Walter sat back and asked a choice about what.

Marcus did not answer.

Ruth closed her folder, leaving the question on Walter’s desk between the ledger and the signed lease.

I put my copy of the agreement into the blue folder.

My savings were nearly gone, my move was postponed, and the next six months would depend on work I had not yet secured.

But no one could clear the equipment simply because my father was no longer there to pay the rent.

Walter held out the receipt and told me to keep it with the lease.