Chapter 7 - The Loan Nobody Asked ForThe lending representative introduced herself as Monica Ellis.
Nathan put the call on speaker so Dina could hear.
“We're following up on a preliminary application involving Rosehaven Hospitality LLC,” Monica explained.
Nathan looked at Dina.
Rosehaven Hospitality was the company owned by Audrey's mother.
“I haven't applied for a loan with that company,” Nathan said.
There was a pause.
“Your name was submitted as a proposed personal guarantor.”
“I never agreed to that.”
Monica's tone changed immediately.
“Thank you for telling us. I'll flag the application for review. No funds have been released.”
Nathan exhaled slowly.
“What information did they submit?”
“I can't discuss another party's complete application on this call, but we can explain the records associated with your identity after verifying you.”
Dina leaned toward the phone.
“Please preserve the original submission, related correspondence, and verification records. Mr. Reed disputes any authorization attributed to him.”
Monica provided a secure process for submitting a written dispute.
When the call ended, Nathan stared at the silent phone.
“Rosehaven.”
Dina folded her hands.
“Tell me about that company.”
“Celeste owns the wedding venue.”
“Anything else?”
“Not that I know.”
“Did she ever ask you for money?”
Nathan hesitated.
“Not directly.”
He remembered a dinner six weeks earlier.
Celeste had complained about expensive renovations, interest rates, and lenders who didn't understand family businesses.
Audrey had squeezed his hand beneath the table.
“Nathan knows how to make smart investments,” she'd said.
Celeste had smiled.
“Exactly the sort of man every family needs.”
Nathan had assumed it was a compliment.
Now the memory made him uneasy.
Dina watched his expression.
“What are you remembering?”
“Celeste asked whether I'd ever considered using my house as collateral for a business expansion.”
“And what did you say?”
“I told her I wasn't interested.”
“Was Audrey present?”
“Yes.”
“Then that's important.”
Nathan rubbed his temples.
“My house is paid off. I own my business. I've spent fifteen years building something stable for Eli.”
Dina nodded.
“Those are probably the reasons they considered you an attractive guarantor. But wanting you to guarantee a loan and actually obtaining an enforceable guarantee are very different things.”
“What happens now?”
“We dispute the submission, check your credit reports, and make sure no unauthorized accounts or liens have been created. We'll also preserve whatever documentation the lender can legally provide.”
Nathan felt an unfamiliar fear.
He was accustomed to fixing broken things.
Air conditioners.
Furnaces.
Electrical controls.
He could identify a faulty component and replace it.
But this problem involved people he loved.
He didn't know which part had failed first.
When he returned home, Brooke's car was parked outside.
She stood beside his front door, crying.
Nathan approached cautiously.
“What are you doing here?”
“I couldn't let you find out from somebody else.”
“Find out what?”
Brooke wiped her cheeks.
“Celeste wanted you to help save Rosehaven.”
Nathan stared at her.
“By borrowing money in my name?”
“She said it was only preliminary paperwork.”
“Brooke.”
“I know how it sounds.”
“It sounds like someone used my identity without permission.”
Brooke began crying harder.
“I wasn't supposed to submit anything final.”
Nathan's expression changed.
“You submitted it?”
She looked down.
“Yes.”
For several seconds, only traffic could be heard from the street.
Nathan struggled to keep his voice steady.
“Why?”
Brooke hugged herself.
“Celeste promised my event-planning company a two-year contract. A real contract, Nathan. Enough work to finally make the business profitable.”
Nathan stared in disbelief.
“You traded my financial information for a contract?”
“I didn't think there would be any harm. She kept saying you'd agree once you understood.”
“And Eli?”
Brooke stopped crying.
“What about him?”
“Why were you arranging to send my son away?”
Her face went pale.
“Because Audrey told me you were planning a private meeting after the ceremony. She said having Eli there would make it harder for you to focus.”
Nathan's jaw tightened.
“So you forged a childcare form.”
“I used a signature image from the wedding documents.”
His voice dropped.
“You knew I hadn't signed it.”
Brooke began shaking.
“Yes.”
Nathan took a step backward.
The confession hurt more than he expected.
His sister had watched him struggle after Hannah died.
She had helped Eli learn to ride a bicycle.
She had been present for birthdays, holidays, and hospital visits.
Yet she'd participated in separating that same child from his father.
Brooke reached toward him.
“Nathan, please. I never wanted to hurt Eli.”
He stepped away.
“Then why didn't you listen when he said no?”
Brooke opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
At that moment, Eli appeared in the front window.
He saw his aunt.
And immediately disappeared behind the curtain.
Nathan looked back at Brooke.
“Go home.”
“Nathan—”
“Not until I know what you did, and not until Eli feels safe.”
Brooke covered her mouth.
Nathan opened the front door.
Before going inside, he turned once more.
“Did Audrey know about the loan application?”
May you like
Brooke's answer came almost inaudibly.
“She was the one who asked me to send it.”
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