She looked at her father, then back down at the food. She wasn’t sure what he meant by the question. “I have a few dollars in my purse.”
“No, I mean how much money do you have in the bank? In investments?”
She refused to look up from the potato. She had dreaded this moment, knowing it would come but hoping it might go on being overlooked. After all, it had been a year since Mark died, and Father had never once asked her how his death left her situated.
“Are you well off?” her father asked. “I mean, you had notrouble buying the house here. I thought at first it was simply a rental, but then I overheard someone say you had bought it. I never really gave it thought, however, even then.”
“You like the house, don’t you?” she asked, hoping to change the subject. “I told Uncle Harrison he needed to consider building future hotels out of adobe. I’m amazed at how much cooler they are.”
“How rich are you?”
Susanna put the last of the potatoes in the skillet and then began to cut up the onion. “I don’t feel I need to answer that question, Father. My husband arranged for me, and that’s all I will say.”
She heard her father take a seat at the table. She glanced up to see him shaking his head. Whatever was on his mind, she didn’t think the matter was going to go away. Even so, she said nothing. She diced the onion, added it to the potatoes, and focused on frying them together. She found herself whispering a prayer, hoping God would make her father forget about everything and refocus on something else. Perhaps a group of guests would show up? Maybe Gary and his friends would return quickly.
“I never thought you would betray me,” he said.
She held her tongue. She wasn’t sure what had brought this conversation about, but she was going to do her best to avoid it.
“You should probably go on home for supper, Father. Mother will wonder where everyone is. You can let her know that Gary wanted me to cook for him and his friends. It’s just a one-time thing, however. I’m sure we’ll be there for supper tomorrow.” She barely drew a breath. “I wonder what Lia has made for dinner.”
“I’m sure it won’t be steak. We cannot afford steak.”
“Lia makes amazing meals for you. You’ve never lacked. Honestly, I think her cooking is some of the best I’ve ever had. I’ve been having her teach me to cook in the Mexican style.”
“We eat chicken and pork—poor man’s food,” her father said accusingly. “How much money do you have?”
She turned and faced him. This wasn’t going to go away. “I have enough. That’s all I will say on the matter. I am no longer your worry. I am a widow with funds of my own. My husband saw to my needs, and that is all anyone needs to know.”
“You must have a considerable sum, or you wouldn’t be so unwilling to discuss it.”
“I don’t want to discuss it, Father, because it is not necessary to discuss.”
“You probably have enough that you could have kept us from losing the house ... and everything else.” He looked at her with a betrayed expression. “How could you?”
“Father, you are making assumptions you have no right to make. I only came to San Marcial because Uncle Harrison begged me to do so to help you and Mother get established. He didn’t bid me to come here to pay your way. The help I’ve offered has been purely from selfish motives, I’m sorry to say.”
“You can deliver us from this hell.” Her father gazed at her as if she were the answer to all of his questions. “You owe this to us.”
“I owe this to you? And how do you figure that?” She turned back to the food just in time to keep it from burning. She worked quickly, pulling the potatoes and onions from the skillet and replacing them with one of the steaks.
“You’re our daughter. We provided for you for all those years, and now you can provide for us. I demand that you give me charge over your bank account and investments.”
Susanna turned to see that he was serious. She’d never seen him quite so firm in his demands. “No. My money is not yours, nor will it be.”
“I won’t tolerate this. I need that money. I need it now.”
His tone was unlike anything Susanna had ever heard. “Father, I don’t wish for this to come between us, but I will leave San Marcial for good rather than be harassed by you.”
“You know nothing about how to invest.”
“And neither do you.” She hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but the words spilled out before she could stop them.
“We’re back!” Gary called from the lobby.
Susanna gave her father a pointed look. “I’m willing to forget this ever happened. We needn’t argue in front of Gary and his friends.”
“I won’t forget this. I won’t forget your betrayal. We will talk more about this after supper.”