Buying that house was supposed to be the beginning of a new chapter. After ten years of saving, late nights working overtime, and more than one argument about finances, my wife Emily and I had finally managed to purchase what we kept calling our “dream home.” It wasn’t a mansion, but it had a big front yard, tall oak trees, and a living room with windows that let sunlight flood the entire space. When I pulled into the driveway that afternoon after finishing paperwork at the bank, I remember sitting in the car for a moment just staring at the house.
My phone rang right then.
