I finished signing the closing papers before reading Lydia’s next message. She congratulated me, then asked how I had afforded the house. Twenty minutes later, Dad called from another unfamiliar number. He didn’t ask how I was either. Instead, he said, “Your mother heard your company is doing well. We think it’s time to put everything behind us.” Four years of silence, and suddenly reconciliation had become urgent.
The reason arrived that evening. An old family friend forwarded me a message Mom had sent asking whether anyone knew how successful my business had become. Lydia’s husband had lost his job months earlier, their house was heavily refinanced, and my parents had already given them another $35,000 beyond the wedding money. Now Lydia needed help covering several debts, and apparently my new house had convinced everyone I could afford to rescue her.
...
