“You don’t know anything about this, Elena!” Serena blurted out, her voice rising into a breathy, dramatic exclamation.

“Julian spent months managing Victor’s medical care while you were working at the clinic!”

“I paid Dad’s prescription copays every Friday at the pharmacy,” I said, looking straight at her.

“Forty-five dollars a bottle, out of my own checking account, because Dad’s main balance was down to thirty-one thousand dollars.”

Serena pulled her hand back toward her chest, her diamond bracelet gleaming under the light of the brass desk lamp.

I stepped away from the crowd and stood near the high, narrow study window looking out at the backyard garden.