I transferred the money out and closed the account.
The next morning, I learned how important that decision had been.
Nathan called again.
“Mom, you need to know something.”
His voice was different this time.
Angry.
“What happened?”
“I went to Emily’s place. They’re packing up the decorations because the wedding is officially cancelled.”
I waited.
“There was a binder open on the table. Contracts. I looked through them.”
He hesitated.
“She used your name.”
My stomach tightened.
“What do you mean?”
“On the catering agreement and the florist contract, there’s a section for a financial guarantor.”
I stood up slowly.
“She listed you.”
I didn’t say anything.
“Your name, your address, your phone number.”
Then Nathan said the words that changed everything.
“And she signed your name.”
For a moment, the room seemed colder.
Emily hadn’t merely excluded me from her wedding. She had used my identity as financial security for the same wedding she had decided I wasn’t worthy of attending.
“Did she use my social security number?”
“No, I didn’t see anything like that. Just your information and a promise that you would cover the balance if they defaulted.”
“So, the vendors may contact me?”
“Probably.”
“They can contact me all they want. I never signed those contracts.”
“What are you going to do?”
I looked out through the cabin window.
“I’m going to finish my vacation. And after that, I’m going home and cleaning house.”
I didn’t panic. I didn’t immediately call the police.
