“Do you know how much I have?”
He paused.
“No.”
“Then why answer for me?”
His face changed.
“I’m just saying.”
“That’s a lot.”
“Yes.”
Then he laughed awkwardly.
“Vanessa said you were probably joking.”
“About?”
“Buying it.”
I nodded.
“She’s allowed to think that.”
I walked inside.
Ethan followed.
“Dad.”
“What?”
“Seriously.”
“Where would you get that money?”
I turned.
“Work.”
He frowned.
“You ran grocery stores.”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
I smiled.
“You never asked.”
That shut him up.
For about ten seconds.
Then.
“How many?”
“Twenty-seven currently.”
He stared.
“What?”
“Plus three distribution facilities.”
His face went blank.
I continued.
“And several properties.”
He looked at me as if I had started speaking another language.
“You own twenty-seven stores?”
“Partly.”
“How much partly?”
“Enough.”
“Dad.”
I laughed.
“I’m not doing an audit in the hallway.”
Then Vanessa appeared.
“What’s going on?”
Ethan looked at her.
