My Father Texted Me at 2:43 A.M. to Say I Was Dead to Him

an Uber. That car is embarrassing.”

Ashley giggled. My mother pretended to adjust the napkins.

At the table, Ashley put down her fork and smiled.

“Valerie, you’re good with numbers. Can you lend us a million dollars?”

“For what?”

“We’re redoing the patio. It’s an investment in the house.”

Her husband did not even look up.

“You wouldn’t understand. You don’t continue reading …