“Frank lied to me, Claire.

He said it was just a routine estate review to clear up Mom’s old tax filings from six years ago.”

She reached into her coat pocket and took out a long white envelope.

“He pushed me into it because of what I owed on my personal account,” she said.

“But I’m ending it today.”

Bennett watched from the rug in the hall, rubbing his flannel sleeve cuff between his thumb and finger.

“Go play in your room for a few minutes, sweetheart,” I told him.