She wasn’t carrying her purse.
And she didn’t even look at the car listing I had printed and left on the table.
She sat across from me.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
Lily rubbed her thumb along the edge of the table.
“We can’t go.”
At first, I assumed the seller had canceled.
“What happened?”
She swallowed.
“I don’t have the money anymore.”
For several seconds, I stared at her.
“What money?”
She finally looked up.
“My car money.”
I laughed once because what she had said simply didn’t make sense.
“You have four thousand eighty-six dollars.”
“Had.”
That single word erased my smile.
“Lily…”
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Where is it?”
She dropped her eyes again.
I pulled out the chair beside her and sat down.
“Did someone get into your account?”
“No.”
“Did you buy something?”
She shook her head.
“Did someone online convince you to send them money?”
“No, Mom.”
“Then where did four thousand dollars go?”
Her eyes filled.
“I gave it away.”
I leaned back in my chair.
