I opened the bill compartment to put the cash away.

Lying flat against the dark lining were three lone one-dollar bills.

Helen set a printed slip of blue paper on the kitchen counter next to my purse.

It was an official cashier’s check from the local credit union for four thousand six hundred twenty dollars.

“That’s every penny of my emergency savings, sweetheart,” Helen said, her red knuckles puffy from the damp morning.

“It’ll cover the apartment rent and pay for groceries through the end of May.”