appeared shortly before her husband opened his second clinic.
I remembered that year.
Melissa had spent months talking about how stressful the expansion was.
Mom, meanwhile, had decided her twelve-year-old car could somehow last “a few more years.”
Another payment came during the year Mom canceled a vacation with friends because she said traveling was too expensive.
I looked at her.
“Mom, how much money did you give Melissa?”
She hesitated.
“I’d have to calculate it.”
“I won’t.”
I opened the calculator on my phone.
Melissa stepped toward me.
“Amanda,
