Five of Us at Christmas, But They Only Ordered Four Cookies novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: The Cash

"In cash," my aunt said again.

"Mom," Lacey said. "Not now."

"You said you paid Hannah back. You said it in August, when I handed you the envelope."

My mother turned in her chair.

"What envelope?"

"Three thousand, one hundred and twenty dollars," my aunt said. She was looking at nobody but her daughter. "Six months of a third of the rent. I took the extra shifts at the nursing home to make it. Lacey said it was for Hannah, and she said Hannah didn't want a fuss."

Lacey laughed, a thin sound.

"I did give it to her," she said.

"Where?" I said.

She looked at me.

"When?"

"You know when, Hannah. You were just so busy."

"What day was it? What room? Was it an envelope? Did I count it?"

"You said you'd put it in the bank."

"Which bank?"

Lacey's mouth opened and nothing came out.

I took out my phone and laid it face up in front of my mother.

"That's my account," I said. "Open it. Every month since March, five hundred and twenty dollars goes to our landlord from me on the first, with the note 'Lacey's share.'"

"Hannah, you don't have to," Mom said.

"I do."

Mom scrolled with one finger, reviewing each entry.

Ten payments.

"And the deposits," I said. "Look at the deposits. There's my paycheck and my refund from the tax office, and a hundred dollars from Grandma at my birthday."

"There's no envelope," Mom said.

"There's no envelope."

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