Page 52 of Could Be Worse
Bryce
“I don’t understand. Who paid off the loan?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Nelson. I’m not at liberty to disclose that information,” the bank manager said.
“But it’s my house, for Christ’s sake.” When I got an email saying my home loan had been paid off, I freaked out. My account had to have been hacked, but that made little sense. Why would someone hack into my account and pay off my home? Naturally, I called the bank but nobody over there would give me the name of the person who had saved me and my girls from becoming homeless.
“Yes. I understand, sir. But the information is confidential.”
I growled in frustration and hung up. Pacing in my kitchen, I dialed Nana Bea. Maybe she had a stash of money I didn’t know about.
“Hello, Bryce Crispy. How’s my favorite grandson?”
“Nana, I’m your only grandson.”
“True. But you’re still my favorite. How are the girls?”
“They’re great. Excited about Halloween.” Crap, I needed to take them shopping for costumes. I had been off my game since Sadie and I broke up and had forgotten about the holiday.
Was it breaking up if we hadn’t declared to be together? And had only known each other for a couple of weeks and been together three days? Or was it four? Five? I couldn’t remember exactly, because it felt like we’d been together forever.
“Of course they are. Have you taken them to the fall festival yet?”
“No, Nana. Not yet.” Just another thing I hadn’t done with them. “But I will. I need to ask you something, and I want you to tell me the truth. Okay?”
“Oh, this sounds serious. Yes, I will tell you the truth.”
“Did you pay off my home loan?”
“Oh, my. As much as I would have loved to, I don’t have that kind of money.”
“I didn’t think so.” I twisted my lips and rubbed my temple. “Who would pay it off?”
“Sounds like a blessing to me. You must be relieved not to have to deal with the bank anymore or worry about losing the house.”
“I am, but not knowing who did is driving me crazy. And I’m not exactly thrilled about it. It’s my house. I pay my own way.”
“I know, Bryce. You’ve always done everything on your own.”
“That’s what a man does, Nana. We provide for and protect our loved ones.” I scrubbed the back of my head, still pacing in the kitchen. “I just want to know who did it.”
“Let it go, Bryce. Be grateful.”
“I am grateful. Guess I’m just in a mood.”
“What’s put you in a mood? Did it not work out with Zander’s daughter?”
“Did what not work out?” I hadn’t told her anything about Sadie and me. My calls with her had been short and to the point, because I hadn’t wanted to talk about Sadie. Nana would become invested the second she found out about us, and she’d treat Sadie like family. But as it turned out, my budding relationship had ended quickly. “Nana? You there?”
“Oh, yes. I’m sorry. What did you say, Bryce Crispy?”
Oh, for Pete’s sake. She must have heard about us from Zander. “It’s not important. Nana, I gotta go, but we’ll talk soon.”
“Okay. Be sure to take the girls to the fall festival. They will love it.”
“I will. Call if you need anything.”
“Will do.” She ended the call.