***
At nine that evening, someone knocked.
You might regret making an enemy of me.
Richard’s wife, Vanessa, stood outside looking exhausted.
“Emma, could we talk privately?”
“Of course.”
“I heard what happened. I’m sorry about Richard and Tyler.”
“Your husband refuses to pay.”
Karma would soon give me the chance.
“I know.”
She opened her handbag and showed me an envelope. “There’s three thousand dollars here. Take it for the repairs.”
“Why are you offering this?”
“Because Richard won’t. But please don’t tell him it came from me.”
I stared at the envelope. Three thousand dollars could fix Grandpa and finally buy Ben those shoes.
Vanessa stood outside looking exhausted.
For a moment, I almost reached for it.
“You need the money,” Vanessa said.
“More than you know. But if I take it secretly, Richard gets away with everything again. And Tyler learns that his father never has to apologize.”
