“Chloe is holding the appointment at her shop, but I can’t make the deposit by myself.”

Rory stacked the metal chairs against the closet wall with a heavy iron clatter.

He didn’t turn around to look at me.

“I already told you how things are right now,” he said, talking fast and loud before I could get out another sentence.

“You don’t listen, Jodi.

You never did.

I decide how my money gets spent, and you just keep on pushing.”

“She’s your daughter,” I said, staring right at the back of his neck.