Chapter 21: Thirty

Ruby's POV

Kristen had taken the money on purpose.

She told me so herself, on the phone, with her voice shaking.

Nolan had met her in a parking garage and counted fifty thousand dollars into her hands.

"For the baby," he had said. "And you don't testify."

She had recorded every word, then walked it straight to her lawyer.

"You owe me nothing," she said. "I know that. I just wanted you to hear it from me."

I hung up and stood on the dock a long time.

On the morning of June 14th I woke up thirty.

Russ was already awake beside me, propped on one elbow, watching me.

"Happy birthday."

"Thank you."

"I didn't get you anything."

"You gave up a boat for a house you don't want."

"That wasn't for your birthday."

"It was the best present anyone's ever given me."

"It was a stupid present."

"Be quiet," I said, and kissed him.

At ten o'clock we drove to the warehouse on the slough.

The whole staff stood on the floor under the same string lights, in work boots and clean shirts.

A sheet cake sat on a folding table.

The foreman had brought his wife.

The aunt stood at the back, small and straight, with her hands folded.

My grandfather's lawyer waited at the front with a leather folder.

"Ruby," she said. "Whenever you're ready."

"Now."

She opened the folder and read from it in a clear flat voice.

"On this date, upon her thirtieth birthday, the trust of the late founder passes to his granddaughter, Ruby Tillman."

Nobody moved.

"Sixty percent of the shares of Tillman Marine Supply, without condition."

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