But I already knew something was wrong, because a week before that, I had seen something I wasn’t meant to see.”

“Mom,” I breathed.

“Seen what?”

“I went with my neighbor to the wholesale market downtown, to buy groceries.

And behind the supply trucks, where he thought no one could see, I saw your husband take a thick envelope of cash from a man.” She looked at me.

“And I did something I’m not sure I understood at the time.