“He said you would accuse me of stealing from her while she was sick.”

Ruby looked up from her cup of cider, sensing the rising tension in the room.

“Mommy?” she asked softly, setting her cup down.

“It’s okay, baby,” I said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “We are almost done here.”

Nathaniel stepped toward his desk, his hand hovering over the telephone.

“Arthur told me the estate had been completely liquidated,” he said, his voice shaking.

He looked like a man who had just found out the ground beneath his feet was entirely hollow.

“He told me that Elena’s debts had consumed Brindlewood,” he continued, looking at the floor.

“He said you had taken a cash settlement and cut all ties with our family because you wanted nothing to do with her memory.”

“A settlement?” I said, a bitter taste in my mouth. “I haven’t seen a single penny from your family.”

“I have lived in a drafty, damp apartment for twelve years, Nathaniel.”

“I work two jobs just to keep Ruby in school shoes.”