Daniel slowly set the tablet on his lap.
For a moment, he felt absurdly amused.
Nora had brought him turkey sandwiches.
Had eaten terrible cookies with him.
Had stood beside a broken motorcycle and seemed grateful that he fixed it without charging her.
He thought about his garage.
The overdue roof repair.
The careful budgeting.
The cheap coffee she pretended to enjoy.
Then he looked toward the wealth estimate again.
"Well."
Lucy stared.
"Well?"
Daniel gave a tired laugh.
"That's considerably more money than I expected."
She did not laugh.
Instead, she opened another page.
"Dad, look at this."
The screen showed a local business article.
A property company affiliated with Whitfield Meridian was reviewing parcels near the old freight depot.
The article mentioned possible redevelopment affecting several businesses, including Cole Auto Repair.
Daniel's smile vanished.
He read the page carefully.
Then read it again.
Lucy watched him.
"Is that why they sent the lease letter?"
Daniel did not answer immediately.
He thought about the notice from the property manager.
The uncertain renewal.
The possibility of losing the garage.
Then he thought about Nora standing in his hospital room, telling him she had kept a secret for three months.
He felt something cold settle in his stomach.
"Maybe."
Lucy looked frightened.
"Does she want to tear down the garage?"
Daniel closed his eyes.
"I don't know."
"Did she know?"
He looked toward the window.
He had no answer.
Lucy sat beside him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then she whispered, "I liked her."
Daniel turned.
The pain in her voice struck him.
He reached for her hand.
"I know."
She stared at the tablet.
"Was she pretending?"
Daniel considered the question.
He remembered Nora listening to Lucy describe the photography project.
The way she laughed at the cookies.
The terror in her face when he collapsed.
The brass ring.
The tears.
He shook his head slowly.
"I don't think all of it was pretending."
Lucy looked up.
"Then what was it?"
Daniel took a breath.
"I think she was afraid to tell the truth."
Lucy frowned.
"About being rich?"
"About a lot of things."
She stared at him.
Then asked, "Is being afraid a good reason to lie?"
Daniel looked toward his daughter.
He had taught her to tell the truth even when she made mistakes.
He had made her apologize when she blamed a broken lamp on the cat.
He had explained that hiding a problem often made it worse.
Now she wanted to know whether the same rule applied to a woman he cared about.
He nodded slowly.
"It's a reason someone might lie."
Then he shook his head.
"But it doesn't make the lie harmless."
Lucy looked down.
After a while, she whispered, "I don't want to lose the garage."
Daniel pulled her closer.
"Neither do I."