When my mother and Ryan emerged from the movie, she suddenly said with her head down, "Your sister hasn't left you any money for a house."

Ryan paused for a moment before responding, "Right, I still need a hundred thousand dollars for the down payment. Kelly was supposed to help me with that."

"She's playing missing now; I think she just doesn't want to give me any money."

I felt helpless, remembering that ever since I graduated from college, Ryan had insisted I couldn't live at home.

He claimed it was important for a girl to be independent, so I had to rent a place of my own.

After just...