s. I stared at my phone, then at the flimsy piece of paper in my hand. It was

zed again. I

you sitting down?

y's breakroom counter. "I'm

" he said, his voice full of a joy I hadn't heard sin

m's caregiver and ended up as my dad's wife. Kevin was a high school dropou

ure, I felt a wave of generosity. This was it. This was my chan

, a real smile on my face. "I'm

gift card to a high-end baby boutique. A little congratula

an my mother had inherited and left to me in her will. It was the

was manning the grill, Brenda was fussing over the potato s

t," Dad boomed, giving me a hug

do. I got laid off," I said, trying to sound disappointed. "F

protective hand on her barely-there

aid with a shrug. "

reeloader stressing me out during my pregnancy. This i

eyebrow. "

t truck to keep a roof over our heads. You can't just show up and expect a

ng out his chest. "She's right,

my dad and Brenda, who were suddenly very interested in the

sting. Because I have a deed in a safe deposit box that says thi