“Twelve thousand,” Laura said.
“And what was the original agreement?”
“How much?”
Laura explained: a few hundred a month once Mark was working again.
“It wasn’t formal,” Vanessa said stiffly. “But I have every right to ask for my money back.”
“Of course you do.”
She blinked. That one landed somewhere she hadn’t braced for.
“Of course you should get your money back.”
“It wasn’t formal,”
I fetched my checkbook.
“Frank and I planned well. I can afford it. I should count this as repayment of the money you stole years ago, but I’ll pay you the twelve thousand tonight. Laura and Mark can repay me on the schedule they agreed to.”
I wrote the check. I tore it out. I set it on the table between the teacups.
Vanessa didn’t pick it up.
I watched her, and I knew. I’d raised her, after all.
“Frank and I planned well.
