They Booked Four Seats Without Me, So I Booked One to California novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: Whose Money

The thirty days ended on a Thursday.

My father's answer came the next morning, a single page from his office that said every expense had been made "in the best interest of the family."

I sent it to the lawyer, and the lawyer sent back a date.

Erik called to tell me the rest.

"Dad's having the cousins over Saturday for the office's twenty-fifth anniversary. The whole table. He wants Mom to wear the pearls." He paused. "Come. I'll set a place."

We flew in Saturday morning, Ingrid and Dylan and I, and the house was already full of cars.

Erik opened the door.

He took my coat and hung it up himself, and he did not look at anyone.

The dining room had been set for fourteen.

Dad's cousins were there with their wives, two uncles from his mother's side, his business partner and the church friend who always brought a lemon pie.

Mom sat at the end in her pearls, with her hands in her lap.

Linnea sat beside her, pale and silent.

My father stood at the head of the table with a glass in his hand.

He saw me in the doorway, and the room saw him see me.

"Well," said one of the uncles. "The wandering girl."

"Sit, Hanne," Dad said. He kept his voice light. "Ingrid. And a guest. We were about to toast."

Ingrid took a chair.

Dylan stood against the wall by the sideboard, his hands behind him.

I did not sit.

I took the stack of copies out of my bag and walked around the table, and put one page in front of each place.

Nobody spoke.

Paper rustled.

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