I Came Home After Four Years Working Abroad and Found My Wife Starving in Our Backyard—Then My Mother Asked About the Money I Hadn’t Told Her Was Fake

“Damian, if I needed you to come home, could you?”

I had forgotten.

My own voice answers:

“Of course, but let’s not panic.

My contract bonus hits next spring.

We’re so close.”

Then Phoebe:

“Okay.”