“Oh, sweetie,” I murmured, letting a tremor into my voice.

I sat heavily in the visitor’s chair and knocked my purse to the floor on purpose. Keys and coins scattered across the linoleum.

I stared at them blankly before leaning down to gather them, my hands shaking.

“Mom? Are you okay?” Colton asked, a sudden, sharp interest under the concern.

“I’m just so tired, Colly.” I used his childhood name and rubbed my temples. “I couldn’t remember where I parked today. I walked around Level 3 for twenty minutes. And the bank called, but the numbers didn’t make sense. I couldn’t understand what they were saying about the house.”

I saw the flash of predatory triumph before he masked it. “The bank? What did they say, Mom? Are they foreclosing?”