
Wade turned toward his father.
"You don't understand what it's like to be responsible for another person!""
Frank's face tightened.
"I raised both of you alone after your mother died.""
Wade went quiet.
"I worked double shifts," Frank continued.
"I missed birthdays because I was trying to keep the lights on. I learned how to cook because two children needed dinner. I never asked either of you to buy your way into my life.""
Erin looked down.
She remembered those years.
The smell of fried eggs at six in the morning.
Her father's work boots beside the front door.
The small envelope of birthday money he used to hide beneath her pillow when he couldn't afford a proper present.
He had never made them feel poor.
He had made them feel loved.
Frank looked at Wade.
"And I certainly never asked you to turn your sister's love into an invoice.""
Wade's expression hardened.
"Fine. Then let her take care of you.""
Frank blinked.
"What?""
"She wants to be in charge so badly? Let her do everything. I'm done.""
Erin stood.
"You don't get to threaten Dad with abandonment.""
"I'm not threatening anyone.""
"You just said you're leaving.""
"Maybe I should.""
Frank looked tired.
"Then perhaps you should.""
Wade stared at him.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Wade laughed.
"You can't be serious.""
Frank nodded toward the documents.
"I want an independent lawyer to review every page. I want my bank records. I want to know exactly where my money went and what you've done with Erin's.""
Wade shook his head.
"You don't trust me anymore?""
Frank looked at him.
"I don't know what to trust.""
That answer seemed to hit Wade harder than a shout.
Dawn slowly stood.
"I think I should tell you something else.""
Wade turned.
"Dawn, stop.""
She looked at Frank.
"Last month, Wade asked me to sign as a witness on another document.""
"What document?"" Frank asked.
"A property valuation request.""
Frank frowned.
"Why?""
"He said the house was going to be refinanced.""
Erin looked at Wade.
"Refinanced?""
Wade's face went pale.
Dawn continued.
"He said the money would be used to pay off some debts.""
Frank stared at his son.
"What debts?""
Wade didn't answer.
Dawn opened her handbag again.
This time she removed a folded letter.
"I found this in his desk.""
Wade lunged toward her.
But Frank stepped between them.
"Don't.""
Dawn handed the letter to Erin.
It was from a financial institution.
Erin read the first paragraph.
Then she looked at the amount.
$48,000.
A loan application.
The property listed as proposed security was Frank's house.
And the applicant's name was Wade.
Erin looked up.
"You're trying to borrow forty-eight thousand dollars against Dad's house?""
Wade's face twisted.
"It's not finalized.""
"Did Dad approve this?""
"He would have.""
Frank's voice was barely audible.
"Would have?""
Wade looked at him.
"Dad, I was going to explain.""
"When?""
"Once everything was arranged.""
Frank slowly sat down.
Erin placed the letter in front of him.
For a moment, he seemed much older than he had that afternoon.
Then he asked a question nobody expected.
"How much do you owe, Wade?""
Wade stared at the floor.
"That isn't relevant.""
Frank repeated himself.
"How much?""
Wade finally whispered:
"Sixty-two thousand.""
Dawn closed her eyes.
Erin felt her stomach drop.
Sixty-two thousand dollars.
And her brother had been using their father's supposed financial needs to collect money from her.
But before Frank could respond, Wade said something that changed the entire argument.
"I didn't borrow that money for myself.""
Erin looked at him.
"Then who was it for?""
May you like
Wade turned toward Dawn.
And Dawn began to cry.
