Her attempt to keep his loan current.
As she spoke, Daniel’s face changed from confusion to disbelief.
“You used payroll money?”
“I didn’t know payroll had been included.”
“Claire.”
“I know.”
“No, I don’t think you do.”
His anger was controlled but unmistakable.
“You should have told me.”
“I tried to protect you.”
By letting someone who works for Dad wonder whether she could pay rent?”
“I didn’t know that was happening!”
Daniel pushed away from the screen and walked across the hotel room.
When he returned, his voice was quieter.
“This is exactly why secrets don’t stay small.”
The irony did not escape me.
“That’s an interesting observation from someone who hid a loan from me for seven years.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
There it was.
The old pattern.
One sentence from me, and every vulnerable thing in the room disappeared behind defenses.
