He dipped his brush in the paint and resumed touch-ups. “This is a little embarrassing to admit, but I’m in a bit of a financial crunch. I’m afraid I’m behind on my mortgage payments.”

No illness. Her breath released on a sigh. But a beat later her stomach plummeted. So this was the true reason for his visit. “What happened? I thought things were going okay with your job.”

“Well, I earn a living but not enough to put much back. My furnace went out this winter, and that took my savings. Then my car’s transmission went out, and I can’t get to work without a car, so I had to put the repairs on my credit card. I just got a raise, and that’ll help me shuffle along, but I’m in desperate straits. I’m about to lose my house, Sophie. I have till Friday to come up with the money.”

“This Friday?”

“’Fraid so.”

“Dad, I wish I could help, but I’ve sunk nearly everything I have into this shop.”

“Sure, sure. I know you’ve got a lot going on here. I see that. It’s just that your mom and I owned the house free and clear, and I didn’t ask for my part of it in the divorce.”

Sophie gritted her teeth. As well he shouldn’t have! He’d left them with all the hospital bills.

“I hate to ask you for anything, but I don’t have anywhere else to turn.”

She forced a moderate tone to her voice. “That money’s long gone, Daddy. What didn’t go toward the hospital bills was divvied up between us kids. Seth’s and Jenna’s shares went toward college loans, and mine went toward this shop. Maybe you should get an apartment.”

Her dad lowered his brush, giving her a pained look. “If they repossess the house, I’d still need money for first month’s rent and deposit, which I don’t have. I’d be homeless until I could save up the money. Unless Jenna and Grant would take me in for a while.”

Sophie gaped at her dad. Surely he didn’t expect to be on their doorstep with his luggage the moment they returned from their honeymoon. “They’re newlyweds, Daddy.”

“That’s why I came to you first. I didn’t want to put them in that position. It wouldn’t take much to get me over the hump, honey. Just a few thousand dollars.”

Sophie’s heart twisted. She really didn’t have it to give. Or did she? There was that money she’d set back to take down the troublesome tree out front. But it had been there a hundred years. What were a few more months?

The sound of the door opening stole her thoughts.