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“I don’t want to spend whatever time I have with you being angry.”

My mother’s face changed.

“Whatever time you have?”

“I mean before everything changes.”

That was true enough. My father reached for my hand, and this time I let him take it.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

No explanation. No defense. Just the words.

“I should have told you. It was yours. You should have known.”

My mother looked down at the counter.

“I thought if you knew about the money, you might choose differently.”

I stared at her. “Mother.”

“I know.” She drew a breath. “I hear how it sounds.”

My father released my hand and leaned back.

“Paul came to see me today.”

My heart shifted before I could stop it.

“He did?”

“He wanted to apologize.”

“For what?”

“For allowing his family’s business to become entangled with your future.”

He took another drink, then set the glass down.

“He made it clear that if you marry, Alan will never have access to your trust through him.”

I gripped the back of the chair.

“He said that?”

“Yes.”

“What did he ask for?”

My father looked surprised. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“No money. No help with the firm. He didn’t ask me to talk to you or salvage anything.”

My mother made a small sound.

“He may have finally grown a spine at a rather inconvenient time.”