Brenda stood at the bedroom doorway with her hands resting tightly on her hips.
Brenda: What are you doing in dad's room in the middle of the night?
Mark: Saving our family home from your terrible mistake, Brenda.
Brenda: It is too late, Mark, the lawyer already registered the sale downtown!
Mark: Look at these papers before you say another foolish word tonight.
Mark handed the official police report and bank certificate to his astonished sister.
Brenda scanned the pages under the hall light as her face turned completely pale.
Brenda: Uncle Richard forged dad's signature on the transfer deed fifteen years ago?
Mark: Yes, and dad reported it to the sheriff before his memory began fading.
Brenda: That means Arthur Vance bought a fraudulent title from a convicted criminal!
Mark: Exactly, which makes any sale agreement completely void under state law.
Brenda sank down onto the hallway bench as tears of shame filled her blue eyes.
Brenda: I was so desperate for cash that I did not check the facts.
Mark: You endangered Lily and tried to kick our sick father out of his house.
Brenda: I am so sorry, Mark, I truly did not know the whole truth.
Mark: Saying sorry does not fix the damage you caused here tonight, Brenda.
Lily walked out of the kitchen rubbing her sleepy eyes with her small hands.
Mark picked up his daughter and held her close while rubbing her soft back gently.
Mark: We are going to settle this with the lawyer at dawn tomorrow morning.
Brenda: What do you want me to do when Arthur Vance arrives here tomorrow?
Mark: You are going to hand him these real documents yourself and apologize.
Brenda nodded her head silently as rain continued tapping softly against the glass window panes.
Mark carried Lily back upstairs to her cozy bedroom and tucked her safely under blankets.
He sat on the edge of her bed until her gentle breathing showed she was sleeping.
He knew the morning would bring a final showdown with the wealthy land investor.
But for the first time in years, Mark felt completely ready to fight for his home.