“Why did you send the cops to my house?”
“My late wife used to say,” Walter began, “that kindness shows up when no one is watching. Not when it’s convenient. Not when there’s a reward attached.”
I crossed my arms. “I don’t understand.”
“My son has everything a man could want, Rebecca. But every person who enters his life sees what he has before they see who he is. I wanted to see if kindness still existed when no one expected anything in return.”
“So… you lied to me?” I retorted.
That landed.
“You put me in a position where I thought you were going without food,” I added. “I made financial decisions based on that. That was not a test. That was real.”
“So… you lied to me?”
Walter didn’t answer right away.
“You’re right,” he finally said. “I overdid it.”
“You didn’t just test me, Walter. You put me in a position where I had to choose between helping you and paying my rent.”
He looked down for a second before speaking again.
“The officers outside,” Walter finally revealed, “one is a long-standing friend. I thought the official presence would feel safer than a stranger arriving at your door. And perhaps… a bit dramatic. I’m sorry.”
