Because a father’s heart is not a light switch. You do not stop loving your child because he becomes cruel. You only learn that love without boundaries becomes permission.
“I didn’t want it to go this far,” he said.
I looked at him. “How far did you want it to go?”
He swallowed.
“Melissa said if we had power of attorney, we could manage things. Sell the house. Put you somewhere nice. You’d be taken care of.”
“By removing me from the home your mother and I built?”
“You can’t live here forever.”
“No,” I said. “But I can decide when I leave.”
His eyes filled.
“I’m drowning, Dad.”
The room went quiet.
“I owe money,” he whispered.
Melissa closed her eyes.
“How much?” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
Samuel did.
“Based on the records Mr. Bennett found, at least seventy-five thousand.”
Rachel muttered, “Lord.”
