I placed a redacted copy of the deed on the table.
Hugo read my name twice.
“You’ve been wealthy this whole time.”
“I’ve been financially secure for a long time.”
“How much?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“Mom.”
“My net worth is around fifty million dollars. That is the only time I plan to discuss the number.”
He put down the deed.
“You lived in that apartment.”
“Yes.”
“You shop sales.”
“Yes.”
“You wear the same clothes.”
“Yes.”
“What does that have to do with being able to afford them?”
He had no answer.
“I thought you were struggling.”
“Did I ever ask you to pay my rent?”
“No.”
“Groceries?”
“No.”
“Utilities?”
“No.”
Carla leaned forward.
“You accepted money from Hugo once.”
“Hugo placed two thousand dollars in my purse without asking.”
Hugo nodded.
“You never gave it back.”
“No.”
“What did you do with it?”
“Bought groceries for Norma’s community pantry.”
He stared.
“I thought you spent it.”
“You never asked.”
Carla stiffened.
“Why would you let us believe you didn’t have money?”
“Because I was never obligated to show you my accounts.”
“But we’re family.”
“Two days ago I wasn’t the correct kind of family to eat Christmas dinner in your home.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“You told me I didn’t fit the image you were building.”
“I was upset.”
“No.”
She stopped.
“You were calm.”
Hugo looked at her.
“I heard everything,” he said.
Then at his hands.
“I wanted to stop her.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t want a fight.”
“You were willing to let me be the cost of avoiding one.”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
It was the first ans
