Chapter 2 - The House Diane Used as a Weapon
Lily spent the night at Emily’s sister’s house.
Emily needed her away from the adults.
Ryan wanted to drive her there.
Emily refused.
“I’ll do it.”
“Emily.”
“Stay here and figure out why your mother can sign documents that make you turn white.”
Ryan didn’t argue.
When Emily returned, Diane was gone.
The dining table had been cleared.
The spilled milk was gone.
The legal papers remained.
Emily sat across from Ryan.
“Start.”
He rubbed his hands together.
“Dad created Carter Family Holdings when he started buying rental properties.”
“I know that.”
“He put this house into it before he died.”
“I know that too.”
“Mom became trustee.”
“Ryan.”
He stopped.
“What does Cumberland Heritage Bank have to do with our home?”
Ryan looked down.
“Four years ago, Mom borrowed against several trust properties.”
Emily felt something cold move through her.
“For what?”
“Business.”
“What business?”
“Carter Hospitality.”
Ryan’s company.
The one he had sold three years earlier.
The company that supposedly made enough money to let them remodel the house.
Emily stared at him.
“You told me that sale paid off everything.”
“It paid most of it.”
“Most?”
Ryan nodded.
“How much was left?”
He hesitated.
“About nine hundred thousand.”
Emily stood.
“You had nine hundred thousand dollars in debt when you told me we were debt-free?”
“It wasn’t personally mine.”
“The document has your name on it.”
“I guaranteed part of it.”
She stared.
Ryan had spent years calling himself financially conservative.
He lectured Lily about saving birthday money.
He complained when Emily wanted to replace their ten-year-old SUV.
And he had hidden a continuing guaranty worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought Mom had handled it.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“I was ashamed.”
The word came quietly.
Emily sat again.
Not because she forgave him.
Because she believed him.
Ryan had always hated appearing unsuccessful.
His father, Charles Carter, had built businesses from nothing.
Ryan spent his twenties trying to prove he had inherited more than a last name.
Carter Hospitality had expanded too fast.
A hotel renovation in Knoxville ran over budget.
Another project lost a major tenant.
Ryan borrowed.
Then borrowed again.
Diane stepped in.
The family trust refinanced several properties.
Ryan signed a continuing personal guaranty.
Then the hospitality company was sold.
Everyone assumed the problem ended.
Apparently it hadn’t.
Emily picked up the new agreement.
“What did your mother sign last week?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Read it.”
Ryan did.
Slowly this time.
The agreement extended a defaulted loan for ninety days.
In exchange, Diane pledged additional trust collateral.
Including the Belle Meade house.
If the loan wasn’t cured or refinanced within that period, the bank could pursue remedies against pledged assets subject to the agreement and applicable law.
Emily stared at him.
“She knew this house was at risk while she was telling my daughter she had no respect for it?”
Ryan said nothing.
Emily turned another page.
A number appeared.
Outstanding balance:
$1,247,600.
Emily looked up.
“You said nine hundred thousand four years ago.”
Ryan’s face tightened.
“I know.”
“How did it get bigger?”
“I don’t know.”
May you like
Emily gave a short, humorless laugh.
“Then tonight might be the first night in your life you actually find out.”
Related Stories
