“What Do You Mean, Don’t Panic?”
Sophie moved away from the crowd of students.
“How much did you send?”
Her mother, Linda, didn’t answer.
“Mom.”
“We were going to talk to you about this.”
Sophie felt her stomach tighten.
“About what?”
“Your father and I had some unexpected expenses.”
“What does that have to do with my college money?”
Another silence.
Then Linda said:
“Can you come home this weekend?”
“No. Tell me now.”
“Sophie—”
“Where is Grandma’s money?”
Her mother sighed.
Then she said something Sophie would remember for years.
“We borrowed some of it.”
Sophie almost laughed.
“Borrowed?”
“We’re going to replace it.”
“How much?”
“It doesn’t matter right now.”
“It matters to me.”
Linda didn’t answer.
Sophie asked again.
“How much did you take?”
Finally:
“Most of it.”
