“Julian is offering to steady this family while you sit here behaving like a guest in your own house.”

“The property taxes were paid three weeks ago,” I said.

“The certified bank receipts are in my desk.”

“You have receipts for nothing,” Arthur said.

He picked his folded newspaper up off the table and folded it even tighter, creasing the newsprint straight down the middle.

“David left you buried in debt, and you’re driving this family into the ground out of pure stubbornness.

You’re ruining Thanksgiving preparations for everybody in this house.”