Now that she had a few minutes to herself, she sat down at the table and opened her laptop. The news that Monty had told her on Saturday had sunken in. She was grateful to her wealthy sister-in-law, ever so grateful. The least Helen could do was to thank her, on the record, for her generosity.
She would send Candace a private, short message to thank her for her decisions and for having come to their rescue. Helen had existed on autopilot ever since that day over three weeks ago, when Peter McPherson had let her go and sent her home and into shock. While she was up in Chicago, she’d had time to process her situation, and she had returned to Atlanta ready to deal with her problems. She had planned to sit her husband down and demand that they come up with a repayment plan on Arcadia, and that he go out and get a job—immediately.
But she hadn’t had to do that. Candace had done a one-eighty about the house and the money, and Monty was working. He hadn’t told Helen much about his new job and had evaded her questions. But he left every day at seven thirty in the morning, and he didn’t return until after six. Last night, he told her that he would have to spend some weekday evenings at work learning a program, and that he wasn’t sure how long that would go on—it could be for a while. He wouldn’t have to do it every night, though.
He did tell her that the company was brand-new and was developing a social media marketing application. It was backed by some investors that he had met last year. They had contacted him while Helen was in Chicago and had hired Monty and two other people that he had never met. The investors were still deciding what to name the company.
Helen didn’t plan to mention any of that in her email to Candace. She knew Monty wouldn’t want her to, and there was no reason to, anyway. Monty had stressed that Candace hadn’t asked about their income; it was understood that he and Helen were on their own and were responsible for their own monthly expenses. Helen intended to work as soon as she could find a job, whether that occurred before or after the twins were born. She’d have to work—at least, she didn’t want to depend on Monty to support the family. But that was another piece of information that she didn’t need to include in her email to Candace.
She finished the message and saved it. Later, she would reread it, polish it, and send it. She picked up her glass of skim milk and took a sip, thinking about the changes in her husband. Well, fundamentally he hadn’t changed, but—perhaps triggered by Helen’s job loss—he seemed calmer, more stable. He hadn’t had a tantrum when he learned that Candace had hired a contractor to finish the renovation, when she had effectively fired Monty from the project. He hadn’t gotten mad when she found them a rental house, one that Monty probably wouldn’t have chosen, and when she demanded that they move out of Arcadia. He was cooperating with Candace now, and Helen wondered if Candace’s decision to give them the house and write off all her debt had a catch.
If so, what could it be? Surely not anything that would bother Helen. If it bothered her husband, well, then he would just have to deal with it.
That night, over drinks in her Midtown penthouse condo, Candace read Helen’s email out loud to Rob.
“ ‘I can’t tell you how much your generosity means to us, Candace. When Monty told me that you had offered to pay off the loans and fees, pay the contractor, and give the house to us, a huge boulder was lifted from my shoulders. We deeply appreciate your financial assistance. It makes such a difference in our lives and in our future as a family. Thank you so much for your kindness and compassion in helping us through such a difficult time.’ Rob, what am I supposed to do now?”
Rob shook his head, then took a sip of his Scotch. “Darling, your brother is a scoundrel.”
“I know he is! Lying to his wife, and making me look like a greedy ogre when she finds out it’s not true.”
“Do you think he put her up to this?”
“What?”
“Writing you that email. Telling her to thank you for something you haven’t agreed to, to manipulate you into doing exactly what he wants?”
Candace took a sip of her martini, then set down the glass. “Well, that’s possible. But I just don’t see Helen as participating in his schemes. Do you?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to believe it. But—well, we do know what Monty is capable of. And desperate people do desperate things.”
Candace huffed. “I need to sleep on this. I’m certainly not going to respond to her email. But I don’t believe he put her up to it. I think I should give her a call sometime tomorrow, and start by telling her that all I’ve agreed to pay is the taxes and insurance—and only because Monty told me he’s working.”
“Be ready for her reaction on the phone,” said Rob.
“I know. That boulder’s going back on her shoulders, and it’s going to crush her. I hope she doesn’t start crying.”
“Has David verified his employment?”
“Not yet. He’s working on it.”
“Well, I hope it’s true that he’s found a job. But we know how much he’s lied in the past. Candace, he’s a miscreant. He may be a psychopath.”
Candace shook her head. “I think he may be, too.”
“In light of this development, I think it’s more important than ever for you to enforce boundaries. You’ve got the renovation under your control now. Let it be done, and put the house on the market. David will figure out what your loss will be—you know it won’t be small. However, when it sells, you’re done. You will have saved Monty and Helen from financial collapse, and they can start over. Meanwhile, he can earn an income to support his family. You must let them go on living their lives. It will show that you respect them as adults who are capable of supporting themselves.”
“Rob, I’m ready to enforce boundaries, and to stop enabling him. Helen will understand that the house needs to be sold, and after she gets over it, she’ll accept that I’m not giving it to them. She’s going to have to. I don’t think she was ever as emotionally invested in the house as Monty was, anyway. She knew the neighborhood wasn’t right for their income level, even if Monty got a job making what she did. She just believed what he told her—that they could sell it for a profit, and then buy a house that was more appropriate for them.”
“I hope you’re right about the emotional part,” said Rob. “In any case, she’s the one anchored in reality. She knows there’s no requirement that you give them a much larger portion of your fortune than what you may wish to, just because of Monty’s demands and manipulation. I’d even say she also knows that if you forgave all debt and gave them such an expensive home, you’d be doing them a disservice. I’m sure she wants their children to respect them and to accept the lifestyle they can afford without your help.”
“Well, I agree with you. She does seem realistic, and grateful for what I’ve already done.”
“You’ve been very generous and have made a difference in their lives. She knows it’s not your fault they chose that house and began a costly renovation that wasn’t even necessary in the first place. She also knows it’s not your fault that the market declined. Millions of people all over the country are dealing with the depressed real estate market, yet somehow those people survive. Let Helen and Monty do the same. They will thank you for it eventually—at least, she will.”
Candace humphed. “I’m not holding my breath.” She leaned back on the sofa and stretched. “Rob, I’m just so ready to be done with this nightmare. I can’t think about it anymore.”
“Let’s go to dinner, and let’s have some champagne tonight. A little bubbly will take your mind off of it.”
“I agree.” Candace finished the last of her drink. “Let me get my purse.”
The following afternoon, Candace shut her office door and dialed Helen’s number.
“Hello, Candace.”
“Is this a good time, Helen?”
“Yes, it’s fine. Adele’s taking her afternoon nap.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Pretty good. So relieved, too—”
“Before we talk about that, let me ask you a question. What’s the name of Monty’s new employer?”
“It’s a new social media company, but he said the principals don’t have a name for it yet. They’re working on a logo and thumbnail for the app.”
“What are the principals’ names?”
“I don’t know.”
“Helen. I don’t mean to sound suspicious, but—”
“It’s okay. I’m concerned about it, too. Monty’s been kind of secretive about the whole thing. As you might imagine, I don’t fully trust him.”
“Okay. So, what has he told you about it?”
“Virtually nothing. He says he has to keep quiet about it, that it’s going to be launched soon, and before then they can’t have a leak. He won’t even tell me where his office is.”
“Well, David is following up, because I need to know. David won’t leak anything about it, you can be sure of that.”
“Good. Candace, no matter what’s going on, we need money coming in, and I don’t really know what to do about it. Monty hasn’t told me how much he’s going to be making. When I asked him, he just walked away. We’re so grateful you’re handling the rent on this place, but we have to pay COBRA premiums until the babies are born, until Monty gets enrolled in a health benefits plan.” She paused. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to unload our personal problems on you.”
“It’s okay. However—that brings me to what I called you about. Yes, the rent is taken care of, and so are the taxes and property insurance on Arcadia. I’m also paying the contractor to complete the renovation. But you need to understand this, Helen. I never told Monty that I would pay off the bank loans and give you the house. Once it’s finished, the house is going on the market. You’re not moving back in.”
“What? But Monty said—”
“I know what he said. And thank you for that email. I’m glad you sent it only to me, though. I’m sure he’d go ballistic if he saw it, because he knows good and well that I never agreed to give you the house.”
“So, we’re still in the same position we were in.”
“Here’s what’s going on. The contractor should be finished by the middle of August at the latest. That’s in six weeks. Then the house will be listed by a realtor that I choose, for a price that I decide. I know Monty’s not going to like that.”
Helen took a deep breath. “You’re right.”
“Anyway, that’s what’s happening. Then, once a buyer is found, if there’s enough money, the bank will be paid off—the mortgage and the HELOC. The money you owe me is different. If we don’t recover enough cash from the sale of the house to pay me back, I’m prepared to write it off. You and Monty can come away from the closing table with your credit intact. Needless to say, I won’t be giving you any more money, or making you any more loans.”
“That’s fair.”
“Yes. It is. It may not be as generous as what you would like, or what Monty told you. But it’s what I’m willing to do. The house won’t go into foreclosure. It’s underwater—much more is owed on it, to the bank and to me, than what the market will bring. Fortunately for you, I’m willing to take the hit.”
“Thank you, Candace,” said Helen, her voice wooden.
“You’re welcome. Now, a piece of unsolicited advice. I think it would be in your best interest to demand to see your husband’s paycheck, and verify exactly where he’s working and what he’s doing every day.”
“You’re right.”
“David will see what he can find out, and I will let you know. I assume you’ve decided not to look for a new job until later on, after you have the twins.”
“I’ve been sending out resumes, but I don’t have a lot of hope right now. I just want to get through the pregnancy and then find a new job by January, at the latest.”
“When are you due, again?”
“The end of November. But twins are sometimes born prematurely.”
“Well. I hope I haven’t upset you. I just needed to let you know the truth.”
“It’s okay. We’ll make it. We don’t have a house payment, and now that we don’t have to make payments to the bank, we should be able to get by, especially with Monty working. We’re going to have to downsize and cut our expenses. When I get a job, we can start to get back on our feet.”
“Monty simply has to bring in an income. Once the house sells, you’ll be responsible for your rent payment over there. I’m not going to pay it anymore. That could happen before you start working again. You can’t do everything, Helen. Not with three kids.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
Candace paused. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I don’t know how we would have maintained that house on Arcadia anyway, even if we did own it free and clear. The property taxes are exorbitant, and the utilities won’t be cheap. Even if both of us are working, after day care costs, it would be a huge struggle to live there and keep it up.”
“You can rent for a while and save your money. Then buy a house you can afford. Since housing prices are down everywhere, you’ll probably be able to find something when you’re ready.”
“We should never have gotten into that house on Arcadia. I’m sorry we’ve put you through all of this, Candace.”
“Let’s just focus on the exit strategy. Now you know what’s going on, and I’m glad you were able to digest it.”
“If David finds out anything—”
“I’ll call you. Oh, and Helen?”
“Yes?”
“I’m not going to tell Monty we’ve spoken, or that I’ve told you anything. Our priority is verifying that he’s working, and I don’t want anything to happen right now to set him off.”
“Believe me, I don’t either. I won’t say a word.”
At one o’clock on Friday night, Monty slid behind the wheel of the BMW parked in the garage at his Midtown condominium. He had just spent the evening with Rachel, who was asleep upstairs, naked. They’d gone out for dinner and drinks at a hot nightclub two blocks away, then returned for a two-hour session of mind-boggling sex.
He turned the key in the ignition and backed out of the parking space. Helen and Adele should be asleep now. He had told his wife that he’d had to go out with Mack and Jeremy, the two guys who ran the fictitious media company he said he was working for. She had been bugging him the last two days to tell her more about it, but so far he had gotten away with saying little. He had claimed that everything was very hush-hush, and that he had been ordered not to divulge anything about the business, not even to his wife.
When she gave him questioning looks, he’d ignored her. As long as he made deposits in their joint checking account, he said, she should be happy, and he would be getting paid once a week, on Fridays. He’d made a deposit in their checking account today, in cash of course. He knew she would freak, but he planned to tell her that Mack and Jeremy were Dutch and the company wasn’t even registered yet in the U.S.
He had taken the money out of his other bank account, the one he used for the condo and for his purchases for himself and Rachel. He also had cash in a safe deposit box there. That way, he could keep it hidden with no one tracking it and there was no trace of it online. He’d decided to pay himself a weekly salary of $1,920. Annually, it worked out to about a buck and a quarter—$125,000—with a tax rate of 20 percent. A take-home monthly pay of almost eight grand should satisfy Helen, and would be more than enough to keep them afloat. It was also plausible compensation for the kind of job he’d created for himself.
It didn’t matter, though. In a couple of months, he would tell her that his employers had decided to go back to Europe, but that before they did, they had paid him a large consulting fee. By then, he would have millions of dollars in the bank. His family would be livi
ng in comfort at 710 Arcadia Lane, with two new cars and no debt. He didn’t care anymore that Candace had forced him out of the renovation project. Once he moved back in, he could change anything her cheap contractor had done; all it would take was enough money, and by then he would have plenty.
He approached a red light and slowed to a stop. The night air was sultry. The weather in Atlanta would stay hot and humid until at least mid-September. But when the weather changed, so would his life.
Finally.
16
Leak
David Shepherd sat down at his desk on a Thursday morning. Checking his email, he saw a message from Ken Samuels, the contractor on Arcadia. The work over there wasn’t finished, even though Ken had promised it would be done by the fifteenth. Today was August nineteenth, and Candace wasn’t happy.
David opened the message and braced himself for bad news.
He got it. Evidently Ken’s team had found some issues that required more time to address: an active leak had been discovered, the result of a drain that had been improperly installed by Monty. There was also some damage behind the drywall and under the carpeting, and the wood floors in the den were cupped due to moisture. Mold had been found all through the home, although it had only been evident in the basement initially.
Ken had been working hard during the last two weeks to finish the cabinet installation, repair and restain the trim, and reinstall some windows that had been set incorrectly. Earlier, his team had had to spend their time removing debris and redoing the electrical wiring as well as the waterproofing. With the latest mold and leak discoveries, Ken believed the waterproofing had to be redone again, unfortunately. The bottom line equaled an additional $30,000 and at least three more weeks.
David sat back in his chair and reread the message with its list of bullet points. Candace was going to be furious. He would tell her what Ken had explained to him the last time they had spoken: that the moisture issues were due to shoddy work previously done by her brother, or by the people he had hired before Ken’s team took over. She would still hit the roof, and David would be the recipient of her wrath. She would require him to argue with Ken about the additional charges, and to micromanage all the remaining work on the house—two things David didn’t want to do.
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