The words hung between them.

Evelyn looked from one child to the other.

“What does that mean?”

Neither answered.

Priscilla had created a business importing salon equipment, although very little equipment had ever reached customers.

Garrett had encouraged her, written recommendations, and helped arrange policies that made the venture appear more established than it was.

When the business began failing, they borrowed money.

When borrowing became difficult, they treated Iris’s access to credit as a convenient solution.