Part 3
Richard discovered the canceled premium television package before he noticed that I had consulted an attorney.
He marched into the kitchen holding the remote.
“Did you cancel this too?”
“Yes.”
“I was watching that.”
“You can watch basic cable.”
“This is childish.”
Two days later, I watched him argue with a grocery cashier over an eighty-seven-cent digital coupon. The cashier’s eyes were dull with exhaustion while Richard repeatedly tapped his phone against the counter.
Outside, I stopped beside the shopping cart.
“You never checked prices when the money came from my account.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“No,” I said. “Apparently, it was easier.”
That evening, Sloane came to the house with a friend waiting in the driveway.
“I need the car keys.”
“I don’t have them.”
“You stopped the payments.”
“The vehicle is titled to your father.”
She turned toward Richard, who was standing in the hallway pretending to read an email.
“Dad?”
He cleared his throat. “The vehicle may need to be returned temporarily.”
Sloane stared at him. “You said Evelyn had enough money to cover everything until graduation.”
The room went silent.
Richard’s face hardened. “Go wait outside.”
“No. You said she agreed.”
