“You know exactly how much Allison needs for her tuition,” Richard said to Linda.

Linda stared straight ahead at the frosted glass window of the office.

“Forty-five thousand dollars a semester,” Linda said.

“She has her early admissions interviews next month.”

“Exactly,” Richard said.

He tapped the corner of the blue folder on the laminate counter.

“That money is locked in and spoken for.”

Brenda pushed a printed ledger across the counter toward him.