“Aunt Patty became very ill about two years ago.

It was nothing terminal, but she required major surgery and was completely unable to work for several months.

Her condominium complex hit all the owners with a massive special assessment fee right around that exact same time.”

“So you decided to step in and pay it for her,” I synthesized.

“I paid a significant portion of it, yes.”

“Why on earth did you keep it a secret from me?” I asked.

“Because my mother would have completely lost her mind if she found out I was helping Patricia,” he admitted softly.