For a few seconds I assumed it must be a strange joke because nothing around me looked unusual, yet when I looked up I saw the banker’s eyes watching me carefully while her fingers gripped the pen so tightly that her knuckles turned pale. She gave the faintest shake of her head, so small that no one else would notice, and in that instant I understood she was warning me about something serious.
My mind began racing through everything Diane had said earlier about the account being placed in my name because I had the cleanest financial history in the family. I suddenly realized that I had signed several documents without reading every detail.
Fear surged through my chest.
“I am so sorry,” I stammered while clutching my stomach. “I think something I ate is making me sick. I need a restroom or a trash can right away.”
Caroline immediately called another teller and nodded supportively while keeping her voice calm. “Of course, take your time,” she said as if nothing unusual had happened.