“You’ve been awfully quiet lately, Thomas.”

“Busy season at the store.”

He glanced at the grocery bag in the back seat.

“You haven’t forgotten about the January advance, have you?”

“It’s not January yet.”

“I know, but Emma needs things.

You don’t see the day-to-day expenses.”

It was a familiar argument, and until recently I had accepted it as proof that I should simply pay.