“Owed, past tense,” Frank said.

“I paid off her personal note yesterday morning.”

“She had no right to put my house up as collateral,” I said.

“She thinks you’ll take a quiet settlement once you see where things stand,” Frank said.

“What kind of settlement?” I asked.

“Lauren has a cashier’s check for twelve thousand dollars ready to give you,” Frank said.

“I’m not taking twelve thousand dollars for my mother’s house,” I said.

“Your credit score won’t make it through a full title fight,” Frank said.