Daniel shook his head.
“I thought it didn’t matter.”
Sarah laughed.
“Of course you did.”
Linda stood.
“This has gone far enough.”
Michael turned.
“Sit down.”
Something in his voice stopped her.
Not because he owned the house.
Because for the first time, someone had spoken to Linda in the language she used on others.
She sat.
Michael looked toward Sarah.
“There is more.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Sarah felt cold.
“Of course there is.”
Six months earlier, Michael had discovered something while reviewing the trust.
The Lake Forest property taxes had been paid through the trust account.
Routine.
But the property showed a home-equity filing.
That should have been impossible.
Linda did not own the property.
She could not legally pledge it as collateral.
Yet a lender had recorded documents suggesting Linda and Daniel possessed authority to encumber the house.
Michael initially thought clerical error.
Then his attorneys found Daniel’s signature.
Not as borrower.
As attorney-in-fact under a document purporting to give him authority on behalf of the trust.
A document Michael had never signed.
Sarah stared at her husband.
“You forged Dad’s signature?”
“No.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“No.”
“Then what?”
“It was Mom’s financial adviser.”
Linda snapped:
“Do not blame Carl.”
Michael said:
“Carl is under investigation.”
Linda went silent.
Sarah looked between them.
“What investigation?”
Michael rubbed his jaw.
“The lender reported irregular documents after my attorney challenged filing.”
“State regulators became involved.”
“There may be criminal issues.”
Sarah felt as if Christmas dinner had turned into another family’s movie.
“This is insane.”
Daniel said:
“I never forged anything.”
“But you signed?”
“Yes.”
“What did you think you were signing?”
“A certification.”
“For what?”
He looked toward his mother.
Sarah’s voice sharpened.
“Stop looking at her.”
Daniel looked at Sarah.
“Mom needed money.”
“Why?”
Linda said:
“None of this concerns you.”
Sarah turned.
“You used a trust I benefit from as fake collateral.”
“It absolutely concerns me.”
Linda’s mouth closed.
Daniel whispered:
“Mom had debts.”
“How much?”
“Daniel.”
Linda warned.
Sarah laughed.
“There it is again.”
She looked at her husband.
“Every time truth gets uncomfortable, she says your name and you become six years old.”
Daniel’s face reddened.
“Sarah, that's unfair.”
“You watched her hit me.”
Silence.
“You told me I pushed her.”
Daniel looked away.
Sarah continued.
“You do not get to use the word unfair tonight.”
Michael said quietly:
“The filing was for six hundred thousand.”
Sarah looked at Linda.
“What did you need six hundred thousand dollars for?”
Linda said nothing.
Melissa suddenly stood.
“Mom?”
Linda glared.
Melissa’s face changed.
“Was this for Paul?”