Chapter 4: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
I read Ethan's message another four times.
Mom, whatever you do, don't show anyone the document you signed last month.
I hadn't signed anything last month.
Not a business agreement. Not a loan application. Not even a permission slip.
I called Richard again.
"Richard, I need you to listen carefully. I have never signed a financial guarantee for Ethan's company.""
His voice became serious.
"Are you absolutely certain?""
"Positive. The only financial conversation I've had with Ethan was when he asked whether I could help him temporarily. I never agreed to anything.""
"Then we need to establish how your signature ended up on that document.""
I walked to the kitchen and opened the drawer where I kept important papers.
My husband's death certificate. Our marriage certificate. Insurance documents. The deed to my house.
Everything was where it belonged.
Except one folder.
The blue folder containing copies of my identification, bank information, and the estate paperwork Robert had left behind.
I remembered showing Ethan those documents six weeks earlier.
He'd said he needed them to help update some family records for the holidays.
I'd handed him the folder because he was my son.
Now the folder was missing.
"Richard?""
"Yes?""
"Ethan had access to some of my personal documents.""
There was a long silence.
"Margaret, don't accuse him of anything yet. But don't sign anything else, either.""
"I wouldn't.""
"And don't send anyone money.""
"I haven't.""
"Good. I'm going to arrange for you to meet Daniel.""
After we hung up, I sat at the kitchen table.
My coffee had gone cold.
I thought about Robert.
He'd always been careful with money. When Ethan was younger, Robert used to say that helping your children was important, but teaching them responsibility was more important.
"Never give someone so much help that they forget how to stand on their own feet," he'd told me.
I used to think he was being too strict.
Now I wished he'd been sitting beside me.
At noon, a black SUV pulled into my driveway.
Ethan stepped out.
He didn't knock.
He used the spare key I'd given him years ago.
"Mom?""
I was standing near the kitchen doorway when he entered.
He looked exhausted. His shirt was wrinkled, and his expensive watch was missing.
"Where's the blue folder?"" I asked.
He stopped.
"What folder?""
"The one I gave you six weeks ago.""
He put his hands in his pockets.
"I don't know.""
"Ethan, don't lie to me.""
His jaw tightened.
"Why are you suddenly interrogating me?""
"Because someone has put my name on a financial guarantee I never signed.""
He looked toward the window.
"Mom, this is complicated.""
"Then explain it.""
He paced across the kitchen.
"Brooke was trying to keep the company running. We had some cash-flow problems, and the bank wanted additional security.""
"Security from whom?""
He didn't answer.
"From me?""
"Nobody was trying to hurt you.""
"That wasn't my question.""
He dragged a hand down his face.
"Brooke said you had enough savings to help us if anything went wrong.""
I stared at him.
"How much of my money did she think I had?""
"That's not the point.""
"How much, Ethan?""
He finally looked at me.
"She thought you had around two hundred thousand.""
The number made me laugh bitterly.
"Your father worked thirty years to save that kind of money. And you think it's yours to discuss with your wife?""
"Mom, we were desperate.""
"Then you should have told me the truth.""
He lowered himself into a chair.
"We didn't think you'd understand.""
I folded my arms.
"Understand what?""
He looked down at the table.
"The company has been struggling since September. We lost two major contracts. Brooke thought the holiday event would help us secure new investors.""
"So you invited me to cook dinner for a room full of investors?""
He nodded.
"And told them I'd given you fifteen thousand dollars?""
He said nothing.
I stepped closer.
"Ethan, did you sign my name?""
His head snapped up.
"No!""
"Did Brooke?""
He hesitated.
That hesitation told me more than any answer could have.
"Mom, I didn't personally see her do anything.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Then you know she did.""
"I didn't say that.""
"You didn't have to.""
He stood abruptly.
"You're making this worse than it is. The document can be corrected. The investors just need reassurance.""
"Reassurance that I never agreed to provide.""
"You're my mother!""
"And that is exactly why you should have protected me.""
His expression changed.
For a moment, he looked like the little boy who used to run into my arms after falling off his bicycle.
Then his phone rang.
Brooke.
He answered.
"Yes?""
I could hear her voice from where I stood.
"Are you still there? Your mother needs to understand that we're all trying to save this family.""
Ethan glanced at me.
"She's asking about the document.""
Brooke's voice sharpened.
"Tell her it's already handled.""
I held out my hand.
"Put her on speaker.""
Ethan shook his head.
"Mom, don't.""
I took a step toward him.
"Put her on speaker, Ethan.""
He didn't.
Instead, he ended the call.
Then he looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before.
Fear.
"Mom, please. Just give me until Monday.""
"Why Monday?""
He swallowed.
"Because if the bank discovers what happened before we can refinance, the company could collapse.""
"And what happens to me?""
He didn't answer.
Then he reached into his jacket and placed a folded document on my kitchen table.
"I need you to look at this.""
I unfolded it.
At the bottom was a signature.
Margaret Collins.
It looked almost exactly like mine.
But beneath it was a date.
October 14.
And I remembered exactly where I'd been on October 14.
I'd been at the hospital, sitting beside my sister during emergency surgery.
I hadn't signed anything that day.
I looked up at Ethan.
"Who gave you this?""
He opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, my doorbell rang.
Through the glass, I saw a tall man holding a leather briefcase.
May you like
Richard had arrived.
And he wasn't alone.
