Mom laughed and said, “You’re not part of this family.” I raised my glass and replied, “Perfect. Then don’t ask for money.” Her face fell. Dad looked stunned.

month,” I said. “For this house. For your medication. For Tyler’s problems. All of it stops tonight.”

The color drained from Denise’s face.

And from the way Dad stared at her, I knew the cruelest part of the night wasn’t what she had said.

It was that he had never known where the money came from at all.