“I thought Grandpa bought it.”
Ruth smiled.
“Your grandfather hated restaurants.”
Marcus looked confused.
Ruth set down her fork.
“When your father and I married, I worked here as a server.”
She pointed toward the far wall.
“The dish pit used to be over there.”
Marcus looked.
“Mr. Collins owned it. He had no children. When he got sick, he offered to sell it to three of us who had worked here more than ten years.”
“You bought it?”
“With Loretta and a woman named Bernice.”
Marcus stared.
“Amber’s mother owned part of this place?”
“For six years.”
He leaned back.
Ruth continued.
“Bernice left first. Loretta sold her share after Anthony got into trouble.”
Marcus froze.
“When?”
Ruth looked at him.
“Amber’s senior year.”
The room changed.
Marcus sat forward.
“The six thousand.”
Ruth’s heart sank.
She had not connected it until that second.
Loretta had sold her restaurant share abruptly.
Said she needed cash.
Ruth had thought it was for a family emergency.
Anthony.
Of course.
“How much was her share worth?” Marcus asked.
“More than six thousand.”
“Then why take Amber’s college money?”
“I don’t know.”
Marcus looked angry.
Ruth shook her head.
“Do not make a story where we do not have facts.”
He exhaled.
