“Bought groceries for Norma’s community pantry.”
He stared.
“I thought you spent it.”
“You never asked.”
Carla stiffened.
“Why would you let us believe you didn’t have money?”
“Because I was never obligated to show you my accounts.”
“But we’re family.”
“Two days ago I wasn’t the correct kind of family to eat Christmas dinner in your home.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“You told me I didn’t fit the image you were building.”
“I was upset.”
“No.”
She stopped.
“You were calm.”
Hugo looked at her.
“I heard everything,” he said.
Then at his hands.
“I wanted to stop her.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t want a fight.”
“You were willing to let me be the cost of avoiding one.”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
It was the first answer without excuses.
“If either of you came here thinking about what you might have received if you had known the truth, stop now.”
