The $268 in dock boards was only the beginning. Bertram discovered that Wesley had already spoken with a realtor about the lake house and had asked about its value. In his mind, the property was already something he could sell. Even the graduation hotel bill suddenly made sense. It had not been simple cruelty. Wesley had been testing how much I would tolerate, seeing whether the boundary between my life and his plans could be pushed.

I refused to pay anything and stayed at the lake house instead. For the first time, I stopped explaining myself. Wesley still called, but every conversation carried a coolness I could feel. Then June arrived, and someone unexpected came up the driveway. It was Silas, seventeen, awkward and alone. He stood there quietly before finally telling me why he had come.