“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because every time I tried to talk about how much money they took from you, you defended them.”
There was no accusation in her voice.
That made it worse.
She was simply telling the truth.
I lowered my head.
“I failed you.”
“No, Ethan.”
“I left you alone with them. I paid their bills while you were skipping meals.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I should have known.”
Emily squeezed my hand.
“Three weeks ago, another envelope arrived. I hid it before your mother saw it. Tonight, they came looking for it. Brittany found the fireproof box in our closet. When I tried to stop her, she grabbed me.”
“Where is the envelope now?”
“I moved it.”
“Where?”
She hesitated.
“In the flour container above the refrigerator.”
Despite everything, a stunned laugh escaped me.
Emily managed a weak smile. “Your mother never cooks.”
Then her expression became serious.
