Arthur cleared his throat again, staring down at his polished leather shoes.

“He was in trouble, Sarah,” he said.

“He ran up debt on three different credit cards during his senior year.

They were going to withhold his diploma.”

“And the unsigned twelve-thousand-dollar check stub I found in your desk drawer six years ago?”

“That was the first payment,” Arthur said, refusing to look up.

“The house treasurer threatened to send his account to a collection agency before final exams.”

“You let me stand on that parade field alone so Derek could pay off his credit cards.”