My husband proposed that my friend and I swap husbands for a week — I thought he was joking until I discovered she was actually willing to do it, so I agreed and decided to teach them both a lesson

Her expression was uncertain.

“I came because you told me there had been a misunderstanding,” she said. “You said Vanessa was accusing you of something you hadn’t done.”

Sean nodded.

“Exactly. Tell them what you witnessed.”

Claire opened her folder and removed a photograph.

“I witnessed Vanessa sign a home-repair application last November,” she said. “But I never witnessed her sign a loan for $240,000.”

Sean’s jaw tightened.

Claire continued.

“The page I saw had no loan amount, no account number, and no reference to a home-equity line. You told me it was an unfinished repair estimate.”

She placed the photograph beside the bank notice.

“The signature is on the page. The financial details aren’t.”

I stared at her.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I didn’t know there was anything to tell you. Sean said the contractor needed a signed estimate.”

She turned to her brother.

“You told me this was about home repairs.”