Chapter 4

"I can't just let it go, Dad," I said, my voice tight. This wasn't just about an apartment anymore.

"This is serious. It's my name, my credit."

Uncle Rick scoffed. "Serious? You kids today, so dramatic. It' s a small business thing, it' ll get sorted."

"When?" I pressed. "Because right now, I'm the one on the hook."

Rick' s face hardened. "You got a problem with how I do things, nephew?" His voice turned nasty. "You, with your fancy college degree and your new job, think you know everything?"

"I know I didn't agree to this," I shot back.

Grandma Helen stood up, her face a mask of indignation. "Michael! How dare you speak to your uncle that way! After all he' s done for this family!"

Done for the family? Or done to the family?

"He needs to fix this, Grandma. It's fraud."

The word hung in the air.

David flinched. "Mike, that's enough!"

Rick pointed a greasy finger at me. "You're an ungrateful brat, you know that? Your father should have taught you some respect."

Then, Dad, under the combined glare of Rick and Grandma Helen, turned to me.

His voice was quiet, but it cut deeper than any shout.

"Mike, your uncle's right. You're being disrespectful. You need to apologize and let this go. For the sake of family peace."

He chose them. Again.

The burgers sizzled on the grill, the sound suddenly deafening.

I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Family peace?" I said, my voice shaking. "Or just keeping Rick out of trouble?"

Dad looked away, his jaw tight.

That was his answer.