“That is standard terminology.”
“Standard to whom?”
“Ashley, don’t make this more dramatic than it is.”
She looked at the transfer dates.
“You made this before we talked to him about downsizing.”
“We had to know what was realistic.”
“You told me he was lonely and would be happier in a smaller place.”
“He might be.”
“You told me transferring the house would protect him from probate.”
“It could have.”
Frank spoke without raising his voice.
“Transferring the house directly to you would also have exposed it to your debts, lawsuits, divorce proceedings, and creditors.
Did Mr.
Hale explain that?”
Trevor stiffened at the use of his surname.
“We had appropriate plans.”
“Did those plans include taking a loan against the property?”
Ashley looked at him.
Trevor glanced down at the spreadsheet.
That was his second mistake.
His first had been sending it to me.
“You said we would keep the house,” Ashley whispered.
“We would have kept it as an asset.”
“You said Dad could live there as long as he wanted.”
“That was the intention.”
“Then why is there a refinancing amount scheduled six months after transfer?”
Trevor closed the portfolio.
“Because we have wedding expenses, business expenses, and a future to build.
Money locked in a house is not helping anyone.”
I heard Linda’s voice in my memory.
A house should remember who grew inside it.
Trevor saw no memories there.
Only money waiting to be unlocked.
Ashley continued reading.
Her breathing became shallower.
“What does ‘bridge financing dependent on family transfer’ mean?”
Trevor rubbed a hand along his jaw.
“I discussed a preliminary line of credit.”
“You borrowed money?”
“Not exactly.”
“Did you tell someone we were getting my father’s house?”
“I said there was a strong possibility of a family property transfer.”
Frank’s expression hardened.
“Did you represent that the transfer had been agreed to?”
“No.”
Trevor answered too quickly.
Ashley heard it too.
“Show me,” she said.
“This is not the place.”
“Show me what you sent them.”
“Ashley.”
“Now.”
Trevor looked around the room as though searching for an ally.
He found none.
He finally opened his portfolio and removed a thin stack of papers.
A lender’s proposal sat on top.
