Val shook his head. He had wanted to surprise his parents later when Imogen had gotten a glass of cheap but strong liquor in her system and was more cheerful.<br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(128, 128, 128)">"Dad,"</span>Val raised his voice to get Thomas' attention,<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(128, 128, 128)">"White Castle... has given us a stipend? Money, to use for ourselves. I don't need all of it, so I'll give you a lot. You can use it for repairs to the house... or whatever you want to use it on, I will use however much I need to buy school stuff, but you guys are going to get all of the rest. And it's a ton of money, more than we've seen for a long time."</span><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)">"Valentine, we can't, it's your money. The school gave it to </span><i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)">you." </span></i>Thomas sighed,<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)">"It'd be stealing from you, son, to use it when it's supposed to be yours."</span><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(128, 128, 128)">"The school gave it to me to use however I want," </span>Val argued. He hated to do this personal stuff with Annie at the house, but he had completely forgotten about the stipend until she mentioned it.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(128, 128, 128)"> "So, I'm using it on my </span><i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(128, 128, 128)">family." </span></i><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(235, 107, 86)">"Oh hush dad, if Val wants to give us money, let him. It's the same reason you keep sending your paychecks home. Think of it like that,"</span>Callum leaned in the door, grinning.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(235, 107, 86)"> "Guess my little brother is a rich man! The boys at the lumberyard aren't going to believe this!"</span><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)">"Where's your mother? She needs to know about the money,"</span>Thomas asked.<br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(235, 107, 86)">"She left, went to the tavern or something. 'M going to my room."</span><br/>Val turned to Annie, a large grin on his face.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(128, 128, 128)">"Well, supper must be ready then? Do you want to eat here, or go back to your place? Miss Mercedes is a great cook!"</span>