The figures on the yellow pad were stark and clear.

Without my grandmother’s trust money, Derek would have to get his own commercial credit, and my mother would have to cover his expenses without using my savings as a cushion.

I picked up the blue leather checkbook, closed the cover firmly, and tucked it into my uniform jacket pocket.

My military paycheck came on the first and fifteenth of every month, earned through my own service and completely out of reach of Eleanor’s control or Arthur’s quiet going-along.

I adjusted my silver class ring, feeling the cool weight of the metal against my thumb as I stared down at my handwritten notes on the yellow paper.