“An elite college costs exactly forty-five thousand dollars a semester,” Richard said.

He recited the exact number without blinking or looking away from my face.

“We’ve spent twelve years building that fund for your sister so she can start life without a deficit,” he said.

“You could use my college fund,” I said.

“Yours doesn’t cover a fraction of these outrageous medical estimates,” Richard said.

He adjusted his left shirt cuff and looked at the blank wall just above my head.

“You’ve never shown the kind of exceptional drive that justifies this kind of deficit spending,” Richard said.