Thirty-Nine Million Dollars and a Brown Folder on the Kitchen Table

A blue sedan drove by and splashed a puddle onto the sidewalk.

“We’re just managing a few unexpected costs, dear,” Helen said.

She kept her eyes on the puddle outside.

“What unexpected costs?” I asked.

“Expenses come up,” she said softly.

“The house is old.

The property taxes went up.

We had to fix the furnace last month.”