"No, it didn't last," Alec admitted.
"What happened?"
"Dad happened. You see, Dad has always had big plans. He didn't see a career as a bus driver as the best way to finance his dreams, so as soon as Mom and Dad built up enough savings to buy a house, Dad invested it in his future.
He considered their savings as his seed money to buy a bigger and better future. He invested it into a loan sharking business.
Well, that sounded familiar.
"To his credit, his plan was working. He was careful who he lent money to, and he acted as his own enforcer. Only he quit his driving gig to devote all his time to the new business without telling Mom.
"I know you can't tell it from looking at her, but Mom runs the family. Imagine her surprise when she discovered Dad's paychecks had stopped arriving and the savings account was empty. She worked two jobs to help build the family savings while raising Angie, and it was gone without explanation.
