Vanessa dropped heavily onto the old wooden piano bench, and the frame creaked under her.

“He lost the investment firm six months ago,” she said, staring at the woven rug between her boots.

“He took the condo downtown, he took the offshore account, and he left me with ninety-four dollars in checking.”

“So you came back here instead,” I said.

“I didn’t have anywhere else to go,” she whispered.

Then her jaw hardened, and her eyes went cold as she looked up at me.

“Besides, you owe me for all the years I spent rotting in this town.”