Her eyes narrowed.
Louis placed the juice down.
“Dad, listen. We can explain.”
“I’m listening.”
He glanced at Carla.
That glance told me they had rehearsed many lies, but not this moment.
Finally, Louis lowered his voice.
“You haven’t been yourself.”
“I have been paying your bills. That may have looked like insanity.”
“We were trying to protect you.”
“By borrowing $190,000 against my house?”
“That money was for repairs and long-term care.”
“Twenty-four thousand dollars went to a luxury car dealership.”
Carla crossed her arms.
“You said you wanted Louis to have reliable transportation.”
“I wanted him to get a job.”
Louis stepped closer.
“Dad, this doesn’t have to become ugly.”
I almost laughed.
“You fed me dog food in front of twenty people.”
“That was stupid. Fine. I admit it. But you’re turning one bad joke into—”
“Identity theft?”
His jaw tightened.
“This is my home too.”
“No,” I said. “It is the place where you live. Those are not the same thing.”
Carla leaned against the counter, studying me.
“What exactly do you want?”
“I want you both to be here at ten.”
“For what?”
“You invited everyone to my birthday. I thought we should finish the celebration.”
Louis swore under his breath.
Then he reached for his phone.
It did not connect to cellular service.
He looked at me sharply.
“I canceled the plan.”
Carla grabbed her purse, pulled out a black credit card, and began typing into an app.
A moment later, her mouth fell open.
“You froze the cards.”
“Yes.”
“You can’t do that!”
“They are mine.”
Louis slammed his palm onto the counter.
“You are trying to destroy us!”
I stood slowly.
“No, Louis. I am simply no longer financing you.”
