She was struggling to hold back tears. “There was a couple that wanted to buy it, but when we went to the bank to discuss financing, they decided to back out. I ended up talking to the loan officer about it, hoping to interest him, I guess, or hoping he knew someone who might be in the market for such a big ticket property.” She shook her head, confusedly. “I don’t know how it happened, but he made me realize that since it was unsold and I had access to it and it had been for sale for so long, I could…use it, sort of, and maybe pretend that I lived here and…” Now she did start crying. “It all just got out of hand, and I don’t even know how it happened!”

He put his arms around her and held her, looking over her shoulder at the girls, who were talking nervously amongst themselves.

“It’s all right!” he called out to them. “Don’t worry!”

Brad pulled slightly away, holding Patty’s shoulders and looking into her face. “I’m taking the girls, and we’re going to go home now,” he said. “You close up here and meet us back at the house. You need to clean all this up and get rid of it, but don’t do that now. Wait until tomorrow. I was called away from duty and I’m supposed to go back to work, but I’m going to call Hank and tell him to take over for me tonight. The girls and I will stop off and get a pizza for dinner. We’ll put them to bed early, but then we need to talk. Do you understand?”

Patty sniffled, nodding.

“Good. We’ll see you at home.”

His stomach churning and his mind racing, he put a reassuring smile on his face and walked back over to where Jillian and Sue were standing. They looked worried, but when he took their hands and told them they were going to get pizza and meet Mommy back at home, they relaxed a little.

“We’re not in trouble?” Jillian asked.

“Of course not!” he told her, and though her eyes were still red from crying, she smiled up at him.

“Come on.”

They walked outside, down the winding path, back to the car. As the girls were getting in and he held open the passenger door for them, he glanced up at the window and saw Patty on her phone.

Who could she be talking to?