Chapter 8 - Claire Froze the One Thing Everyone Needed
Sloane advised Claire not to make accusations she could not prove.
She gave her a more practical option.
Notify the lender that Claire disputed her signature and did not authorize additional draws or modifications connected to the home.
Claire did it.
Within hours, the credit facility was frozen pending review.
Mason called immediately.
“What did you do?”
Claire had never heard him sound so frightened.
“I told the lender the truth.”
“Claire, please tell me you didn’t freeze the line.”
“I did.”
“You don’t understand what that triggers.”
“Then explain it.”
Mason lowered his voice.
“My parents have a refinancing deadline Friday.”
“Why is that my problem?”
“Because your house line is part of the collateral structure.”
Claire sat silently.
There it was.
Again.
Her home.
Her signature.
Her ignorance.
All supporting somebody else’s deadline.
“What happens Friday?”
“If they can’t close the refinance, the lender can restrict the company’s operating credit.”
“Can. Not will.”
“Yes.”
“So everyone has been using catastrophe to keep me from asking questions.”
“It’s more serious than that.”
“It’s always more serious when I say no.”
Mason had no answer.
Then Claire asked:
“Who called you?”
He went quiet again.
That refusal finally changed something in her.
“Mason, if you protect them one more time, I am done protecting this marriage.”
“I’m not protecting them.”
“What are you doing?”
His reply came quietly.
“Trying to keep my father out of prison.”
Claire froze.
Mason immediately regretted saying it.
She could hear it.
“What did your father do?”
“I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No. You should have said it before you attacked furniture around your pregnant wife.”
“I never intended to touch you.”
“That is not the standard.”
He breathed out.
“You’re right.”
Claire waited.
Then Mason said:
“The person on the phone wasn’t Mom.”
That was the first direct answer he had given her.
“Who was it?”
“I don’t know.”
Claire almost laughed.
“You expect me to believe someone ordered you to force me out of the house and you don’t know who?”
“I know who they speak for.”
Claire’s anger disappeared.
“Who?”
May you like
Mason answered.
“My father.”
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