Chapter 24 - THE HOUSE
The Evergreen house was sold.
The lender settlement required it.
The trust recovered its forty-percent beneficial interest.
Harbor Financial accepted a negotiated payoff after acknowledging defects in the guarantee process and its own verification failures.
My personal guarantee was declared unenforceable under the settlement and court findings.
I recovered part of the interest payments I had made.
Not all.
Some were treated as voluntary support because I knowingly paid the monthly bills even if I misunderstood the underlying debt.
That hurt.
Fairly.
I had not asked enough questions.
Dad and Mom moved into a smaller townhouse.
Mom called me once before the move.
“Your father is going to prison and we’re losing the house.”
I remained silent.
“Does that make you happy?”
“No.”
“Then why won’t you help?”
There it was.
Again.
Because Ethan can handle it.
I said:
“I hope you have safe housing. I will not finance it.”
“You have money.”
“Yes.”
“We’re your parents.”
“Yes.”
The word yes no longer meant surrender.
May you like
Mom cried.
I did not rescue her from the feeling.
