Page 9 of The Penalty

I turn to face her, leaning against the counter. “It wasn’t a nominal amount like we expected.” My hands are shaking.

She lied to me about money—what else did she lie to me about? Everything?

“Oh?” she asks, and I can’t help but think this is a show. She had to know, right? If she knew about the trust fund, there is no way she wouldn’t assume I’d be a part of the will?

“Yeah. Did you know?” I can’t be fucking subtle. I don’t have it in me to ask nicely or beat around the fucking bush. I need to know.

“About what?” she asks, clutching her teacup with both hands.

“About my trust fund? Or maybe his leaving me part of his company? Any of it?” I want to ask her if he wanted to know me, or if he had plans for me, but I don’t dare. This is bad enough. I hadn’t seen him since they broke up a few years ago. I always assumed he left her for someone younger, but maybe there was more to it.

“Trust fund?” she says carefully, not making eye contact.

“The lawyer told me all about it. Don’t tell me you didn’t know.” I grind my teeth, trying to temper my anger.

“It wasn’t the right time.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, still trying to be nice.

“You had a lot going on with hockey. I didn’t want you to stop playing.”

“Why would I stop playing?” I ask, annoyance creeping into my tone.

She finally looks up, searching my face.

“Say it,” I demand.

“I think you need to keep playing juniors to give yourself more time to develop. It will only make you better.”

I scrub a hand over my face and almost laugh. “Better for what? I have offers from a bunch of schools. I’ve already put college off a year, and I’m good enough to play in college. A couple more years in juniors wouldn’t help me, and even if I stayed in juniors, how would I keep it up with a job? We could have used my trust fund to help pay the rent!” I’m yelling and I don’t mean to. I take a deep breath and lower my voice. “There’s no reason for me not to be in school.”

“I think you’ll be better if you give it more time before you play in college. Then you can get a full ride, and you won’t have to spend any of your money.”

“I don’t need to spend my money—I can spend his!”

“Why pay for something you can get for free?” she chides.

“Money doesn’t even matter anymore! I have enough of it.” I don’t know if I should laugh or what?

Does she really not get it?

“Why would you even want his money?” She gets to her feet like she can scold me and put me in my place like she used to when I was younger.

“Is that what this is about?” I ask, pulling at my hair. “You took his money for the last eighteen years.”

“Only because I had to!”

“And I shouldn’t?”

“Have you been drinking?” She gasps, pulling back to get a better look at me.

“My father died, and I realized my mother has been lying. I think I’m entitled to a drink.” I should have stayed at Tobi’s. I should have gone back in with Teddy and not done this tonight.

“Look at his sons and how they act. You are not them. You will never be them, and they will hate you for trying. You are nota part of their world.” She is right, but I hate her a little for saying it.

“I don’t want to be them.”

“But you want to go to their school and run their companies? They will eat you alive.” So she did know.

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