Her expression changed.

“How was I supposed to know?”

“You weren’t.”

For a moment, I thought that would end it.

Then she said, “But you do have the space.”

“It’s rented.”

“You could have waited.”

“I had already been looking for a tenant.”

“A year here would make a huge difference for me.”

“It makes a difference for me too.”

She looked disappointed, almost offended.

“Not the same kind.”

That sentence bothered me.

It was as if having a career and owning a home meant my time, money and plans somehow counted less.

“No,” I said. “Please don’t arrange movers here.”

She left.

Colin called almost immediately.

“She said you were cold.”

“You told her I agreed.”

Silence.

“You told her you would handle me.”

“She showed you that?”

“Yes.”

“That was private.”

“It was a private conversation about my house and my money.”

I ended the call by telling him not to contact anyone about my property again.