Dan looked at me, his eyes pleading for a way out of the conflict.

I simply picked up my glass of tap water and took a slow sip.

“Go ahead, Dan,” I said, setting the glass down. “Show them how we manage our finances.”

Dan reached into his pocket and pulled out his leather wallet.

He slid his black credit card out of its slot.

“Just take this, Sarah,” Dan said, handing it to his sister. “Get whatever Mom wants.”

Sarah didn’t reach for the card.

She just stared at it, her hands staying firmly at her sides.

“Sarah?” Dan asked, holding the card out further.

Just then, Dan’s own phone buzzed loudly in his pocket.

He pulled it out, his thumb quickly swiping the screen.

I watched his face as he read the message, the color slowly draining from his cheeks.

He looked up at me, his eyes wide with sudden realization.

Dan’s thumb hovered over his screen.

He tapped it twice, then looked up at me.

“Annie,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “What is this?”