Chapter 2 - Three Signatures
Albert did not sleep much during his first week away.
Not because he regretted leaving.
Because silence felt unfamiliar.
He rented a small furnished room while Fiona examined every agreement connected to Logan.
Each morning, Albert woke at six, made coffee, opened his laptop, and reviewed his finances.
$803,417.
That was the approximate value of everything he had built.
Chelsea probably imagined him counting pennies.
The thought did not amuse Albert.
It saddened him.
He remembered teaching Logan to ride a bicycle.
Helping him with algebra.
Sitting in the emergency room when twelve-year-old Logan broke his wrist.
Parents collected memories differently from children.
Children remembered individual days.
Parents remembered entire lives.
Albert had never wanted repayment.
He wanted respect.
Three weeks passed.
Then Fiona called.
“Everything is ready.”
Albert went to her office.
Three sets of documents waited on the conference table.
Fiona explained each one.
Albert listened carefully.
Then he signed.
One.
Two.
Three.
Fiona gathered the pages.
“The notices go out Tuesday morning.”
“What happens next?”
“That depends on Logan.”
Tuesday arrived.
At 9:15 a.m., three certified notices reached the house.
The first concerned Chelsea’s SUV.
Albert’s guarantee was being withdrawn according to the applicable agreement, meaning Logan and Chelsea would need to refinance under terms they could independently qualify for or surrender the vehicle.
The second involved the financial security connected to the home refinancing.
The third concerned Logan’s company credit arrangement.
Albert was no longer willing to support it.
At 11:32, Albert’s phone rang.
LOGAN.
He ignored it.
11:38.
LOGAN.
11:44.
CHELSEA.
11:46.
CHELSEA.
11:47.
CHELSEA.
Albert continued eating lunch.
At one o’clock, he answered.
“Hello, Logan.”
“Dad?!”
Albert moved the phone slightly away from his ear.
“Where are you? What is going on?”
Albert remained silent.
“The bank called! Something happened to the business credit arrangement. They’re reviewing everything. Dad, payroll is coming!”
Then another voice exploded through the speaker.
“Give me the phone!”
Chelsea.
“Albert!”
“Hello, Chelsea.”
“What did you do?”
Albert looked through the window.
Traffic moved peacefully below.
“I separated my finances.”
“You sabotaged us!”
“No.”
“You did! There’s a notice about my car. There’s a problem with the mortgage. Logan’s business—”
“Chelsea.”
She stopped.
“You wanted space.”
“What?”
“You asked Logan to handle me. He did.”
“That has nothing to do with this!”
“It has everything to do with it.”
Chelsea’s breathing became audible.
Albert continued calmly.
“I was supporting financial arrangements connected to your lifestyle. I no longer live with you. Therefore, I no longer wish to remain financially connected to you.”
“You’re destroying your own son!”
Logan took the phone.
“Dad, please.”
Albert closed his eyes.
That word hurt more than Chelsea’s anger.
“Did you really pay for all this?”
“I supported it.”
“You never told me.”
“You never asked.”
Silence.
Then Logan began crying.
Not loudly.
That made it worse.
“Please come home.”
Albert opened his eyes.
“We’ll fix everything,” Logan continued. “You can have the master bedroom. I swear. Chelsea and I—”
“A home isn’t a negotiation, Logan.”
“Dad—”
“Three weeks ago, you had the opportunity to decide whether your father belonged in your home.”
Logan said nothing.
“You made your decision before you knew what I was worth.”
That sentence ended the conversation.
Two days later, Fiona called.
“They’re in trouble.”
Albert knew.
“They may have to sell.”
He stared at Margaret’s photograph.
“I’m sorry, Maggie.”
But the consequences did not stop there.
That afternoon, someone knocked on Albert’s apartment door.
He expected a delivery.
Instead, when he opened it, Logan stood in the hallway.
He looked exhausted.
And he was alone.
“Dad,” Logan said.
Albert remained in the doorway.
Logan swallowed.
“Chelsea doesn’t know I’m here.”
Then he reached into his coat and removed an envelope.
“There’s something you need to see.”
Albert looked down.
Across the front were three handwritten words.
May you like
ABOUT YOUR MONEY.
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