Chapter 5 - The House That Was Never HisThe next morning, Tristan woke on the living room sofa.
He walked through the house slowly.
Every room contained memories.
The kitchen where his mother used to bake.
The hallway where she measured his height as a child.
The bedroom where she spent her final year.
The garden she loved.
Then he reached the office.
He opened a drawer.
Inside was a folder.
His name was on it.
He opened it.
Bank statements.
Medical bills.
Receipts.
Three years of expenses.
He stared.
I stood behind him.
“How much did you spend?”
I didn't answer.
He calculated.
Nearly $280,000.
His face went pale.
“You paid all of this?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She was sick.”
“You sold your car?”
“Yes.”
“You took loans?”
“Yes.”
“And I sent you nothing after four months.”
“Yes.”
He looked ashamed.
“I thought you were using her money.”
I looked at him.
“She didn't have enough.”
He sat down.
Then he noticed another document.
A mortgage statement.
His name wasn't on it.
Mine was.
“What is this?”
“The loan I took to keep the house from foreclosure.”
His head snapped toward me.
“Mom was going to lose the house?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't she tell me?”
“Because she didn't want you to feel guilty.”
Tristan stared at me.
“She protected me.”
“Yes.”
“Even after everything?”
“Yes.”
He looked at the memorial photograph.
“I don't deserve her.”
“No.”
His eyes filled.
“But you did.”
I nodded.
“I know.”
Then Amber appeared.
“We need to talk.”
Tristan stood.
“What about?”
“The baby.”
“He isn't mine.”
Her face crumpled.
“I know.”
“Who is the father?”
She looked away.
“Someone from Vancouver.”
“Does he know?”
“No.”
“Then tell him.”
She started crying.
“I have nowhere to go.”
Tristan looked at her.
“You have somewhere to go.”
He picked up her suitcase.
“You can stay in a hotel tonight.”
“You're abandoning me?”
He stared at her.
“No.”
“I am ending a lie.”
Amber left before noon.
The house became quiet again.
Tristan stood in the doorway.
“Can I stay?”
I looked at him.
“No.”
His face fell.
“This isn't your punishment.”
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“Then what is it?”
“It's the consequence.”
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