When I read the figures, I felt relief, then unexpected anger.

There had been years when that money would have meant a reliable used car, a less exhausting schedule, or a repair to the roof before winter.

Paying it now could help with university expenses, but it couldn’t change the nights I had sat awake calculating whether our checking account would cover a prescription and the electric bill.

Brian called after the lawyers reached a preliminary agreement.

“I should have done this years ago,” he said.