The smell of burning hot dog buns began to drift up from the toaster oven, but nobody moved to turn it off.

“What estate?” I asked, looking at Juliette.

Juliette’s jaw clenched, her fingers digging into her expensive leather purse.

“It’s none of your business, Annie,” she said, her voice cold as ice.

“It is my business when my husband is paying your bills,” I said.

“What estate, Sarah?” Dan asked again, his voice dropping an octave.

Sarah looked at her brother, her eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and anger.

“Uncle Richard’s estate,” Sarah said.

“The house in Maine, the investments, the bank accounts.”

“It all went to her.”

“Two months ago.”

“She inherited everything.”

Dan stood perfectly still.

The only sound was the hum of our old refrigerator.

“Uncle Richard died last year,” Dan said slowly.

“The lawyers said there was nothing left.”

“That’s because Mom paid them to keep it quiet,” Sarah said.

“She didn’t want any of us asking for a share.”

“She wanted it all for herself.”

“That is a lie!” Juliette screamed, her voice cracking.