“No,” I said quietly.
Everyone looked at me.
My heart was pounding.
“We don’t.”
Ryan’s expression hardened.
I had never said it like that before.
Not directly.
Not in front of anyone.
Dad noticed.
Of course he noticed.
“How much?” he asked.
Ryan looked at him.
“What?”
“How much of her paycheck did you give your mother?”
“Why does it matter?”
“Because my grandson is hungry.”
Ryan laughed.
It was a small laugh.
Almost embarrassed.
Like Dad was being ridiculous.
“Ben isn’t starving.”
Dad pointed toward the refrigerator.
“Open it.”
Ryan didn’t move.
“Open the refrigerator.”
“Come on.”
“Open it.”
Ryan’s face reddened.
Dad didn’t raise his voice.
He didn’t have to.
Ryan finally opened the refrigerator.
The light came on.
Nothing changed.
Dad looked inside.
Then he looked at Ryan.
“You call this feeding a family?”
Ryan slammed the door.
“This is between me and my wife.”
Dad nodded slowly.
