“How wonderful.” She turned toward the kitchen. “Honey, Sarah’s here. It’s so rare we get both our girls here together.”
Vanessa looked up from her phone and smiled at me. That perfect practiced smile she had been using since high school. “Hey, big sister,” she said. “How’s the office job treating you?”
“Busy.”
“You know how government work is.”
“I really don’t.” She laughed, and Derek chuckled along with her. “All those bureaucratic forms and procedures. I don’t know how you stand it.”
I sat down across from her. “It has its moments,” I said. “How have you been?”
“Wonderful, actually.” She exchanged a meaningful glance with Derek. “We’ve been making some exciting financial decisions lately.”
“Investment opportunities,” Derek added.
“Oh?” I kept my expression neutral. “What kind of investments?”
“Just some securities Derek’s financial adviser recommended,” Vanessa said, lifting her wine glass. “Very sophisticated stuff. Probably too complex to explain, but the returns are supposed to be excellent.”
My parents returned with the last of the dinner dishes. Dad started carving the roast while Mom settled into her seat with a satisfied sigh.
“Vanessa was just telling us about her new investments,” Mom said proudly. “Derek’s practice is doing so well. They’re really building wealth for the future.”
“College funds for the kids,” Vanessa added. “We want to make sure they have every opportunity.”
“That’s important,” I said. I let the silence stretch just long enough. “Where did you get the capital for these investments? That must require significant funds.”
Derek cleared his throat. “We’ve been saving aggressively. Making smart choices.”
“Right.”
Vanessa’s smile widened. “Actually, I have to thank you, Sarah.”
I looked at her. “Thank me?”
“I stopped by your apartment earlier this week,” she said, as if she were admitting to borrowing a sweater. “I used that emergency key Mom and Dad have. I hope you don’t mind. I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d borrow that book you mentioned.”
She had not mentioned any book. We both knew she was lying.