Chapter 5 - ERIC'S SHARE
Eric called before Rachel did.
“I’ll save you the detective work.”
Rachel waited.
“The twenty-nine-five was mine.”
“What did you owe?”
“Cards. Personal loan. Some taxes.”
“Did you know Mom refinanced the house for it?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know I was paying the new mortgage?”
Silence.
“Yes.”
Rachel leaned back.
That answer mattered.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Eric became defensive.
“Because you would’ve judged me.”
“You let me pay your debt.”
“No. Mom paid my debt.”
“And I paid Mom’s loan.”
“You were helping her mortgage anyway.”
Rachel laughed.
“Exactly.”
Eric sighed.
“You make six figures. This wasn’t hurting you.”
There it was.
Not gratitude.
Arithmetic.
Rachel had more.
Therefore Rachel owed more.
She asked:
“How much have you paid Mom back?”
Another silence.
“Some.”
“How much?”
“About six grand.”
Rachel closed her eyes.
May you like
Of $29,500.
Lauren and Derek had paid back nothing.
