My Daughter Begged Me Not to Get Off the Bus—Minutes Later, My Boyfriend Sent a Photo of My Deed Beside a Contract I Had Never Signed

A coworker looked from him to me.

“He’s making this into something it isn’t,” Derek added.

“I was trying to get you a better house.”

I had informed the appropriate people at work that an unwanted visitor might appear.

Now I was grateful I had managed that awkward conversation before the flowers arrived.

“Security,” I said.

His smile thinned.

“Claire. Be reasonable.”