Fiona stayed behind.
She sat on the bottom step and cried into her hands.
I didn’t comfort her.
Not because I hated her.
Because for years, whenever Fiona made a mistake, Mom and Dad had rushed to clean up the consequences.
This time, I wouldn’t let them.
Claire gathered the documents.
“We’ll have to document everything. The attempted transfer, the forged signature, the unauthorized occupancy agreement, and the property damage.”
Mom looked at me.
“Lucas, we don’t want Fiona arrested.”
I nodded.
“I know.”
Dad touched her shoulder.
“But we also don’t have to protect her from the consequences.”
That was the sentence that finally broke Fiona.
She looked up at our father.
“I thought you didn’t love me anymore.”
Dad’s eyes filled with tears.
