“I make every single monthly loan payment of three hundred eighty dollars,” I said, stepping forward onto the gravel.

“It comes straight out of my business account every four weeks.”

Richard looked at Ethan, his brow deeply furrowed.

“Is that true?”

Ethan cleared his throat twice before looking down at his boots.

“Camila pays the car loan out of her freelance earnings.”

The question hung in the warm air over the driveway, waiting for someone to explain the six months of payments Linda had claimed Ethan was covering on his own.

“That’s beside the point,” Linda said quickly, her face flushing.