January: forty thousand.

Seven deposits, regular as the changing calendar, totaling two hundred and eighty thousand dollars.

I had not missed a year, not even when the market’s refrigeration system failed and I borrowed against the building to replace it.

I started searching the folders for actual information about Emma.

Tuition bills.

Medical invoices.

Statements from a savings account in her name.

I found birthday cards, school photographs, and a few text messages from Mark requesting money.