Chapter 3 - LAUREN’S HOUSE
Lauren lived in a five-bedroom house in Highlands Ranch.
I had been there dozens of times.
New kitchen.
Finished basement.
Backyard play structure.
Two-car garage.
When she bought it three years earlier, Mom said Lauren and Kevin had “finally caught a break.”
I gave them $20,000 toward closing.
A family gift.
At least that was what I believed.
The loan proceeds told another story.
$165,000 went to a title company.
$72,000 to Lauren and Kevin’s joint account.
$43,000 to a contractor who remodeled their basement.
Total:
$280,000.
My parents had borrowed against their home.
Used my name as guarantor.
Then moved most of the money to my sister.
Why?
I called Lauren.
She answered on the fourth ring.
“What?”
No hello.
“You knew.”
Silence.
“What are you talking about?”
“The Harbor loan.”
Longer silence.
“Dad said you approved it.”
My heart started pounding.
“Approved what?”
“Helping with the house.”
“I gave you twenty thousand dollars.”
“I know.”
“Did you receive another two hundred eighty?”
“Not exactly.”
“Lauren.”
“Dad said it was family equity.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“You took nearly three hundred thousand dollars and didn’t ask where it came from?”
“We were told it was an advance.”
“From whom?”
“Grandpa’s structure.”
I stopped.
Our grandfather had been dead eight years.
“What structure?”
Lauren’s breathing changed.
“Ethan, just talk to Dad.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“What structure?”
She whispered:
“The Mercer Family Trust.”
I laughed once.
“We don’t have a family trust.”
Another silence.
May you like
Then Lauren said:
“You seriously don’t know.”
