My realtor, Dana Whitlock, called back within the hour. The cash buyer had lost his financing overnight, and the craftsman house on Aspen Hollow Lane was back on the market. “Good,” I said. “Then I want it.” I told her to prepare an offer through Larkspur Holdings, the small company Walter and I had kept for years. Dana went quiet. “Mrs. Hayes, Marcus and Julia sent in a new offer this morning. The mortgage application attached to it lists a co-signer.”

I asked her who. Paper rustled on the line. “Judith Hayes,” she said. “Your name, your birthdate, and a signature at the bottom.” I had never signed anything. My stomach turned cold, and my hand tightened around the phone as Dana read the last line aloud. The lender planned to call me at four o’clock today to verify my income, and it was already three.