Max got out of the driver’s side, paused to check his reflection in the car’s side window, and pulled a thick white paper envelope from his breast pocket.

“Take the girls’ bags inside, Lil,” Max said, waving a hand toward the porch.

Lily grabbed Chloe by the arm and pulled her up the wooden steps, kicking the riser with her sneaker as she passed me.

Max walked up to the edge of the porch and held out the envelope.

“Fifteen hundred dollars.

Cash.”

I didn’t reach for it right away.

“What is this, Max?”