The snow tapped against the tall glass windows of my grandfather’s Columbus mansion.

Inside, the air smelled of cinnamon and expensive pine.

I sat on the edge of the leather sofa, holding my breath.

My mother, Claire, stood by the massive Christmas tree.

She did not look at my father.

Instead, she held out a thick white envelope.

“Just sign them, Daniel,” she said.

Her voice was as cold as the wind outside.

My father, Daniel, stood in the center of the Persian rug.

He was wearing his faded flannel shirt and scuffed work boots.

Dust from a dry-wall job still clung to his jeans.

To anyone else, he looked like a tired, broke handyman.

He looked down at the paper in her hand.

“On Christmas Eve, Claire?” he asked.

His voice was quiet, but it did not shake.

My grandfather, Martin Collins, laughed from his leather armchair.

He swirled the amber whiskey in his crystal glass.

“Don’t act surprised, boy,” Martin said.

“You’ve been a weight around my daughter’s neck for fifteen years.”

“A cheap handyman doesn’t belong in this family,” Martin added.

I stood up from the sofa.

“Dad has worked every single day to support us,” I said.

My mother turned and glared at me.

“Sit down, Sophie,” she snapped.

“This is between adults.”

She turned back to my father.

“We want different things, Daniel,” Claire said.

“I want a life of security, not hand-to-mouth grease.”

“You couldn’t even afford the necklace I wanted for Christmas.”

Daniel took a slow step forward.

He did not look hurt.

For the first time in my life, he looked completely calm.

He took the white envelope from her fingers.

He opened it, glanced at the legal jargon, and set it on the mahogany table.

“I won’t be signing these tonight,” Daniel said.

Martin sneered, his face turning a deep red.

“You don’t have a choice, loser,” Martin barked.

“Sign them, or we will take everything you have.”

“Which is nothing but a rusty toolbox and a broken truck.”

Daniel looked directly at Martin.

He stood taller than I had ever seen him.

The slouch in his shoulders was completely gone.