“Mom,” Nathan said slowly, “what do you mean there was still sixty-eight thousand dollars?” I frowned at the phone. “That’s what was left in the account.” There was a long pause. “Alyssa told me last month the money was gone,” he said. “She said the contractor needed more, and that we’d have to take out a home equity loan to finish your suite.”

My stomach dropped. “Nathan, did you sign anything?” Another silence, longer this time. “On Friday,” he said quietly. “Fifty thousand dollars. She had the paperwork ready when I got home from work. She said you’d be hurt if the suite was delayed again.” I gripped the steering wheel. “Nathan,” I said, “who has she been paying all these months?”