I took out my cell phone and looked at the rectangular screen in the fading light.

A new text from Brandon showed up across the top of the display.

“We need to talk right away,” the message said.

“Come up to the main house now about household expenses.”

I didn’t type an answer.

I set my phone on the porch table as the text light blinked in the deepening dark.

At nine the next morning, the kitchen door latch clicked without anyone knocking.

Brandon came in holding a yellow legal pad, with Melissa right behind him.