As I was just about to clarify the facts, Patrick took my glass, sighed deeply, and said, seemingly unintentionally, "We didn't have a hard time, but James recently quit his job. He was going to start his own business, so he just borrowed my money."
My hand froze in my pocket again.
When I looked up, Patrick looked meaningfully into my eyes.
I forced a smile. "Dad, it was just a scam call, and I was joking with my Mom."
Patrick sighed in relief, his eyes filled with a relieved smile.
"I knew you wouldn't be that inconsiderate.
"Go to bed early."
The next day, Bryce knocked on my door, holding a bouquet of flowers.
Bryce Wellington was my boyfriend.
We had a fight over something not long ago, and we had been in a silent treatment for two or three days.
He apologized to me humbly.
"Eleanor, it's all my fault, okay?
"Please forgive me.
"I'm just upset that your parents favored James. They transferred the house to James' name, so I was defending you, and I was genuinely being nice."
"My parents transferred the second house to James' name because the taxes on it were too high."
I couldn't resist using Patrick's rhetoric.