Every dollar counts when you’re building something real.”

“Where’s the rest of the fund?” I asked.

My father took a slow sip from his coffee mug.

“We’re building it step by step,” he said.

“You have a solid salary in Seattle, Iris.

You don’t need vanity gifts.”

“I paid off my own college loans two years ago,” I said.

“And that’s exactly why you don’t need special treatment,” he said, setting his mug down on the side table with a hard thump.