“Then he died, and I learned that the life I thought we owned belonged mostly to banks.”
Michael sat quietly.
“So when Emily bought this place…”
“I was happy for you.”
Linda faced me.
“I truly was.”
“But?”
“But I also knew your name was nowhere on it.”
“It was purchased before we married.”
“I know.”
“And I never asked Michael to pay the mortgage.”
“I know.”
“There is no mortgage.”
“I know.”
My decision to buy the condo and let Michael build his savings had been meant to provide exactly the security Linda feared he lacked. But because his name wasn’t attached to the property, she interpreted the arrangement as danger.
“I wanted him protected,” she said.
Michael looked tired.
“Protected from Emily?”
Linda faced him.
“Protected from uncertainty.”
Michael leaned back.
“And the lock?”
Linda’s eyes dropped.
“I told you that if Emily saw you were serious, she would stop avoiding the conversation.”
