“Yes.”
Simone stepped forward.
“Don't do that lawyer voice with me.”
“I’m not a lawyer.”
“You do the same thing.”
“Slow voice.”
“Short questions.”
“Like if you make everything sound calm, nobody gets to say how insane it is.”
Adrian looked at the fire.
Then back.
“Your sister bought part of that dress with money she earned.”
“Stepsister.”
The word landed.
Maya looked away.
Adrian did not.
“Your stepsister.”
He corrected without argument.
“Burning it is still your decision.”
Simone’s eyes filled for the first time.
“You want a decision?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
She pointed toward the house.
“My mother has lived here for eight years.”
“I have lived here every summer since I was sixteen.”
“I built half my business in this house.”
“I hosted your clients.”
“I planned your anniversary.”
“I arranged fundraisers.”
“I spent years making this family look like a family.”
Adrian listened.
“And tomorrow?”
Simone’s voice cracked.
“Tomorrow you give the whole thing to her.”
Silence.
Maya looked from Simone to Adrian.
Then Renee.
“What?”
Renee whispered:
“Simone.”
Maya stared at her father.
“What does she mean?”
Adrian closed his eyes.
The fire popped.
A section of the pink skirt collapsed.
Maya’s voice rose.
“What does she mean?”
Adrian reached slowly into his pocket.
Renee immediately stepped forward.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“We agreed tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow is gone.”
“Adrian.”
“She already knows enough to be hurt.”
He turned toward Maya.
From his pocket he removed a small brass key ring.
Three keys.
One modern electronic fob.
One older brass house key.
One small silver key with a numbered tag.
Maya stared.
Adrian held them out.
“This house belongs to a trust your mother created for you.”
Nobody moved.
The ocean crashed beyond the dunes.
Maya looked at the keys.
Then her father.
“What?”
Adrian swallowed.
“The legal title is held by the Nia Carter-Caldwell Family Trust.”
“Your mother established it before she died.”
Maya stared.
“This house?”
“Yes.”
“You said this was ours.”
“It is where our family stays.”
“That is not what I asked.”
“No.”
Adrian nodded.
“It isn't.”
Maya looked toward Renee.
“You knew.”
Renee cried silently.
“Yes.”
Maya turned back.
“How long?”
“Since before I married your father.”
Adrian’s eyes closed.
Maya looked toward Simone.
“You knew too?”
Simone laughed bitterly.
“Not all of it.”
“When?”
“Last month.”
Maya stared.
Adrian still held out the keys.
She did not take them.