“It was just a silly mix-up,” Eleanor went on, her tone gentle and coaxing.

“Your father was trying to be playful, but it came out all wrong.

I want to send you twenty dollars to buy yourself a nice lunch, or even just put those two dollars back in your purse.”

“I don’t need twenty dollars, Mom,” I said.

“Well, we just want total peace for everyone in this family,” she said.

She took a slow breath I could hear close to the phone.

“Your father was going over the family auto insurance declarations yesterday morning.