“And the bass boat,” Jeff muttered, looking down at his plate.

“That’s why the boat was gone from the shed.”

“Sold it for thirty-six hundred dollars cash,” Nate said.

Judy looked from Nate to me, her bright smile tightening at the corners until her lips formed a thin, pale line.

She shifted the handbag on her lap, her fingers resting near the brass zipper of her coat pocket.

“Why didn’t you ask us for help?” Judy asked, her voice dipping into her soft schoolteacher tone.

“You know your father and I would have helped you if you were in a tight spot.”